Deciphering optimal biostimulation strategy of supplementing anthocyanin-abundant plant extracts for bioelectricity extraction in microbial fuel cells (2025)

Exploring optimal supplement strategy of medicinal herbs and tea extracts for bioelectricity generation in microbial fuel cells

Bioresource technology, 2018

This first-attempt study used extracts of appropriate antioxidant abundant Camellia and non-Camellia tea and medicinal herbs as model ESs to stably intensify bioelectricity generation performance in microbial fuel cells (MFCs). As electron shuttles (ESs) could stimulate electron transport phenomena by significant reduction of electron transfer resistance, the efficiency of power generation for energy extraction in microbial fuel cells (MFCs) could be appreciably augmented. Using environmentally friendly natural bioresource as green bioresource of ESs is the most promising to sustainable practicability. As comparison of power-density profiles indicated, supplement of Camellia tea extracts would be the most appropriate, then followed non-Camellia Chrysanthemum tea and medicinal herbs. Antioxidant activities, total phenolic contents and power stimulating activities were all electrochemically associated. In particular, the extract of unfermented Camellia tea (i.e., green tea) was the mo...

A decade of plant-assisted microbial fuel cells: looking back and moving forward

Biofuels, 2018

Plant microbial fuel cells (PMFCs) have emerged as a renewable source of energy that can produce concurrent bioelectricity and biomass continuously in a clean, sustainable and efficient manner. The core idea lies in the conversion of the solar energy trapped by plants into electricity with the aid of bacterial actions in the rhizosphere of plants. PMFC research is still in an early phase. However, many stakeholders including private organizations, universities and individuals are currently experimenting with and building their own PMFC prototypes to improve the power delivered while exploiting complementary advantages such as treatment of wastewater. PMFC is a new technology and involves multidisciplinary fields ranging from the study of microbes to electrochemistry, electrical engineering, chemical engineering and plant science itself. The science of the relationship that exists among these aspects in terms of system performance is still not clarified. PMFC relies on a biological process and can be operated under mild operating conditions. After proof of the principle in 2008 on rhizospheremediated electricity production, many advancements have been made. This mini review aims to provide a concise update on PMFC research. Some important breakthroughs are mentioned, along with discussion of the present scenario and future directions.

A comparative study of Aloe Vera and Pandanus amaryllifolius Plant Microbial Fuel Cell's Performance in Voltage Generation

Microbial fuel cells (MFC) are more promising source of energy today and it should be cheaper and more efficient. The extended version of MFC is Plant Microbial Fuel Cells (PMFC). The construction and analysis of PMFC requires knowledge of different scientific and engineering fields, ranging from microbiology, electrochemistry to materials and engineering. The PMFC also depends on various factors like microorganism, electrode materials, pH value of the soil, photo synthesis, solar radiation, type of plant, temperature, etc. to produce electricity. The present study was done with two plants namely Aloe Vera and Pandanus amaryllifolius which are growing in Asian and in East Asian countries abundantly. The output voltages produced by these two plants were compared along with their response to solar radiation and type of electrode. The correlation with them was studied for a period of 14 days by keeping the other influencing parameters constant. It has been found that Pandanus amaryllifolius with graphite felt under direct sunlight generates better voltage than Aloe Vera under the same study conditions.

Microbial phyto-power systems – A sustainable integration of phytoremediation and microbial fuel cells

Bioelectrochemistry, 2018

Constructed wetland microbial fuel cells (CW-MFCs) or phyto-power systems are integrated bioelectrochemical systems (BES) that can sustainably harvest electricity from the anaerobic respiration of rhizospheric bacteria. This integration of techniques shows a promise in phytoremediation of wastewater along with bioenergy generation. In CW-MFCs, electrons harvested in anaerobic respiration of bacteria proliferating in the rhizospheric zone are electrochemically coupled with electron acceptors at the aerobic cathode submersed in water. Use of indigenous non-food plants in CW-MFCs has gained increasing interest primarily due to high yield of biomass that can be applied for other bioenergy purposes and bioaccumulation of pollutants. Furthermore, CW-MFCs can provide other benefits such as wastewater treatment, carbon dioxide assimilation, power generation and air purification. Microbial interaction with plant roots (rhizosphere), isolated species from the phyto-systems, with soil particles and pollutants are reviewed in this paper. In addition, successful applications of CW-MFCs are discussed with focus on power generation, the role of plant-microbe interactions as well as evaluating the critical operational parameters and their effect on power generation output efficiency.

