Development of a Bio-Digital Interface Powered by Microbial Fuel Cells

Jiseon You, Arjuna Mendis, John Greenman, Julie Freeman, Stephen Wolff, Rachel Armstrong, Rolf Hughes and Ioannis A. Ieropoulos
Additional contact information
Jiseon You: Bristol BioEnergy Centre (BBiC), Bristol Robotics Laboratory, T Block, Frenchay Campus, University of the West of England, Bristol BS16 1QY, UK
Arjuna Mendis: Bristol BioEnergy Centre (BBiC), Bristol Robotics Laboratory, T Block, Frenchay Campus, University of the West of England, Bristol BS16 1QY, UK
John Greenman: Bristol BioEnergy Centre (BBiC), Bristol Robotics Laboratory, T Block, Frenchay Campus, University of the West of England, Bristol BS16 1QY, UK
Julie Freeman: Translating Nature, 11 Palm Bay Avenue, Margate CT9 3DH, UK
Stephen Wolff: Translating Nature, 11 Palm Bay Avenue, Margate CT9 3DH, UK
Rachel Armstrong: Department of Architecture, Campus Sint-Lucas, KU Leuven, Hoogstraat 51, B-9000 Ghent/Paleizenstraat 65, B-1030 Brussels, Belgium
Rolf Hughes: Department of Architecture, Campus Sint-Lucas, KU Leuven, Hoogstraat 51, B-9000 Ghent/Paleizenstraat 65, B-1030 Brussels, Belgium
Ioannis A. Ieropoulos: Bristol BioEnergy Centre (BBiC), Bristol Robotics Laboratory, T Block, Frenchay Campus, University of the West of England, Bristol BS16 1QY, UK

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 3, 1-12

Abstract: This paper reports the first relatable bio-digital interface powered by microbial fuel cells (MFCs) that was developed to inform the public and introduce the concept of using live microbes as waste processors within our homes and cities. An innovative design for the MFC and peripherals system was built as a digital data generator and bioreactor, with a custom-built energy-harvesting controller that was connected to the system to enable efficient system operation using adaptive dynamic cell reconfiguration and transmit data for the bio-digital interface. This system has accomplished multiple (parallel) tasks such as electricity generation, wastewater treatment and autonomous operation. Moreover, the controller demonstrated that microbial behaviour and consequent system operation can benefit from smart algorithms. In addition to these technical achievements, the bio-digital interface is a site for the production of digital art that aims to gain acceptance from a wider-interest community and potential audiences by showcasing the capabilities of living microorganisms in the context of green technologies.

Keywords: sustainable built environment; microbial fuel cell; bio-digital interface; adaptive dynamic cell reconfiguration (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/3/1735/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/3/1735/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:3:p:1735-:d:740989

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().