Development of low-cost solid phase microbial fuel cell using organic waste and recycling of materials after power generation: Characterization of carbon anode

Abstract The present research deals with the development of Solid Phase Microbial Fuel Cell (SMFC) using the organic wastes and their admixture in the presence of 0.01% fulvic acid. The organic wastes such as fallen leaves (FL), bamboo waste (BW), leaf mould (LM), rice bran (RB) and fulvic acid (FA) were used during the operation of SMFC. The anode and cathode materials were bamboo carbon (with iron winding) and granular activated carbon respectively. The study explored the possibilities of generating power due to the microbial degradation of chosen organic wastes and their admixtures. The polarization curves were plotted with the current – voltage and current – power characteristics for the influence of organic wastes and the admixtures in the presence of fulvic acid. The maximum electrical power of 1071 mWm−2 was generated using the organic admixture containing BW, LM and RB in the presence of FA. The SMFC with different admixtures corroborated the microbial degradation of organic compounds and the subsequent power generation with respect to days. The admixture used in the SMFC was proved very effective as compost in growing Komatsuna seeds with a scope for recycling and zero disposal. The Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy study corroborated the influence of admixture compositions in the variation of resistance values. The characterization studies such as SEM (with EDS), FTIR, Raman and BET studies corroborated the changes caused to the surface of the bamboo carbon anode. The cost analysis confirmed that the fabrication of SMFC unit is inexpensive thanks to the consumables from sustainable sources.