Microbial fuel cell

1. Green Electricity Production using
a Plant-Microbial Fuel Cell

2. CONTENT
1. Introduction
2. Objectives
3. Literature survey
4. Proposed Solution
5. Block Diagram
6. Methodology
7. Components an Electrodes
8. Results
9. Conclusion
10.Future scope
11.References

3. INTRODUCTION
A PMFC is a bioelectrochemical system that generates electricity from plant waste through the metabolism
of microorganisms. Bacteria oxidize organic matter, producing electrons and protons collected at electrodes
to create a current. PMFCs offer potential as a sustainable source of renewable energy and waste treatment
solution.
Summarising our project:
1. PMFCs generate electricity from plant waste using microorganisms.
2. Bacteria oxidize organic matter, releasing electrons and protons collected at electrodes.
3. PMFCs have potential as sustainable renewable energy source and waste treatment solution.
4. Adoption of PMFCs can lead to a cleaner and greener future.

4. OBJECTIVES
The objectives of studying Plant Microbial Fuel Cells (PMFCs) can vary depending on the field of study or
application, but some common objectives include:
1. To understand the principles of PMFC technology and how it works. (PHASE-1)
2. To evaluate the potential of PMFCs as a sustainable and renewable energy source. (PHASE-1)
3. To determine the feasibility of PMFCs for practical use in real-world applications. (PHASE-1)
4. To create a prototype and test it, calculate voltage and current. (Phase-1)
5. To study the interactions between the microorganisms, the substrate, and the electrodes in PMFCs. (Phase-2)
6. To create new electrode setups and in different materials. (Phase-2)
7. To explore the potential of PMFCs as a waste treatment solution and its impact on the environment. (Phase-2)
8. To develop and integrate PMFCs into other energy systems to increase their efficiency and effectiveness. (Phase-
2)
Overall, the study of PMFCs aims to advance our knowledge of this technology and its applications, and to find ways
to utilize PMFCs in a sustainable and responsible manner for the benefit of society and the environment.

5. LITERATURE SURVEY
S.NO. TITLE AUTHORS KEY POINTS UNIVERSITY/
YEAR
1. Microbial Fuel
Cells:
Methodologies
and
Applications.
Frontiers in
Microbiology
Du, Z. et al.
(2015)
Integrating PMFCs into renewable energy systems can result in
improved energy production, efficiency, and stability.
2015
Wiley
InterScience
2. Microbial
electricity
generation in
rice paddy
fields: recent
advances and
perspectives in
rhizosphere
microbial fuel
cells
Atsushi
Kouzuma &
Nobuo Kaku &
Kazuya
Watanabe
1. MFC systems can be applied to the generation of
electricity at water/sediment interfaces in the
environment, such as bay areas, wetlands, and rice
paddy fields. electricity generation in paddy fields as
high as ∼80 mW m−2
2. Harnessing methane emission latent energy in rice fields
using MFCs
3. Comparison between different plants’ energy generation
Published online: 22
October 2014 #
Springer-Verlag
Berlin Heidelberg
2014

6. S.NO.
TITLE AUTHORS KEY POINTS UNIVERSITY/YEAR
3 Design criteria for the
Plant-Microbial Fuel
Cell
Marjolein Helder 1, Tested plant growth and output increasing with different
media
2. Flat Plate Microbial Fuel Cell vs Tubular for internal
resistance reduction
3. Roof top PMFC
PhD thesis, Wageningen
University, Wageningen, The
Netherlands (2012)
4 Power generation in a
plant-microbial fuel
cell assembly with
graphite and stainless
steel electrodes
growing Vigna
Radiata
K R S Pamintuan
1,2, K M Sanchez
1. Mung beans are used
2. Electrodes : Stainless steel, graphite, control used to check
plant growth
3. Concurrent food and power generation confirmed
4. Requires improvement in power density
School of Chemical, Biological,
and Materials Engineering and
Sciences, Mapua University,
Intramuros, Manila, Philippines
1002
5 Substrate flow in the
rhizosphere
J.M. LYNCH and
J.M. WHIPPS
1. 'rhizodeposition' has been used to describe carbon loss
from roots
Microbiology Department,
AFRC Institute of Horticultural
Research, Littlehampton, West
Sussex, BN17 6LP, UK
6 Compost in plant
microbial fuel cell for
bioelectricity
generation
M.A. Moqsud a,
, J. Yoshitake a
, Q.S. Bushra a
, M. Hyodo a, K.
Omine b, David
Strik c
1.The peak voltage generated in rice PMFCs was around 700
mV
Department of Civil and
Environmental Engineering,
Yamaguchi University, Japan
Department of Civil
Engineering, Nagasaki
University, Japan

