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Nat. Env. & Poll. Tech.

Website: www.neptjournal.com

Received: 21-05-2016

Accepted: 16-07-2016

Key Words:

Renewable energy

Top soil

Microbial fuel cell

Power generation

ABSTRACT

Topsoil microbial community primarily consists of bacterial species that can generate electricity if a microbial fuel cell is incorporated with it. Since such electron producing bacteria are abundant in nature, microbial fuel cells can be considered as clean source of electricity generation and a prospect for renewable energy growth. Here, the authors have shown experiments with a real microbial fuel cell, investigating electrical power production from it using the Himalayan top soil of Dehradun in Uttarakhand, India. A two week study revealed a peak power of 0.99 mW and voltage across the terminals rise up to 1.54 V; also various nutrients were added to the soil, like kitchen wastes and acetate to see the power producing capacity of the soil microbes. At the smallest level, it can help remote rural areas to power lamps or other less energy intensive devices. Using a setup that includes anode, cathode, and related electrical fittings this work has utilized these bacteria over time and observe the power they produce. The setup brings together the concept of energy, electronics and microbiology under one framework and is in line with issues relating to climate change, energy security and sustainability. An attempt has been made to explore the spectrum of scenarios and speculating the possibility of generating renewable power using the Himalayan top soil.

INTRODUCTION

During the 1900s the inception of the idea to use microbes to produce electricity started taking shape, which eventually led to the use of Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) technology. This relatively unexplored territory has, however gained attention as alternate energy sources and are entering the society. Topsoil is filled with bacteria species that decompose organic matter and release electrons as a part of the natural process, and since these soil microbes are abundant in nature, these become an exciting prospect for renewable energy as no toxic chemicals are used and the process employs locally sourced material. The MFC setup includes an electrochemical cell with its two electrodes (anode and cathode), and a membrane. For MFCs, fuel enters through the anode and leaves from the cathode.

Bacteria that can convert organic matter in the soil...

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