BIO AGRICULTURE SUSTAINABLE WASTE MANAGEMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF PLANT MICROBIAL FUEL CELL IN AGRICULTURE TO HARVEST RENEWABLE AND ALTERNATIVE SOURCE OF ENERGY.
Abstract: In the recent scenario plants are grown using pesticides and harmful chemicals for efficient growth of the plant and plant products. Vermicomposting is an natural alternative for chemical pesticides to obtain healthy plants. On the other hand microbial fuel cells (MFC) are bio-electrochemical units for generating electric current by exploiting bacteria or bacterial communities to construct (bio)anode and (bio)cathode. MFC research involves optimization of energy generation by altering conditions and designing optimal microbial population for enhance electrode efficacy. In this context, laboratory scale optimization of MFC was attempted with varying strains isolated from soil. Performance of MFCs setup with these bacteria under aerobic condition was evaluated on the basis of voltage and corresponding current generation. With increasing culture density, the current generation was found to increase proportionately till the culture reaches stationary phase as demonstrated by the data obtained from the culture. With dilution of limiting nutrient, the current production got gradually depleted. A mixed culture system could be designed with considerably higher output, indication prospect of exploring natural bacterial communities for this purpose, such as plant microbial fuel cell (PMFC). With the long-term goal of applying MFC in generating electricity with the help of biological waste/ sewage management system as an alternative and sustainable source of energy for the future, the optimization of the process in laboratory scale was accomplished through the study.
CURRENT SCENARIO
SOLUTION OF THE PROBLEM
Fig: Lab setup of MFC.
Fig: Vermicompost mediated plant growth.
Fig: Plant microbial fuel cell (PMFC), Anodic chamber reaction (Oxidation) Cathodic chamber reaction (Reduction).
Fig: Microbes isolated from soil.
Fig: Workflow of vermicompost mediated plant growth by the process of waste management and energy generation.
Fig: Performed gram staining of isolated microbes from soil.
Fig: Graphical representation of voltage generation with respect to OD in an interval of 1 hour
Fig: Comparison between the three different set ups using three different isolates of microbes.
Name: Shreya Banerjee, Department: Microbiology, University: Adamas University