Improvements in Electric Power Potential Generation from Plants Microbial Fuel Cells

2019

Plants Microbial Fuel Cells (PMFC) is a new technology that generates electricity in a renewable, clean and sustainable way. In spite of these advantages, it still faces limitations in power generation and current density, reaching lower production values than other renewable technologies. Different studies maintain that the high resistivity of the cathode is the main limitation in the generation of energy; therefore, non-metallic materials to obtain a better performance are replacing the metallic electrodes. The implementation of these materials applied to PMFC requires a complex interdisciplinary work. Through three experimental tests using metallic electrodes for the extraction of electrons, this research study shows that the treatment of the substrate with natural materials, the volume plant roots, and substrate temperature and humidity control have a significant influence in the increase of the electric potential and the generated current.

Bioelectricity Potential through Plant Microbial Fuel Cell System Using by Cynodon dactylon (Dooba ghas)

2019

In these times electricity is big trouble of problem facing by the world. Therefore, there is necessitating for the property basis of energy that is employed for as bio-electricity. Many of the scientists and researchers are trying to find out the sustainable energy generates with the help of plant microbial fuel cell. Plant microbial fuel cell (P-MFCs) could be feasibility technology approach of bio-electricity generation which is mutualism interaction of the plants along with their rhizospheric bacteria. In the present study, Plant-microbial fuel cell was observed in grass e-table evaluated in term of bioelectricity generation from Cynodon dactylon (Dooba Ghas). This e-table was connected with electrode and different condition (physical and chemical) to detect the change in bioelectric potential. It was found that maximum voltage generated among all the conditions was 4.24 ±2V at 15 days by using Cynodon dactylon through P-MFCs. The potential difference generated through P-MFCs wa...

A comparative study of Aloe Vera and Pandanus amaryllifolius Plant Microbial Fuel Cell’s Performance in Voltage Generation *Jayapandiyan

2018

Microbial fuel cells (MFC) are more promising source of energy today and it should be cheaper and more efficient. The extended version of MFC is Plant Microbial Fuel Cells (PMFC). The construction and analysis of PMFC requires knowledge of different scientific and engineering fields, ranging from microbiology, electrochemistry to materials and engineering. The PMFC also depends on various factors like microorganism, electrode materials, pH value of the soil, photo synthesis, solar radiation, type of plant, temperature, etc. to produce electricity. The present study was done with two plants namely Aloe Vera and Pandanus amaryllifolius which are growing in Asian and in East Asian countries abundantly. The output voltages produced by these two plants were compared along with their response to solar radiation and type of electrode. The correlation with them was studied for a period of 14 days by keeping the other influencing parameters constant. It has been found that Pandanus amaryllif...

Bioelectrochemical System: An Eco-Friendly Approach to Generate Electricity-Utilizing Plants and Microorganisms

Biosciences Biotechnology Research Asia

Owing to the fact of future energy demand, and the clampdown world is facing now, there is a crucial requirement for the sustainable energy sources which are cheap and environmentally friendly.As committed by a green alternative, for future enhancement of the planet, the fossil fuel abandonment is required, and instigation of renewable resources such as Microbial Fuel Cell [MFCs] and Plant Microbial Fuel Cell [PMFCs] should be implemented. MFC is a visionary technique, as it converts wastage into the energy, whereas, PMFC is a new-fangled technique devoid of any climatic conditions and it requires less investment. By scrutinizing this technique, Bacillus megaterium and sewage material are used in MFCs, whereas Azolla and Trigonellafoenumis used in PMFCs, which converts chemical energy into electrical energy with the help of electrons flowing from the anode to cathode via circuit. The individual setup of each MFCs and PMFCs are examined diurnally for voltage and current gain proceede...

