An In Situ Evaluation of Different CAM Plants as Plant Microbial Fuel Cells for Energy Recovery in the Atacama Desert

Excess energy derived from photosynthesis can be used in plant microbial fuel cell (PMFC) systems as a sustainable alternative for the generation of electricity. In this study, the in situ performance of CAM (Crassulacean acid metabolism) plants in Calama, in the Atacama Desert, was evaluated for en...

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Published in:Plants (Basel) 2023-11, Vol.12 (23), p.4016
Main Authors: Madrid, Felipe M Galleguillos, Trigo, Mauricio, Salazar-Avalos, Sebastián, Carvajal-Funes, Sergio, Olivares, Douglas, Portillo, Carlos, Fuentealba, Edward, Toro, Norman, Carrasco, Gilda, Cáceres, Luis, Jamett, Ingrid, Soliz, Alvaro
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aloe
Analysis
Arid climates
Arid environments
Atacama Desert
Biochemical fuel cells
Biofilms
CAM plant
Clean energy
Corrosion potential
Crassulacean acid metabolism
Deserts
Earth
Electrodes
Energy
Energy recovery
Environmental aspects
environmental engineering
Flowers & plants
Fuel cells
Fuel technology
Green energy
Green technology
Humidity
Kalanchoe daigremontiana
Microorganisms
Photosynthesis
Physiological aspects
plant microbial fuel cell (PMFC)
Plant species
Plants (botany)
Radiation
solar energy
Stainless steel
Succulent plants
Sun
sustainability
Temperature
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Summary:Excess energy derived from photosynthesis can be used in plant microbial fuel cell (PMFC) systems as a sustainable alternative for the generation of electricity. In this study, the in situ performance of CAM (Crassulacean acid metabolism) plants in Calama, in the Atacama Desert, was evaluated for energy recovery using PMFCs with stainless steel AISI 316L and Cu as electrodes. The plant species evaluated included , , , , , and . Among the plant species, demonstrated significant potential as an in situ PMFC, showing a maximum cell potential of 0.248 V and a minimum of 0.139 V. In addition, the cumulative energy for recovery was about 9.4 mWh m of the electrode. The use of CAM plants in PMFCs presents a novel approach for green energy generation, as these plants possess an inherent ability to adapt to arid environments and water-scarce areas such as the Atacama Desert climate.
ISSN:2223-7747
2223-7747
DOI:10.3390/plants12234016