7. S.NO. TITLE AUTHORS KEY POINTS UNIVERSITY/ YEAR
8 Up to 399 mV
bioelectricity
generated by a rice
paddy planted
microbial fuel cell
assisted with a blue
green algal cathode
Pratiksha
Srivastava
Supriya Gupta
Vikram Garaniya
Rouzbeh Abbass
Asheesh Kumar
Yadav
Algal-assisted cathode was designed.
Results show that a maximum power density of
29.78 mW/m3 and a current density of 610 mA/m3
self-sustainable mode using entirely natural
processes without any external input of organics or
oxidant.
PhD thesis, Wageningen
University, Wageningen, The
Netherlands (2012)
9 Rice Cultivation
without Synthetic
Fertilizers and
Performance of
Microbial Fuel Cells
(MFCs) under
Continuous Irrigation
with Treated
Wastewater
Dong Duy Pham
1,*, Kei Cai 2 Luc
Duc Phung 3
, Nobuo Kaku 2,
Atsushi Sasaki 4
,Yuka Sasaki 2,
Kenichi Horiguchi,
Dung Viet Pham
and Toru Watanabe
1. Brown rice MFC
2. no adverse effects of on the characteristics of rice
growth, yield, and yield components, or on the heavy
metal content in soils and brown rice, compared with
those in the control
22 July 2019
Faculty of Environmental
Engineering, National University
of Civil Engineering,
10 Microbial Fuel Cells
Generating
Electricity from
Rhizodeposits of
Rice Plants
LIESJE DE
SCHAMPHELAIRE, †
LEEN VAN DEN BOSSCHE,
HAI SON DANG, MONICA
HÖFTE,
NICO BOON, KORNEEL
RABAEY, AND
WILLY VERSTRAETE
1. 600 mV
2. oxidizing anode
January 14, 2008.Ghent
University,University of
Queensland

8. PROBLEM STATEMENT
What problem do we solve?
● Lack of electricity in rural areas.
● Sustainable way of producing electricity

9. PROPOSED SOLUTION
● Plant Microbial fuel cells.
● M
POTENTIAL OF PMFC AS A WASTE WATER TREATMENT SOLUTION

10. WHAT’S NEXT ?
1. Study the interactions between the microorganisms, the substrate, and
the electrodes in PMFCs.
2. Create new electrode setups.
3. Explore the potential of PMFCs as a waste treatment solution and its
impact on environment.
4. Develop and integrate PMFCs into other energy systems to increase
their efficiency and effectiveness.

11. INTERACTIONS BETWEEN MICROORGANISMS,
SUBSTRATE AND ELECTRODES IN PMFCs
The interactions between microorganisms, substrates, and electrodes in Plant Microbial
Fuel Cells (PMFCs) are crucial in determining the performance of the fuel cell. In PMFCs,
microorganisms oxidize the organic matter in the substrate to generate electrons and
protons, which are then collected at electrodes to produce a current.

12. INTERACTIONS BETWEEN MICROORGANISMS,
SUBSTRATE AND ELECTRODES IN PMFCs
The interactions between microorganisms, substrates, and electrodes in Plant Microbial Fuel Cells
(PMFCs) are crucial in determining the performance of the fuel cell. In PMFCs, microorganisms oxidize
the organic matter in the substrate to generate electrons and protons, which are then collected at
electrodes to produce a current.
Several research studies have been conducted.
Kim & Lee (2010) conducted a comprehensive review of microbial fuel cells, including PMFCs, and
focused on the interactions between microorganisms, substrates, and electrodes. They found that the
type of substrate, inoculum composition, and operating conditions all have an impact on PMFC
performance.
Xing & Logan (2008) studied the use of grass clippings as a substrate in PMFCs and found that it
improved the performance of the fuel cell, demonstrating the importance of the interaction between
the substrate and the microorganisms in PMFCs.
Pham et al. (2010) evaluated the performance of a PMFC inoculated with mixed acidogenic fermented
liquid and found that different parameters have an impact on the performance of the PMFC,
highlighting the importance of the interaction between the microorganisms and the electrodes in
PMFCs.

