Plant microbial fuel cell for the effective utilization of wastewater and bioenergy production

Wastewater is any form of water that has been contaminated by domestic or commercial processes. The toxic pollutant in wastewater poses threat to humans and the environment. Wastewater treatment facilities aid in the purification of water and remediate problems regarding water scarcity. Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) have emerged as a potential method for wastewater treatment techniques and at the same time as one of the most promising technologies for bio-energy generation. Plant microbial fuel cell (PMFC) is an MFC-derived technology that employs plant roots. The plant is embedded in the anode of MFC which is a carbon cloth. Plant roots deposit organic molecules in the anode, which are oxidized by electrochemically active bacteria. The excreted rhizodeposits generate bioelectricity. PMFC is a renewable and sustainable source of electricity. Extensive research on PMFC has focused on various structural design, optimization, and performance, and considerable progress has been made in these areas. However, hardly few research studies have pivoted on establishing the application of PMFC as a sustainable agricultural approach. The leafy vegetable, Amaranthus dubius (red spinach) is employed in this study to generate electricity and provide wastewater treatment. The data was monitored for 65 days, and the maximum voltage generation was 260mV. An assessment of the voltage generated is conducted to calculate the bioenergy produced. The crop yield and wastewater treatment efficiency are examined during the progress of plant growth as well. Overall, the research demonstrates the possible application of PMFC technology in wastewater treatment, crop production, and bio-energy generation.