Substrate treatment for the increment of electric power potential from plants microbial fuel cells

International Journal of Electrical and Computer Engineering (IJECE), 2021

Plants microbial fuel cells (PMFC) is novel system that generates renewable, clean, and sustainable electricity with minimal environmental impact. However, PMFC has limitations in power generation and current density, since its production values is lower than other renewable technologies. Different studies show that the highest limitation for energy generation through MFC is the high resistivity of the cathode, and the solution is to replace the metallic electrodes with non-metallic materials to obtain a better performance, however, the application of these materials requires complex interdisciplinary work. This study conducted three experimental tests using metallic electrodes for the extraction of electrons and combined a black earth substrate with different natural materials, types of plants, and water to determine their influence in the increment of the electric power output.

Bioreactor Study of Using Medicinal Herbs and Edible Flora to Stimulate Microbial Fuel Cells for Electrochemically-Steered Bioremediation

Bioenergy and Biofuels, 2017

This study investigates the effect on methane production from waste paper when co-digested with macroalgal biomass as a source of nitrogen. Both feedstocks were previously mechanically pretreated in order to reduce their particle size. Methane potential assays were carried out at laboratory scale in batch mode for 28 days. The highest methane yield (386 ml/g of volatile solids (VS)) was achieved at a F/I ratio of 0.2 and a WP/MA ratio of 50:50. The methane yield at a ratio WP/MA of 50:50, which represents an increase of 30% compare with mono-digestion of algae and 22% with mono-digestion of waste paper. Synergistic effect was found for the WP/MA ratio of 50:50 and all F/I ratios. It was concluded that methane production from waste paper improves significantly when co-digested with macroalgae biomass. The methane yields from co-digestion were also found higher that from macroalgae mono-digestion.

Probing the mechanism of simultaneous bioenergy production and biodegradation process of Congo red in microbial fuel cells

Journal of Chemical Technology & Biotechnology, 2018

BACKGROUND: Many approaches have been employed to increase the understanding and consequently the performance of Microbial Fuel Cells to obtain simultaneous power production and biodegradation. This study uses recombinant Escherichia coli K-12 with MtrA, MtrC and MtrCAB inserts previously prepared using synthetic biology to evaluate the involvement of each of these genes in bioenergy production and biodegradation of Congo red using a double chamber microbial fuel cell. RESULTS: MtrC was the key gene required for energy production corresponding to an average voltage of 360 mV (external resistance 1 K&) and power density of 59 mW/m 2 , while E. coli with MtrCAB insert showed the highest decolourisation which reached 80% in 36 h under microbial fuel cells conditions. Coloumbic efficiency was 1.2% for E.coli with MtrCAB compared to 2.5% and 2.3% for MtrC and MtrA inserts, respectively. Riboflavin seems to be involved in the electron transferring, its concentration was highest for E.coli with MtrA insert despite its poor performance in both bioenergy production and dye degradation. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that electrons are mutually exclusive between electricity production, dye degradation and other cellular activities. This study helps us improve our understanding of the dual bioenergy/decolourisation process taking place in MFCs in order to maximize the outcome.

Exploring Microbial Fuel Cell-assisted Bioremediation of Textile Dyes: Energy Conversion

2015

Prior studies indicated that –OH and/or –NH 2 substituent containing auxochrome compounds (e.g., 2-aminophenol and 1-amino-2-naphthol) could act as electron shuttles (ESs) to stimulate wastewater decolorization and bioelectricity generation in microbial fuel cells (MFCs). This study provided first-attempt to disclose how and why thionine-associated textile dyes (i.e., azure A and azure C) could also own such redox-mediating capabilities in MFCs. Due to the presence of iminium part as mediating group, –N(CH 3 ) 2 or –N(CH 3 )H substituent could effectively mediate electron transport compared to –NH 2 substituent for bioelectricity generation in MFCs. For dye-bearing wastewater treatment, the presence of electron-mediating textile dyes (e.g., thionine, azure A and azure C) in MFCs is promising to stimulate biodegradation of organics and bioelectricity generation. With such ESs as stimulants, using MFC as operation strategy would be cost-effective for wastewater treatment as oxidation ...