13. INTERACTIONS BETWEEN MICROORGANISMS,
SUBSTRATE AND ELECTRODES IN PMFCs
Zhang et al. (2015) studied the microbial fuel activity of mixed cultures of bacteria in MFCs and found that the microbial
community structure is important for the performance of MFCs. The authors found that the presence of certain types of
bacteria improved the performance of MFCs, while others reduced it.
These studies show that the interactions between microorganisms, substrates, and electrodes play a crucial role in
determining the performance of PMFCs. To optimize the performance of these fuel cells, further research is needed to
understand the interactions between these components and to develop effective strategies for improving these
interactions.
References:
Kim, H. J., & Lee, H. J. (2010). Microbial fuel cells: methodologies and prospects. Biotechnology advances, 28(6), 435-450.
Zhang, X., Kim, H. J., & Lee, H. J. (2015). Microbial community structure is critical to electricity generation in microbial fuel
cells. Scientific reports, 5, 10938.
Xing, D., & Logan, B. E. (2008). Electricity production from grass clippings using a microbial fuel cell. Bioresource technology,
99(12), 4864-4869.
Pham, T. H., Lee, H. J., & Lee, Y. (2010). Electricity generation from mixed acidogenic fermented liquid using a plant microbial
fuel cell. Bioresource technology, 101(23), 9122-9128.

14. ELECTRODE SETUPS AND REQUIREMENTS
1. Stainless steel mesh
with activated carbon
2. Stainless steel with
cooked rice(resin) and
activated carbon
3. Stainless steel with
activated carbon and
cow dung
4. Stainless steel with
carbon and cow dung
enhanced mud
5. Aluminium foil with
cow dung
6. Perforated Aluminium
foil with cow dung

15. ELECTRODE REQUIREMENTS
1. Increased surface area for maximum contact of released electrons
2. Reduced resistance for high current
3. Rust proof
4. Cheap
5. Compact
6. Easy to build and troubleshoot
7. Must not harm plant growth or roots
8. Longevity and minimum time to start producing voltage, stable output

16. POTENTIAL OF PMFC AS A WASTE WATER
TREATMENT SOLUTION
Plant Microbial Fuel Cells (PMFCs) are considered as a promising waste treatment
solution due to their potential to effectively treat various types of waste while
producing renewable energy.
In PMFCs, microorganisms oxidize the organic matter in plant waste to generate
electrons and protons, which are then collected at electrodes to produce a
current.

17. POTENTIAL OF PMFCs AS A WASTE WATER
TREATMENT SOLUTION
Ma et al. (2017) explored the treatment of wastewater in PMFCs and found that PMFCs had the
potential to effectively treat wastewater, leading to reduced greenhouse gas emissions and
hazardous waste production.
Additionally, Sivagurunathan et al. (2018) conducted a study on the treatment of agricultural
waste in PMFCs and found that PMFCs were effective in treating agricultural waste and reducing
the production of hazardous waste.
In conclusion, PMFCs have shown potential as a cost-effective and environmentally sustainable
waste treatment solution. However, further research is required to fully understand the impact
of PMFCs on the environment and to optimize the efficiency and performance of PMFCs as a
waste treatment solution.
REFERENCES:
Kim, H. J., Lee, H. J., Kim, Y. T., Lee, J. W., & Park, T. H. (2015). Plant microbial fuel cells (PMFCs)
for food waste treatment: a review. Bioresource technology, 190, 1-11.
Ma, J., Zhang, T., Wang, D., & Liang, P. (2017). Microbial fuel cells for wastewater treatment: a
review. Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering, 11(4), 1-12.
Sivagurunathan, P., Kim, H. J., Kim, Y. T., & Park, T. H. (2018). Plant microbial fuel cells (PMFCs)
for the treatment of agricultural waste: a review. Bioresource technology, 249, 380-391.

