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Microbial fuel cells

09.12.2012

An unexpected source of new, environmentally friendly energy has been found - a microbial fuel cell plant that can generate electricity from the natural interaction between living plant roots and soil bacteria, that is, extract electricity from the most ordinary swamps. This technique is already being used, but so far on a small scale. And soon it will be used everywhere in large wetlands around the world.

The microbial fuel cell plant draws electricity from the soil while the plants continue to grow. Plants produce organic matter through photosynthesis. The roots release up to 70% of this material into the soil. And all this remains unused and literally disappears into the ground. Bacteria around the roots decompose organic residues, thus forming a new source of electricity. Degradation processes release electrons. Researcher Marjolein Helder and her colleagues placed electrodes among bacteria to absorb these electrons and thereby generate electricity using potential differences.

A microbial fuel cell plant can currently generate 0,4 watts per square meter of swamp turf. This is more than what is created by the fermentation of biomass. In the future, bioelectricity from a plant will be able to produce 3,2 watts per square meter of green mass. This means that a 100 m2 plot, placed on a flat roof, will generate enough electricity to power household appliances in the house at an average consumption of 2800 kWh per year. Various types of plants can be used, including herbs as common as English cordgrass, and in warmer countries, rice.

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