Integrating Microbial Fuel Cell and Hydroponic Technologies Using a Ceramic Membrane Separator to Develop an Energy–Water–Food Supply System

In this study, a microbial fuel cell was integrated into a hydroponic system (MFC-Hyp) using a ceramic membrane as a separator. The MFC-Hyp is a passive system that allows the transport of nutrients from wastewater in the microbial fuel cell (MFC) to water in the hydroponic vessel (Hyp) through a ce...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Membranes (Basel) 2023-09, Vol.13 (9), p.803
Main Authors: Sato, Chikashi, Apollon, Wilgince, Luna-Maldonado, Alejandro Isabel, Paucar, Noris Evelin, Hibbert, Monte, Dudgeon, John
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Allium tuberosum
Aquatic plants
Biochemical fuel cells
Carbon compounds
Ceramic materials
Ceramics
Climate change
Electricity
Electricity distribution
Electrons
Energy
Energy sources
Food
Food supply
Food systems
Force and energy
Fuel cell industry
Fuel cells
Fuel technology
Garlic
Hydroponics
Maximum power density
Membranes
microbial fuel cell
Microorganisms
nutrient recovery
Nutrients
Plant growth
Sediments
Seeds
Separators
Wastewater
wastewater treatment
Water treatment
Wetlands
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Summary:In this study, a microbial fuel cell was integrated into a hydroponic system (MFC-Hyp) using a ceramic membrane as a separator. The MFC-Hyp is a passive system that allows the transport of nutrients from wastewater in the microbial fuel cell (MFC) to water in the hydroponic vessel (Hyp) through a ceramic membrane separator, with no external energy input. The performance of this system was examined using potato-process wastewater as a source of energy and nutrients (K, P, N) and garlic chives (Allium tuberosum) as a hydroponic plant. The results showed that based on dry weight, the leaves of Allium tuberosum grew 142% more in the MFC-Hyp than those of the plant in the Hyp without the MFC, in a 49-day run. The mass fluxes of K, P, and NO3−-N from the MFC to the Hyp through the ceramic membrane were 4.18 ± 0.70, 3.78 ± 1.90, and 2.04 ± 0.98 µg s−1m−2, respectively. It was apparent that the diffusion of nutrients from wastewater in the MFC enhanced the plant growth in the Hyp. The MFC-Hyp in the presence of A. tuberosum produced the maximum power density of 130.2 ± 45.4 mW m−2. The findings of this study suggest that the MFC-Hyp system has great potential to be a “carbon-neutral” technology that could be transformed into an important part of a diversified worldwide energy–water–food supply system.
ISSN:2077-0375
2077-0375
DOI:10.3390/membranes13090803