Red algae (Eucheuma cottonii) extract as a substrate in microbial fuel cell technology to generate electricity

THE 9TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE INDONESIAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY ICICS 2021: Toward a Meaningful Society

The continuous use of oil and gas fuels causes a global energy crisis and environmental pollution, so it is necessary to use renewable and environmentally friendly energy sources. Microbial fuel cell (MFC) is a technology that can generate electricity by converting chemical energy into electrical energy using microorganisms as a catalyst. This research aimed to determine the potential of red algae (Eucheuma cottonii) as a substrate in MFC to generate electrical energy. This research used a dual-chamber MFC model. Anode chamber contains hydrolyzed red algae cellulose, peptone, yeast extract, KH2PO4, and methylene blue (this mixture is autoclaved before being put into the anode chamber), while the cathode chamber contains 0.2 M KMnO4 as the electrolyte solution. This reactor used Nafion 117 membrane as a proton exchange membrane. The electrical measurement was carried out every 4 hours for 48 hours. The highest power density using red algae as a substrate was 982 mW/cm 2 with a value of maximum current 0.52 mA and potential different 370 mV. It is concluded that red algae (E. cottonii) extract can be employed as a subtract in the MFC system to produce electrical energy.

The role of riboflavin in decolourisation of Congo red and bioelectricity production using Shewanella oneidensis-MR1 under MFC and non-MFC conditions

World journal of microbiology & biotechnology, 2017

Dissimilatory metal reducing bacteria can exchange electrons extracellularly and hold great promise for their use in simultaneous wastewater treatment and electricity production. This study investigated the role of riboflavin, an electron carrier, in the decolourisation of Congo red in microbial fuel cells (MFCs) using Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 as a model organism. The contribution of the membrane-bound protein MtrC to the decolourisation process was also investigated. Within the range of riboflavin concentrations tested, 20 µM was found to be the best with >95% of the dye (initial concentration 200 mg/L) decolourised in MFCs within 50 h compared to 90% in the case where no riboflavin was added. The corresponding maximum power density was 45 mW/m(2). There was no significant difference in the overall decolourisation efficiencies of Shewanela oneidensis MR-1 ΔMtrC mutants compared to the wild type. However, in terms of power production the mutant produced more power (Pmax 76 mW/m...

Microbial fuel cell as a free-radical scavenging tool

Biotechnology & Biotechnological Equipment

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are known for their capability to directly convert organic substrates into electricity by the biochemical activity of specific microorganisms. Availability of a proper terminal electron acceptor is crucial for this process. Free radicals, with their one or more unpaired electrons, are extremely reducible and could be considered as electron acceptors in terms of cathodic processes in MFC. During this reduction, free radicals could be transformed in the same manner as they are transformed by antioxidants. The present study investigated this opportunity by utilization of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (150 mmol/dm 3 methanol solution) as a free-radical molecule. During the studied process, over 90% radical neutralization was observed in less than 16 hours. The results obtained demonstrate for the first time the potential of MFC type bioelectrochemical systems to serve as a free-radical scavenging tool and to provide antioxidant and anti-radical activity. In this way, this study opens a completely new field of research and application of bio-electrochemical systems.

Microbial fuel cell: a green approach for the utilization of waste for the generation of bioelectricity

Bioresources and Bioprocessing, 2016

Today we are witnessing a global energy crisis due to huge energy demands and limited resources. Non-renewable energy sources are depleting and renewable energy sources are not properly utilized. There is an immediate need for search of alternate routes for energy generation. Microbial fuel cell (MFC) technology, which uses microorganisms to transform chemical energy of organic compounds into electricity is considered a promising alternative. Extensive studies have corroborated new insights into MFC, which show that a wide array of carbon sources including wastes can be employed using a variety of microbes. Consequently, microbial transformation of wastes using novel bioremediation strategies such as MFC for energy generation is considered as an efficient and environmentally benign approach. This paper deals with critical review of different classes of xenobiotics and wastes that can be employed for bioenergy generation, microorganisms involved, power output, major benefits, challenges and pit holes of MFC technology.

