NOVELTY - A microbial fuel cell comprises anode component (42), cathode component (36), and separator component (40) configured to reduce internal resistance and resist biodegradation.    USE - A microbial fuel cell for generating energy from organic-based fuel (claimed).    ADVANTAGE - Lifetime, performance, and production of cathode component are improved at a reduced cost. Power and volumetric power density produced by microbial fuel cell are enhanced because the separator reduces the distance between anode and cathode components which decreases internal resistance. Separator component has the ability to provide high power density, high coulombic efficiency, and high energy efficiency to microbial fuel cell. Microbial fuel cell does not require a current collector and DC/DC convert to boost voltage which avoids issues of increased complexity and/or cost, voltage reversal and/or voltage cross-over, and reduced overall efficiency.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are included for:    (1) microbial fuel cells comprising greater than or equal to 1 microbial fuel cells connected in a serial or parallel orientation;    (2) serially connected microbial fuel cell system comprising greater than or equal to 2 electrically connected segments of base material in which at least a portion of the base material is treated with catalyst, binder, and/or catalyst-enhancing reagent and separator component in which base material and separator components are configured to convert organic-based fuel to energy without current collector component or converter component;    (3) cathode component comprising base material e.g. carbon cloth, carbon paper, stainless steel cloth, and/or stainless steel mesh, coating, catalyst, and binder; and    (4) production of energy which involves providing microbial fuel cell or serially connected microbial fuel cell system, introducing organic-based fuel into microbial fuel cell or the system, and isolating energy from the organic-based fuel.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The drawing shows a schematic diagram of the microbial fuel cell containing various components and their assembly in exploded perspective view.    1st endplate (34)    Cathode component (36)    1st titanium wire (38)    Separator component (40)    Anode component (42)