Preliminary Study of Bioelectricity Generation Using Lettuce Waste as Substrate by Microbial Fuel Cells

Agricultural waste negatively impacts the environment and generates economic difficulties for agro-industrial companies and farmers. As a result, it is necessary for an eco-friendly and sustainable alternative to managing this type of waste. Therefore, the research aimed to investigate lettuce waste as an alternative substrate to generate bioelectricity in single-chamber microbial fuel cells (scMFCs). It was possible to report voltage and electric current peaks of 0.959 & PLUSMN; 0.026 V and 5.697 & PLUSMN; 0.065 mA on the fourteenth day, values that were attained with an optimum pH of 7.867 & PLUSMN; 0.147 and with an electrical conductivity of 118.964 & PLUSMN; 8.888 mS/cm. Moreover, as time passed the values began to decline slowly. The calculated value of maximum power density was 378.145 & PLUSMN; 5.417 mW/cm(2) whose current density was 5.965 A/cm(2), while the internal resistance reported using Ohm's Law was 87.594 & PLUSMN; 6.226 & omega;. Finally, it was possible to identify the Stenotrophomonas maltophilia bacterium (99.59%) on a molecular scale, as one of the microorganisms present in the anodic biofilm. The three microbial fuel cells were connected in series and demonstrated that they were capable of lighting an LED bulb, with a voltage of 2.18 V.

Automated summary

Agricultural waste has negative impacts on the environment and creates economic difficulties for agro-industrial companies and farmers. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the use of lettuce waste as a sustainable substrate for generating bioelectricity in single-chamber microbial fuel cells. The results showed that the peak voltage and current were 0.959 ± 0.026 V and 5.697 ± 0.065 mA on the fourteenth day, with an optimal pH of 7.867 ± 0.147 and electrical conductivity of 118.964 ± 8.888 mS/cm. The maximum power density was calculated to be 378.145 ± 5.417 mW/cm², and the internal resistance was 87.594 ± 6.226 Ω according to Ohm's Law. Furthermore, the presence of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia bacterium (99.59%) in the anodic biofilm was identified on a molecular scale. Finally, three microbial fuel cells connected in series were able to power an LED bulb with a voltage of 2.18 V.