Generation of bioelectricity from fruit waste

Abstract

In this study, an alternative method is proposed for producing electricity using microbial fuel cells (MFCs) and fruit waste in case of industries and farmers. Herein, MFCs were manufactured using zinc and copper electrodes and three types of organic waste (R. ulmifolius, H. undatus, and M. citrifolia) as the substrate. The results revealed that the H. undatus waste generated the highest voltage and current values, i.e., 1.17 ± 0.12 V and 25.78 ± 0.89 mA, respectively, in an open circuit. However, all the substrates exhibited acidic pH values. The H. undatus substrate reported the highest voltage, power density (PD), and current density (CD) values at a Vmax value of 1.11 ± 0.25 V, a PDmax value of 0.0719 ± 0.0012 W/cm2, and a CDmax value of 0.051 A/cm2. Conversely, the R. ulmifolius substrate exhibited the lowest values at a Vmax value of 0.96 ± 0.13 V, a PDmax value of 0.0668 ± 0.0013 W/cm2, and a CDmax value of 0.025 A/cm2. The micrographs denote that the Cu anode porosity of H. undatus is higher when compared with those of the remaining two substrates, and the Pichia guilliermondii, Candida boidinii, and Brevibacillus laterosporus microorganisms were observed in its anodic biofilm.