145
7 Conclusion
At current scenario, water and energy crises are two important concerns the whole
world is facing nowadays. Bioelectrochemical system such as plant microbial fuel
cell provides a novel way to trap solar energy by integrating advantages of MFC for
effluent treatment and energy recovery. Research on PMFC is still in the early stage
of growth, and the limitation of low-power output can be overcome by using effective catalyst and mediators and controlling mass diffusion losses. PMFC is a multidisciplinary system dealing with biology, electrochemistry, material science,
environmental chemistry, and engineering economics. During integration of plant
photosynthesis with MFC, the soil system and the plant can provide a heterogeneous microenvironment for microbes and substrates. Due to the self-foodsynthesizing ability of plants and photosynthetic organisms, plant-microbe
interaction plays an encouraging role in long-term operation due to the continuous
availability of nutrients and the adaptation of electrogenic population in system [8].
Variations in design promote the application of PMFC to be coupled with constructed wetland, algal treatment, hydroponic system, and marine sediment. Thus,
PMFC provides a novel and alternative solution for energy generation from plant
biomass source to achieve the sustainable development and energy positive system.
References
1. Mohnish B, Suchithra TV (2018) Electricity generation from living plants using microbial fuel
cells. Int J Eng Technol 7(4):534–537
2. Webpage 1. https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/biomass/. Accessed 18 May 2020
3. Liu S, Song H, Li X, Yang F (2013) Power generation enhancement by utilizing plant photosynthate in microbial fuel cell coupled constructed wetland system. Int J Photoenergy 2013:1
4. Pamintuan KRS, Sanchez KM (2019) Power generation in a plant-microbial fuel cell assembly
with graphite and stainless steel electrodes growing Vigna Radiata. In: IOP conference series:
materials science and engineering, vol 703. IOP Publishing, Bristol, p 012037
5. Deng H, Wu YC, Zhang F, Huang ZC, Chen Z, Xu HJ, Zhao F (2014) Factors affecting the
performance of single-chamber soil microbial fuel cells for power generation. Pedosphere
24(3):330–338
6. Helder M, Strik DPBTB, Hamelers HVM, Buisman CJN (2012) The flat-plate plantmicrobial
fuel cell: the effect of a new design on internal resistances. Biotechnol Biofuels 5:70
7. Nguyen V, Nitisoravut R (2019) Bioelectricity generation in plant microbial fuel cell using forage grass under variations of circadian rhythm, ambient temperature, and soil water contents.
In: 2019 IEEE Asia Power and Energy Engineering Conference (APEEC). IEEE, Piscataway,
NJ, pp 240–244
8. Regmi R, Nitisoravut R, Ketchaimongkol J (2018) A decade of plant-assisted microbial fuel
cells: looking back and moving forward. Biofuels 9:1–8. https://doi.org/10.1080/1759726
9.2018.1432272
9. Zeng L, Lesch SM, Grieve CM (2003) Rice growth and yield respond to changes in water
depth and salinity stress. Agric Water Manag 59(1):67–75
Plant Microbial Fuel Cell as a Biomass Conversion Technology for Sustainable…
7 Conclusion
At current scenario, water and energy crises are two important concerns the whole
world is facing nowadays. Bioelectrochemical system such as plant microbial fuel
cell provides a novel way to trap solar energy by integrating advantages of MFC for
effluent treatment and energy recovery. Research on PMFC is still in the early stage
of growth, and the limitation of low-power output can be overcome by using effective catalyst and mediators and controlling mass diffusion losses. PMFC is a multidisciplinary system dealing with biology, electrochemistry, material science,
environmental chemistry, and engineering economics. During integration of plant
photosynthesis with MFC, the soil system and the plant can provide a heterogeneous microenvironment for microbes and substrates. Due to the self-foodsynthesizing ability of plants and photosynthetic organisms, plant-microbe
interaction plays an encouraging role in long-term operation due to the continuous
availability of nutrients and the adaptation of electrogenic population in system [8].
Variations in design promote the application of PMFC to be coupled with constructed wetland, algal treatment, hydroponic system, and marine sediment. Thus,
PMFC provides a novel and alternative solution for energy generation from plant
biomass source to achieve the sustainable development and energy positive system.
References
1. Mohnish B, Suchithra TV (2018) Electricity generation from living plants using microbial fuel
cells. Int J Eng Technol 7(4):534–537
2. Webpage 1. https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/biomass/. Accessed 18 May 2020
3. Liu S, Song H, Li X, Yang F (2013) Power generation enhancement by utilizing plant photosynthate in microbial fuel cell coupled constructed wetland system. Int J Photoenergy 2013:1
4. Pamintuan KRS, Sanchez KM (2019) Power generation in a plant-microbial fuel cell assembly
with graphite and stainless steel electrodes growing Vigna Radiata. In: IOP conference series:
materials science and engineering, vol 703. IOP Publishing, Bristol, p 012037
5. Deng H, Wu YC, Zhang F, Huang ZC, Chen Z, Xu HJ, Zhao F (2014) Factors affecting the
performance of single-chamber soil microbial fuel cells for power generation. Pedosphere
24(3):330–338
6. Helder M, Strik DPBTB, Hamelers HVM, Buisman CJN (2012) The flat-plate plantmicrobial
fuel cell: the effect of a new design on internal resistances. Biotechnol Biofuels 5:70
7. Nguyen V, Nitisoravut R (2019) Bioelectricity generation in plant microbial fuel cell using forage grass under variations of circadian rhythm, ambient temperature, and soil water contents.
In: 2019 IEEE Asia Power and Energy Engineering Conference (APEEC). IEEE, Piscataway,
NJ, pp 240–244
8. Regmi R, Nitisoravut R, Ketchaimongkol J (2018) A decade of plant-assisted microbial fuel
cells: looking back and moving forward. Biofuels 9:1–8. https://doi.org/10.1080/1759726
9.2018.1432272
9. Zeng L, Lesch SM, Grieve CM (2003) Rice growth and yield respond to changes in water
depth and salinity stress. Agric Water Manag 59(1):67–75
Plant Microbial Fuel Cell as a Biomass Conversion Technology for Sustainable…