135
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
K. K. Pant et al. (eds.), Catalysis for Clean Energy and Environmental
Sustainability, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-65017-9_5
Plant Microbial Fuel Cell as a Biomass
Conversion Technology for Sustainable
Development
D. A. Jadhav, D. Ghosal, A. D. Chendake, S. Pandit, and T. K. Sajana
Abstract Plant photosynthesis is one of nature’s best gifts to humankind for converting solar energy into chemical energy in the form of carbohydrates and energy.
Plant microbial fuel cells (PMFCs) or photosynthetic MFCs integrate the principles
of photosynthesis and fuel cell to convert such synthesized carbohydrates and
organic matter into electricity by microbial oxidation in the rhizosphere of plants.
Also, plants utilize nutrients from effluent streams for self-growth and metabolism,
reducing the nutrient load and heavy metal concentration, and are capable to degrade
contaminants. Performance of PMFC is governed by various parameters such as
selection of plant species, rhizodeposits, design of MFC, electrode properties, inoculum characteristics, wastewater properties, etc. This chapter discussed the basics
of PMFC to applications for real field. According to applications, PMFC designs
can be varied as constructed MFC, microbial carbon capture cells, microbial solar
cells, floating islands, hydroponics-MFC, and paddy field MFC. Thus, simultaneous
organic matter degradation, biomass recovery, oxygen release for cathodic reduction, CO 2 sequestrations, nutrient removal, and heavy metal removal along with
electricity generation can be achieved in PMFC.
D. A. Jadhav (*)
Department of Agricultural Engineering, Maharashtra Institute of Technology,
Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India
e-mail: deepak.jadhav1795@gmail.com
D. Ghosal
Department of Chemical Engineering, CV Raman Global University,
Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
A. D. Chendake
Shiv Shankar College of Agricultural Engineering,
Mirajgaon, Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, India
S. Pandit
Department of Life Sciences, School of Basic Sciences and Research, Sharda University,
Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
T. K. Sajana
Department of Agricultural and Food Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur,
Kharagpur, West Bengal, India
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
K. K. Pant et al. (eds.), Catalysis for Clean Energy and Environmental
Sustainability, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-65017-9_5
Plant Microbial Fuel Cell as a Biomass
Conversion Technology for Sustainable
Development
D. A. Jadhav, D. Ghosal, A. D. Chendake, S. Pandit, and T. K. Sajana
Abstract Plant photosynthesis is one of nature’s best gifts to humankind for converting solar energy into chemical energy in the form of carbohydrates and energy.
Plant microbial fuel cells (PMFCs) or photosynthetic MFCs integrate the principles
of photosynthesis and fuel cell to convert such synthesized carbohydrates and
organic matter into electricity by microbial oxidation in the rhizosphere of plants.
Also, plants utilize nutrients from effluent streams for self-growth and metabolism,
reducing the nutrient load and heavy metal concentration, and are capable to degrade
contaminants. Performance of PMFC is governed by various parameters such as
selection of plant species, rhizodeposits, design of MFC, electrode properties, inoculum characteristics, wastewater properties, etc. This chapter discussed the basics
of PMFC to applications for real field. According to applications, PMFC designs
can be varied as constructed MFC, microbial carbon capture cells, microbial solar
cells, floating islands, hydroponics-MFC, and paddy field MFC. Thus, simultaneous
organic matter degradation, biomass recovery, oxygen release for cathodic reduction, CO 2 sequestrations, nutrient removal, and heavy metal removal along with
electricity generation can be achieved in PMFC.
D. A. Jadhav (*)
Department of Agricultural Engineering, Maharashtra Institute of Technology,
Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India
e-mail: deepak.jadhav1795@gmail.com
D. Ghosal
Department of Chemical Engineering, CV Raman Global University,
Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
A. D. Chendake
Shiv Shankar College of Agricultural Engineering,
Mirajgaon, Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, India
S. Pandit
Department of Life Sciences, School of Basic Sciences and Research, Sharda University,
Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
T. K. Sajana
Department of Agricultural and Food Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur,
Kharagpur, West Bengal, India