DOI: https://doi.org/10.14710/ijred.2023.52291

Characterization of plant growth promoting potential of 3D-printed plant microbial fuel cells

1School of Chemical, Biological. and Materials Engineering and Sciences, Mapua University, Manila, Philippines

2Center for Renewable Bioenergy Research, Mapua University, Manila, Philippines

Received: 4 Feb 2023; Revised: 25 Jun 2023; Accepted: 7 Jul 2023; Available online: 28 Jul 2023; Published: 1 Sep 2023.
Editor(s): Rock Keey Liew
Open Access Copyright (c) 2023 The Author(s). Published by Centre of Biomass and Renewable Energy (CBIORE)
Creative Commons License This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Citation Format:
Abstract

Plant-Microbial Fuel Cell (PMFC) is an emerging technology that converts plant waste into electrical energy through rhizodeposition, offering a renewable and sustainable source of energy. Deviating from the traditional PMFC configurations, additive manufacturing was utilized to create intricate and efficient designs using polymer-carbon composites. Concerning the agricultural sector, the effect of 3D-printed PMFCs on the growth and biomass distribution of Phaseolus lunatus and Ipomoea aquatica was determined. The experiment showed that electrostimulation promoted the average daily leaf number and plant height of both polarized plants, which were statistically proven to be greater than the control (α = 0.05), by energizing the flow of ions in the soil, boosting nutrient uptake and metabolism. It also stimulated the growth of roots, increasing the root dry mass of polarized plants by 155.44% and 66.30% for I. aquatica and P. Lunatus against their non-polarized counterpart. Due to the biofilm formation on the anode surface, the number of root nodules of the polarized P. lunatus was 51.30% higher than the control, while the protein content in the PMFC setup was 42.22% and 8.26% higher than the control for I. aquatica and P. lunatus, respectively. The voltage readings resemble the plants' average growth rate, and the polarization studies showed that the optimum external resistances in the I. aquatica- and P. lunatus-powered PMFC were 4.7 kΩ and 10 kΩ, respectively. Due to other prevailing pathways of organic carbon consumption, such as methanogenesis, the effect of polarization on the organic carbon content in soil is currently inconclusive and requires further study.

Fulltext View|Download
Keywords: 3D-printed electrodes; organic carbon; plant growth; protein; root system
Funding: Mapua University

Article Metrics:

