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

Abstract

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.