um Simulador Interativo e Experimentos com o MudWatt
Ensino de Bioeletricidade em Células Combustíveis Microbianas
Iverton Emiquison Ribeiro de Bessa
UFERSA
Glaydson Francisco Barros de Oliveira
Palavras-chave: Ensino de ciências, Experimentação, Bioeletricidade, MudWatt, Simulador interativo
Resumo
This project describes the creation of a digital simulator that replicates the experience and analysis methods of the MudWatt Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) educational kit. Bioelectricity, generated by electrogenic microorganisms present in the soil, represents a sustainable alternative for the production of clean and renewable energy. Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) convert the chemical energy released by the decomposition of organic matter into electricity, using bacteria capable of transferring electrons to the electrodes. This work aimed to investigate the generation of bioelectricity through experiments with the MudWatt kit and to develop an interactive digital simulator for science education. The experimental phase consisted of assembling a system with sandy soil mixed with fertilizer, observing the start of electricity generation after three days and the intermittent activation of an LED after approximately ten days. Variations in voltage, current, and resistance measurements were recorded, indicating patterns of electricity production similar to those described by Arulmani et al. (2016), with initial growth, stabilization, and subsequent decline. In parallel, a digital simulator based on web technologies (HTML, CSS, and JavaScript) was developed, whose logic and interface were based on the MudWatt Guide (Magical Microbes Inc., 2010) and data from Swaby's study (2018). The simulator allows the user to virtually assemble the microbial cell and observe the dynamics of energy generation in a visual and interactive way. The results demonstrate the potential of MudWatt as an experimental and pedagogical tool, promoting the integration of science and technology in the teaching of bioelectricity.