Article Info
Section: Original Research Article
Language : EN
Recent articles
Solid waste management by RDF production from landfilled waste to renewable fuel of Nonthaburi Characterization of plant growth promoting potential of 3D-printed plant microbial fuel cells Performance evaluation of the novel 3D-printed aquatic plant-microbial fuel cell assembly with Eichhornia crassipes More recent articles
Most cited articles
Biofixation of Carbon dioxide by Chlamydomonas sp. in a Tubular Photobioreactor Premixed combustion of coconut oil in a hele-shaw cell Distributed Generation: A Critical Review of Technologies, Grid Integration Issues, Growth Drivers and Potential Benefits Wind Turbine Rotor Simulation via CFD Based Actuator Disc Technique Compared to Detailed Measurement Detection of Attacks on Wireless Sensor Network Using Genetic Algorithms Based on Fuzzy More cited articles
  1. Agüera, E., & De la Haba, P. 2018. Leaf senescence in response to elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration and low nitrogen supply. Biologia Plantarum, 62(3), 401–408. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10535-018-0798-z
  2. Arulmani, S. R. B., Gnanamuthu, H. L., Kandasamy, S., Govindarajan, G., Alsehli, M., Elfasakhany, A., Pugazhendhi, A., & Zhang, H. 2021. Sustainable bioelectricity production from Amaranthus viridis and Triticum aestivum mediated plant microbial fuel cells with efficient electrogenic bacteria selections. Process Biochemistry, 107, 27–37. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PROCBIO.2021.04.015
  3. Bataillou, G., Haddour, N., & Vollaire, C. 2022. Bioelectricity production of PMFC using Lobelia Queen Cardinalis in individual and shared soil configurations. E3S Web of Conferences, 334, 08001. https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202233408001
  4. Cheng, J., Sun, Z., Li, X., & Yu, Y. 2020. Effects of modified nanoscale carbon black on plant growth, root cellular morphogenesis, and microbial community in cadmium-contaminated soil. Environmental Science and Pollution Research International, 27(15), 18423–18433. https://doi.org/10.1007/S11356-020-08081-Z
  5. Costa, O. Y. A., Raaijmakers, J. M., & Kuramae, E. E. 2018. Microbial extracellular polymeric substances: Ecological function and impact on soil aggregation. Frontiers in Microbiology, 9(JUL), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2018.01636
  6. Dunaj, S. J., Vallino, J. J., Hines, M. E., Gay, M., Kobyljanec, C., & Rooney-Varga, J. N. 2012. Relationships between soil organic matter, nutrients, bacterial community structure, and the performance of microbial fuel cells. Environmental Science and Technology, 46(3), 1914–1922. https://doi.org/10.1021/ES2032532/SUPPL_FILE/ES2032532_SI_001.PDF
  7. Egamberdieva, D., Wirth, S. J., Alqarawi, A. A., Abd-Allah, E. F., & Hashem, A. 2017. Phytohormones and beneficial microbes: Essential components for plants to balance stress and fitness. Frontiers in Microbiology, 8(OCT), 2104. https://doi.org/10.3389/FMICB.2017.02104/BIBTEX
  8. Guan, C. Y., & Yu, C. P. 2021. Evaluation of plant microbial fuel cells for urban green roofs in a subtropical metropolis. Science of the Total Environment, 765, 142786. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142786
  9. Gude, V. G. 2016. Microbial fuel cells for wastewater treatment and energy generation. Microbial Electrochemical and Fuel Cells: Fundamentals and Applications, 247–285. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-1-78242-375-1.00008-3
  10. Han, Q., Ma, Q., Chen, Y., Tian, B., Xu, L., Bai, Y., Chen, W., & Li, X. 2020. Variation in rhizosphere microbial communities and its association with the symbiotic efficiency of rhizobia in soybean. ISME Journal, 14(8), 1915–1928. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41396-020-0648-9
  11. He, P., Osaki, M., Takebe, M., & Shinano, T. 2003. Comparison of whole system of carbon and nitrogen accumulation between two maize hybrids differing in leaf senescence. Photosynthetica, 41(3), 399–405. https://doi.org/10.1023/B:PHOT.0000015464.27370.60
  12. Hoseinzadeh, E., Wei, C., Farzadkia, M., & Rezaee, A. 2020. Effects of Low Frequency-Low Voltage Alternating Electric Current on Apoptosis Progression in Bioelectrical Reactor Biofilm. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 8(January), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fbioe.2020.00002
  13. Huang, X., Duan, C., Duan, W., Sun, F., Cui, H., Zhang, S., & Chen, X. 2021. Role of electrode materials on performance and microbial characteristics in the constructed wetland coupled microbial fuel cell (CW-MFC): A review. Journal of Cleaner Production, 301, 126951. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JCLEPRO.2021.126951