Effects of furan derivatives and phenolic compounds on electricity generation in microbial fuel cells

2008

Lignocellulosic biomass is an attractive fuel source for MFCs due to its renewable nature and ready availability. Furan derivatives and phenolic compounds could be potentially formed during the pre-treatment process of lignocellulosic biomass. In this study, voltage generation from these compounds and the effects of these compounds on voltage generation from glucose in air-cathode microbial fuel cells (MFCs) were examined. Except for 5-hydroxymethyl furfural (5-HMF), all the other compounds tested were unable to be utilized directly for electricity production in MFCs in the absence of other electron donors. One furan derivate, 5-HMF and two phenolic compounds, trans-cinnamic acid and 3,5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxycinnamic acid did not affect electricity generation from glucose at a concentration up to 10 mM. Four phenolic compounds, including syringaldeyhde, vanillin, trans-4-hydroxy-3-methoxy, and 4-hydroxy cinnamic acids inhibited electricity generation at concentrations above 5 mM. Other compounds, including 2-furaldehyde, benzyl alcohol and acetophenone, inhibited the electricity generation even at concentrations less than 0.2 mM. This study suggests that effective electricity generation from the hydrolysates of lignocellulosic biomass in MFCs may require the employment of the hydrolysis methods with low furan derivatives and phenolic compounds production, or the removal of some strong inhibitors prior to the MFC operation, or the improvement of bacterial tolerance against these compounds through the enrichment of new bacterial cultures or genetic modification of the bacterial strains.

Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC): Recent Advancement and Its Application

Microbial fuel cells have received increased attention as a means to produce "green" electricity from natural substances such as carbohydrates, agricultural wastes or dairy waste. A microbial fuel cell is a biological system in which bacteria do not directly transfer their produced electrons to their electron acceptor, rather transported over an anode, conducting wire and a cathode. It is divided into two halves: aerobic and anaerobic. The aerobic half has a positively charged electrode and is bubbled with oxygen. The anaerobic half does not have oxygen, allowing a negatively charged electrode to act as the electron receptor for the algal processes. The cathode chamber was sterilized and then refilled with basal medium with Chlorella vulgaris as inoculom to provide electron that transferred from cathode to anode for electricity production. The electricity producing bacteria are known as electrogens. Proton conductive materials in an MFC should ideally be able to inhibit the transfer of other materials such as the fuel (substrate) or the electron acceptor (oxygen) while conducting protons to the cathode at high efficiency. Thus bacterial energy is directly converted into electrical energy. The potential between the respiratory system and electron acceptor generates the current and voltage needed to make electricity. The electrons and protons react with oxygen molecules in the cathode chamber to form water. In nutshell, the novel reactor design and idea of using photosynthetic algae for oxygen supply to cathodic reaction green are also helpful in CO 2 sequestration.

Photosynthetic microorganisms (Algae) mediated bioelectricity generation in microbial fuel cell: Concise review

Environmental Technology & Innovation, Elsevier, 2020

Since the last century, the search for clean and renewable energy is going on. This process will continue until there is a stable solution available as an alternative to fossil fuels. Several energy-producing products arise from photosynthetic-organisms like biofuel, bioelectricity, and there are various methods also available for the extraction of these products. Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are energy transducers which convert organic matter directly into electricity, through the process of anaerobic respiration of microorganisms. Now a day's researchers have taken as a challenge to use algae along with the bacterial communities to provide an organic carbon fuel source for the MFCs. This paper describes the potential application of algal biomass in the field of bioelectricity. Till now, many scientific experiments conducted all around the world to demonstrate how well efficient is this green photosynthetic organism capable of producing electricity along with its other applications like biofuel, demand in the food industry, and much more. The present manuscript aimed to provide an overview of the potential use of algae as a biocatalyst in MFCs. Further, this article also provides the current status of numerous countries which are excelled in the field of bioelectricity generation.

BIO-ELECTRICITY PRODUCTION FROM ORGANIC WASTE USING SINGLE CHAMBER MICROBIAL FUEL CELL (MFC)

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are devices that use microorganisms including bacteria and yeast to generate electricity from organic matter. In this paper we report the generation of electricity using a single chamber microbial fuel cell in which grape waste extract was used as organic substrate with and without the use of thionine, neutral red and toludine blue as mediators. Further, we compared the efficiency of different electrodes like magnesium, graphite, copper and zinc in bioelectricity generation as the electrodes play a major role in harnessing the electricity without any loss. The power generation while using the mediator thionine has showed the maximum voltage of (2.5 V) with magnesium electrode compared to toludine blue (2.35 V) and Neutral Red (2.2 V). Various parameters such as change in pH, conductivity and specific gravity were also studied. The conductivity of the samples increased from 2.5 mƱ to 3 mƱ indicating the release of ions during the break down of organic substrate.