18. INTEGRATE PMFCs INTO OTHER ENERGY
SYSTEMS
But how can we integrate PMFCs?

19. INTEGRATE PMFCs INTO OTHER ENERGY
SYSTEMS
Developing and integrating Plant Microbial Fuel Cells (PMFCs) into other energy systems has
been the focus of much research in recent years, with the goal of increasing the efficiency and
effectiveness of PMFCs as a source of renewable energy. Some of the key research studies that
have explored this topic are discussed below.
"Integration of Microbial Fuel Cells with Solar Cells for Increased Energy Production" (Liu et al.,
2009) - This study explored the integration of PMFCs with photovoltaic cells to increase the
overall energy output of the system. The results showed that integrating PMFCs with
photovoltaic cells can result in a significant increase in energy production, as well as improved
system stability and efficiency.
"Integration of Microbial Fuel Cells and Lithium-ion Batteries for Energy Storage" (Li et al., 2013)
- This study explored the integration of PMFCs with lithium-ion batteries to increase the energy
storage capabilities of the system. The results showed that integrating PMFCs with lithium-ion
batteries can result in improved energy storage efficiency, as well as increased energy
production.

20. INTEGRATE PMFCs INTO OTHER ENERGY
SYSTEMS
"Integration of Microbial Fuel Cells with Traditional Grids: A Review" (Zhang et al., 2018) - This
study reviewed the current state of PMFC integration with traditional grids, including the
benefits and challenges of integrating PMFCs with traditional energy systems. The results
showed that PMFCs have the potential to be integrated into traditional energy grids, but more
research is needed to overcome technical and economic barriers.
"Integration of Microbial Fuel Cells into Renewable Energy Systems: A Review" (Zhou et al.,
2021) - This study reviewed the integration of PMFCs into renewable energy systems, including
solar, wind, and hydropower systems. The results showed that integrating PMFCs into renewable
energy systems can result in improved energy production, efficiency, and stability.
In conclusion, integrating PMFCs into other energy systems has the potential to significantly
increase the efficiency and effectiveness of PMFCs as a source of renewable energy. Further
research is needed to overcome the technical and economic barriers to PMFC integration, but
the results of past studies have shown promise for the future of PMFC integration into other
energy systems.

21. INTEGRATE PMFCs INTO OTHER ENERGY
SYSTEMS
Citations:
Liu, X., Zhao, Y., & Li, Y. (2009). Integration of microbial fuel cells with solar cells for
increased energy production. Biosensors and Bioelectronics, 25(2), 487-491.
Li, Z., Zhang, X., Li, Y., & Liu, X. (2013). Integration of microbial fuel cells and lithium-
ion batteries for energy storage. Energy & Environmental Science, 6(3), 783-788.
Zhang, Y., Li, Y., & Liu, X. (2018). Integration of microbial fuel cells with traditional
grids: A review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 84, 1489-1497.
Zhou, J., Zhang, X., Zhang, Y., & Liu, X. (2021). Integration of microbial fuel cells into
renewable energy systems: A review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews,
136, 111041.

22. INTEGRATE PMFCs INTO OTHER ENERGY
SYSTEMS
Challenges:
Stability: One of the major challenges in integrating PMFCs is to ensure their stability and reliability in order to maintain
the quality and consistency of the generated power.
Efficiency: Another challenge is to improve the efficiency of PMFCs to generate power, as they tend to have a low energy
conversion rate.
Scale-up: PMFCs need to be scaled up from the laboratory level to a larger commercial scale to make them more practical
and economically viable.
Cost: The cost of PMFCs is still higher compared to other conventional power generation technologies, making it difficult
to compete in the energy market.
Technical Challenges: There are also technical challenges in integrating PMFCs into traditional energy grids, such as
control and monitoring systems, energy storage, and voltage regulation.
Environmental Impact: The environmental impact of PMFCs needs to be carefully considered as well. The potential
release of pollutants and the handling and disposal of waste generated by PMFCs need to be addressed.
Despite these challenges, PMFCs have a lot of potential as a sustainable energy source, and research is ongoing to address
these challenges and make PMFCs a more viable option for power generation.

23. THANK YOU