  14. Imbrogno, F., Assini, S. P., Granata, M., Di Lorenzo, R., & Malcovati, P. 2019. Experimental characterization of the electrical energy produced by microbial fuel cells supplied by pot plants. 2019 IEEE International Workshop on Metrology for Agriculture and Forestry, MetroAgriFor 2019 - Proceedings, 269–273. https://doi.org/10.1109/METROAGRIFOR.2019.8909234
  15. Jiang, J., Zhao, Q., Wei, L., Wang, K., & Lee, D. J. 2011. Degradation and characteristic changes of organic matter in sewage sludge using microbial fuel cell with ultrasound pretreatment. Bioresource Technology, 102(1), 272–277. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2010.04.066
  16. Jyoti Sarma, P., & Mohanty, K. 2022. A novel three-chamber modular PMFC with bentonite/flyash based clay membrane and oxygen reducing biocathode for long term sustainable bioelectricity generation. Bioelectrochemistry, 144, 107996. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BIOELECHEM.2021.107996
  17. Kabutey, F. T., Zhao, Q., Wei, L., Ding, J., Antwi, P., Quashie, F. K., & Wang, W. 2019. An overview of plant microbial fuel cells (PMFCs): Configurations and applications. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 110, 402–414. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.RSER.2019.05.016
  18. Kamali, M., Guo, Y., Aminabhavi, T. M., Abbassi, R., Dewil, R., & Appels, L. 2023. Pathway towards the commercialization of sustainable microbial fuel cell-based wastewater treatment technologies. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 173(December 2022), 113095. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2022.113095
  19. Karamzadeh, M., Kadivarian, H., Kadivarian, M., & Kazemi, A. 2020. Modeling the influence of substrate concentration, anode electrode surface area and external resistance in a start-up on the performance of microbial fuel cell. Bioresource Technology Reports, 12, 100559. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BITEB.2020.100559
  20. Karra, U., Manickam, S. S., McCutcheon, J. R., Patel, N., & Li, B. 2013. Power generation and organics removal from wastewater using activated carbon nanofiber (ACNF) microbial fuel cells (MFCs). International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 38(3), 1588–1597. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.IJHYDENE.2012.11.005
  21. Kumar, V., Khare, T., Srivastav, A., Surekha, C., Shriram, V., & Wani, S. H. 2018. Oxidative stress and leaf senescence: Important insights. In Senescence Signalling and Control in Plants. Elsevier Inc. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-813187-9.00009-3
  22. Kwon, K. J., & Park, B. J. 2021. Efficiency of Spathiphyllum spp. as a plant-microbial fuel cell. Ornamental Horticulture, 27(2), 173–182. https://doi.org/10.1590/2447-536X.V27I2.2264
  23. Li, Z. G., Gou, H. Q., & Li, R. Q. 2019. Electrical stimulation boosts seed germination, seedling growth, and thermotolerance improvement in maize (Zea mays L.). Plant Signaling and Behavior, 14(12). https://doi.org/10.1080/15592324.2019.1681101
  24. Lim, P. O., & Nam, H. G. 2005. The Molecular and Genetic Control of Leaf Senescence and Longevity in Arabidopsis. In Current Topics in Developmental Biology (Vol. 67, Issue 04). Elsevier Masson SAS. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0070-2153(05)67002-0
  25. Lin, C. W., Alfanti, L. K., Cheng, Y. S., & Liu, S. H. 2022. Enhancing bioelectricity production and copper remediation in constructed single-medium plant sediment microbial fuel cells. Desalination, 542, 116079. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.DESAL.2022.116079
  26. Liu, Y., Zhang, H., Lu, Z., de Lourdes Mendoza, M., Ma, J., Cai, L., & Zhang, L. 2018. Decreasing sulfide in sediment and promoting plant growth by plant–sediment microbial fuel cells with emerged plants. Paddy and Water Environment 2018 17:1, 17(1), 13–21. https://doi.org/10.1007/S10333-018-0679-2
  27. Lu, Z., Yin, D., Chen, P., Wang, H., Yang, Y., Huang, G., Cai, L., & Zhang, L. 2020. Power-generating trees: Direct bioelectricity production from plants with microbial fuel cells. Applied Energy, 268(October 2019), 115040. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2020.115040
  28. Ma, J., Zhang, C., Xi, F., Chen, W., Jiao, K., Du, Q., Bai, F., & Liu, Z. 2022. Experimental study on the influence of environment conditions on the performance of paper-based microfluidic fuel cell. Applied Thermal Engineering, 119487. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.APPLTHERMALENG.2022.119487
  29. Maddalwar, S., Kumar Nayak, K., Kumar, M., & Singh, L. 2021. Plant microbial fuel cell: Opportunities, challenges, and prospects. Bioresource Technology, 341, 125772. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BIORTECH.2021.125772
