Bioelectricity production of PMFC using Lobelia Queen Cardinalis in individual and shared soil configurations

Plant Microbial Fuel Cell (PMFC) creates electricity from oxidation of root exudates by microbia anaerobic digestion, and reduction of dioxygen to water. In this study, Lobelia Queen Cardinalis was used as a plant model to investigate the impact of ionic connection between stacked Plant microbial fuel cell (shared soil). 10mm thickness carbon felt woven with stainless steel wire was used for both anode and cathode, and soil was a mix of potting soil and ground from pond banks (30\%-70\% weight, respectively). Independent performances did not show any difference between individual and shared soil PMFCs. Stacking independent PMFC in series sums both open circuit potential (OCP) and internal resistance, while stacking in parallel sums current, keeping open circuit potential to the mean of the OCPs. Although series stacking seems to output best performances, this configuration may cause voltage reversal in one PMFC when current is strong, leading to biofilm damage, so stacking in parallel is recommended.

Electricity Production Using Plant–Microbial Fuel Cell (P-MFC)

The current climate change threat by green house gas emissions from the combustion of fossil fuels has necessitated a search for alternative non-polluting, reliable, renewable and sustainable sources of energy such as solar energy and it’s derivatives. The present work focuses on power generation by Plant-Microbial Fuel Cell using Phragmitesaustralis (Reed plant). The plants were grown in fuel-cell, graphite as anode and carbon felt as cathode, separated by proton-exchange-membrane. During anaerobic microbial metabolism of carbohydrates in the roots, protons and electrons are released, the electrons are donated to the anode by the microbes. These electrons can be channeled through a circuit bearing a load to the cathode. In this work, carbon granules as substratum (control), red soil and carbon granules mixture (30:70) as substratum in varied condition was considered. For control substratum, the max.voltage measured was 0.327 V and power density of 2.06x10-3 mW m-2 was obtained. When red soil mixed with carbon granules in the ratio 30:70, the voltage measured was 0.6 V and the power density was found to be 3.78x10-3 mW m-2. When graded red soil (0.0018 m) mixed with carbon granules in the ratio 30:70, the voltage measured was 0.623 V and the power density was found to be 3.98x10-3 mW m-2. The result proves that the plant microbial fuel cell can be used for generating electricity and is a promising renewable energy technology.

Efficiency of Spathiphyllum spp. as a plant-microbial fuel cell

The purpose of this study was to investigate the utility of an ornamental plant, Spathiphyllum spp., as a plant-microbial fuel cell (Plant MFC) to produce voltage and current. This study also evaluated the effect of the Plant MFC on water use efficiency and plant growth. The experiment used four experimental groups: used MFC without plant (Soil MFC), used MFC with plant (Plant MFC), unused MFC without plant (Soil Pot), and unused MFC with plant (Plant Pot). Plant MFC generated higher voltage and current levels than Soil MFC. The average voltage of Plant MFC and Soil MFC was 0.475 V and 0.375 V, respectively, and the average current was 0.110 mA and 0.030 mA, respectively. Plant MFC using Spathiphyllum spp. produced a constant voltage output, with a deviation of 0.027 V during the four-month indoor experiment. The difference between the maximum and minimum voltage during the day was as small as 0.015 V, which supports the utility of Plant MFC as a stable power source. Volumetric soil moisture content, chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv/Fm), photosynthesis rate, leaf area, fresh weight, and dry weight of Plant MFC and Plant Pot were measured. There was no significant difference in any values, and volumetric soil moisture and plant growth were not affected by the utilization of Plant MFC. Thus, a Plant-MFC using Spathiphyllum spp. can play the same ornamental role as conventional plants and at the same time be used as a sustainable bioelectricity source.

Plant-microbial fuel cell with using the lettuce during cultivation by panoponic

The results of the development of an experimental plant-microbial fuel cell (PMFC) construction are presented. It is based on cultivation by the panoponics method and aimed at the joint production of electricity and plant products. The value of bioelectric potentials (BEP) is ~ 100 mV when it is generated in a multi-day mode using a vegetable culture of lettuce. The importance of providing surface electrical contact of roots with electrodes is shown. It is noted that both redox reactions in the nutrient solution and the root system of plants can act as an electromotive force (EMF). It is shown that creating a battery based on the constructed PMFCs, leading to the summation of electrical parameters for a long period (more than 3 days), is possible only in the case of uniformity of the elements included in the electric circuit.

Plant-microbial fuel cell with using the lettuce during cultivation by panoponic

The experimental plant-microbial fuel cell based on the gradient of bioelectric potentials created in the rhizosphere and compatible with the production of plant products was created and tested.