  30. Matassa, S., Boon, N., Pikaar, I., & Verstraete, W. 2016. Microbial protein: future sustainable food supply route with low environmental footprint. Microbial Biotechnology, 9(5), 568. https://doi.org/10.1111/1751-7915.12369
  31. Mobilian, C., & Craft, C. B. 2022. Wetland Soils: Physical and Chemical Properties and Biogeochemical Processes. In Encyclopedia of Inland Waters (2nd ed., Vol. 3, pp. 157–168). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-819166-8.00049-9
  32. Morales, C., Solís, S., Bacame-Valenzuela, F. J., Reyes-Vidal, Y., Cárdenas, J., Manríquez, J., & Bustos, E. 2021. Electrical stimulation of Cucumis sativus in an Antrosol using modified electrodes with transition metal oxides at the in situ pilot level. Journal of Electroanalytical Chemistry, 895(June), 115528. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jelechem.2021.115528
  33. Mori, D., Moriyama, A., Kanamaru, H., Aoki, Y., Masumura, Y., & Suzuki, S. 2021. Electrical stimulation enhances plant defense response in grapevine through salicylic acid‐dependent defense pathway. Plants, 10(7), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10071316
  34. Narayana Prasad, P., & Kalla, S. 2021. Plant-microbial fuel cells - A bibliometric analysis. Process Biochemistry, 111, 250–260. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PROCBIO.2021.10.001
  35. Nitisoravut, R., & Regmi, R. 2017. Plant microbial fuel cells: A promising biosystems engineering. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 76, 81–89. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.RSER.2017.03.064
  36. Nogué, F., Gonneau, M., & Faure, J.-D. 2003. Cytokinins. In Encyclopedia of Hormones (pp. 371–378). https://doi.org/10.1016/B0-12-341103-3/00061-9
  37. Omar, M. H., Razak, K. A., Ab Wahab, M. N., & Hamzah, H. H. 2021. Recent progress of conductive 3D-printed electrodes based upon polymers/carbon nanomaterials using a fused deposition modelling (FDM) method as emerging electrochemical sensing devices. RSC Advances, 11(27), 16557–16571. https://doi.org/10.1039/d1ra01987b
  38. Peng, T., Kellens, K., Tang, R., Chen, C., & Chen, G. 2018. Sustainability of additive manufacturing: An overview on its energy demand and environmental impact. Additive Manufacturing, 21, 694–704. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ADDMA.2018.04.022
  39. Regmi, R., Nitisoravut, R., Charoenroongtavee, S., Yimkhaophong, W., & Phanthurat, O. 2018. Earthen Pot–Plant Microbial Fuel Cell Powered by Vetiver for Bioelectricity Production and Wastewater Treatment. CLEAN – Soil, Air, Water, 46(3), 1700193. https://doi.org/10.1002/CLEN.201700193
  40. Rocha, R. G., Ramos, D. L. O., de Faria, L. V., Germscheidt, R. L., dos Santos, D. P., Bonacin, J. A., Munoz, R. A. A., & Richter, E. M. 2022. Printing parameters affect the electrochemical performance of 3D-printed carbon electrodes obtained by fused deposition modeling. Journal of Electroanalytical Chemistry, 116910. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JELECHEM.2022.116910
  41. Roy Choudhury, S., Johns, S. M., & Pandey, S. 2019. A convenient, soil‐free method for the production of root nodules in soybean to study the effects of exogenous additives. Plant Direct, 3(4), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1002/PLD3.135
  42. Sarma, P. J., & Mohanty, K. 2023. Development and comprehensive characterization of low-cost hybrid clay based ceramic membrane for power enhancement in plant based microbial fuel cells (PMFCs). Materials Chemistry and Physics, 296, 127337. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matchemphys.2023.127337
  43. Schlesinger, W. H., & Bernhardt, E. S. 2020. Wetland Ecosystems. In Biogeochemistry (4th ed., pp. 249–291). Academic Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-814608-8.00007-4
  44. Shamsi, I. H., Sagonda, T., Zhang, X., Zvobgo, G., & Joan, H. I. 2018. The role of growth regulators in senescence. In Senescence Signalling and Control in Plants. Elsevier Inc. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-813187-9.00006-8
  45. Sharma, S., & Agarwal, S. K. 2018. Plant leaf senescence: integrating multiple environmental and internal cues. In Senescence Signalling and Control in Plants. Elsevier Inc. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-813187-9.00003-2
  46. Slate, A. J., Hickey, N. A., Butler, J. A., Wilson, D., Liauw, C. M., Banks, C. E., & Whitehead, K. A. 2021. Additive manufactured graphene-based electrodes exhibit beneficial performances in Pseudomonas aeruginosa microbial fuel cells. Journal of Power Sources, 499, 229938. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JPOWSOUR.2021.229938
  47. Sophia, A. C., & Sreeja, S. 2017. Green energy generation from plant microbial fuel cells (PMFC) using compost and a novel clay separator. Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments, 21, 59–66. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.SETA.2017.05.001
  48. Vincent, S. G. T., Jennerjahn, T., & Ramasamy, K. 2021. Environmental variables and factors regulating microbial structure and functions. In Microbial Communities in Coastal Sediments (pp. 79–117). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-815165-5.00003-0
  49. Wang, C., Zhang, H., Ren, D., Li, Q., Zhang, S., & Feng, T. 2015. Effect of Direct-Current Electric Field on Enzymatic Activity and the Concentration of Laccase. Indian Journal of Microbiology, 55(3), 278–284. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12088-015-0523-y
  50. Wang, H., Gu, C., Liu, X., Yang, C., Li, W., & Wang, S. 2020. Impact of Soybean Nodulation Phenotypes and Nitrogen Fertilizer Levels on the Rhizosphere Bacterial Community. Frontiers in Microbiology, 11(May), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2020.00750
  51. Wang, Q., Liu, J., & Zhu, H. 2018. Genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying symbiotic specificity in legume-rhizobium interactions. Frontiers in Plant Science, 9, 313. https://doi.org/10.3389/FPLS.2018.00313/BIBTEX
  52. Winfield, J., Gajda, I., Greenman, J., & Ieropoulos, I. 2016. A review into the use of ceramics in microbial fuel cells. Bioresource Technology, 215, 296–303. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BIORTECH.2016.03.135
  53. Wouters, P. C., Dutreux, N., Smelt, J. P. P. M., & Lelieveld, H. L. M. 1999. Effects of pulsed electric fields on inactivation kinetics of Listeria innocua. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 65(12), 5364–5371. https://doi.org/10.1128/AEM.65.12.5364-5371.1999
  54. Yamaguchi, I., Cohen, J. D., Culler, A. H., Quint, M., Slovin, J. P., Nakajima, M., & Sakagami, Y. 2010. Plant Hormones. In Comprehensive Natural Products II (Vol. 4, pp. 9–125). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-008045382-8.00092-7
  55. Yi, J. Y., Choi, J. W., Jeon, B. Y., Jung, I. L., & Park, D. H. 2012. Effects of a low-voltage electric pulse charged to culture soil on plant growth and variations of the bacterial community. Agricultural Sciences, 2012(03), 339–346. https://doi.org/10.4236/AS.2012.33038
  56. Yolcubal, I., Brusseau, M. L., Artiola, J. F., Wierenga, P. J., & Wilson, L. G. 2004. ENVIRONMENTAL PHYSICAL PROPERTIES AND PROCESSES. Environmental Monitoring and Characterization, 207–239. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-012064477-3/50014-X
  57. Yoneyama, K., & Natsume, M. 2010. Allelochemicals for Plant–Plant and Plant–Microbe Interactions. Comprehensive Natural Products II: Chemistry and Biology, 4, 539–561. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-008045382-8.00105-2
  58. You, J., Preen, R. J., Bull, L., Greenman, J., & Ieropoulos, I. 2017. 3D printed components of microbial fuel cells: Towards monolithic microbial fuel cell fabrication using additive layer manufacturing. Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments, 19, 94–101. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seta.2016.11.006
  59. Zhang, W., Zhang, F., Niu, Y., Li, Y. X., Jiang, Y., Bai, Y. N., Dai, K., & Zeng, R. J. 2020. Power to hydrogen-oxidizing bacteria: Effect of current density on bacterial activity and community spectra. Journal of Cleaner Production, 263, 121596. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JCLEPRO.2020.121596
  60. Zhao, F., Xin, X., Cao, Y., Su, D., Ji, P., Zhu, Z., & He, Z. 2021. Use of Carbon Nanoparticles to Improve Soil Fertility, Crop Growth and Nutrient Uptake by Corn (Zea mays L.). Nanomaterials 2021,11(10), 2717. https://doi.org/10.3390/NANO11102717
  61. Zhou, E., Lekbach, Y., Gu, T., & Xu, D. 2022. Bioenergetics and extracellular electron transfer in microbial fuel cells and microbial corrosion. Current Opinion in Electrochemistry, 31, 100830. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.COELEC.2021.100830

Last update:

  1. Revolutionizing Energy Conversion - Photoelectrochemical Technologies and Their Role in Sustainability [Working Title]

    Ryan Yow Zhong Yeo, Krishan Balachandran, Irwan Ibrahim, Mimi Hani Abu Bakar, Manal Ismail, Wei Lun Ang, Eileen Hao Yu, Swee Su Lim. 2024. doi: 10.5772/intechopen.1004053

  2. Enhancing microbial fuel cell performance with carbon powder electrode modifications for low-power sensors modules

    Mohammed Adel Al-badani, Peng Lean Chong, Heng Siong Lim. International Journal of Renewable Energy Development, 13 (1), 2024. doi: 10.14710/ijred.2024.58977

  3. Revolutionizing Energy Conversion - Photoelectrochemical Technologies and Their Role in Sustainability

    Ryan Yow Zhong Yeo, Krishan Balachandran, Irwan Ibrahim, Mimi Hani Abu Bakar, Manal Ismail, Wei Lun Ang, Eileen Hao Yu, Swee Su Lim. 2024. doi: 10.5772/intechopen.1004053

Last update: 2024-12-24 19:17:21

No citation recorded.