Green Energy Generated in Single-Chamber Microbial Fuel Cells Using Tomato Waste

Segundo Rojas-Flores (), Magaly De La Cruz-Noriega, Luis Cabanillas-Chirinos, Santiago M. Benites, Renny Nazario-Naveda, Daniel Delfín-Narciso, Moisés Gallozzo-Cardenas, Félix Diaz, Emzon Murga-Torres and Walter Rojas-Villacorta
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Segundo Rojas-Flores: Vicerrectorado de Investigación, Universidad Autónoma del Perú, Lima 15842, Peru
Magaly De La Cruz-Noriega: Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias y Tecnología, Universidad Cesar Vallejo, Trujillo 13001, Peru
Luis Cabanillas-Chirinos: Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias y Tecnología, Universidad Cesar Vallejo, Trujillo 13001, Peru
Santiago M. Benites: Vicerrectorado de Investigación, Universidad Autónoma del Perú, Lima 15842, Peru
Renny Nazario-Naveda: Departamento de Ciencias, Universidad Privada del Norte, Trujillo 13007, Peru
Daniel Delfín-Narciso: Grupo de Investigación en Ciencias Aplicadas y Nuevas Tecnologías, Universidad Privada del Norte, Trujillo 13007, Peru
Moisés Gallozzo-Cardenas: Departamento de Ciencias, Universidad Tecnológica del Perú, Trujillo 13011, Peru
Félix Diaz: Escuela Académica Profesional de Medicina Humana, Universidad Norbert Wiener, Lima 15842, Peru
Emzon Murga-Torres: Laboratorio de Investigación Multidisciplinario, Universidad Privada Antenor Orrego (UPAO), Trujillo 13008, Peru
Walter Rojas-Villacorta: Programa de Investigación Formativa, Universidad Cesar Vallejo, Trujillo 13001, Peru

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 13, 1-12

Abstract: This research used tomato waste as a substrate (fuel) in Single Chamber-Microbial Fuel Cells (scMFC) on a small scale. The electrochemical properties were monitored, the functional groups of the substrate were analyzed by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrophotometry (FTIR) and a microbiological analysis was performed on the electrodes in order to identify the microorganisms responsible for the electrochemical process. The results show voltage peaks and an electrical current of 3.647 ± 0.157 mA and 0.957 ± 0.246 V. A pH of 5.32 ± 0.26 was measured in the substrate with an electrical current conductivity of 148,701 ± 5849 mS/cm and an internal resistance (R int ) of 77. 517 ± 8.541 Ω. The maximum power density (PD) displayed was 264.72 ± 3.54 mW/cm 2 at a current density (CD) of 4.388 A/cm 2 . On the other hand, the FTIR spectrum showed a more intense decrease in its peaks, with the compound belonging to the phenolic groups being the most affected at 3361 cm −1 . The micrographs show the formation of a porous biofilm where molecular identification allowed the identification of two bacteria ( Proteus vulgaris and Proteus vulgaris ) and a yeast ( Yarrowia lipolytica ) with 100% identity. The data found show the potential of this waste as a source of fuel for the generation of an electric current in a sustainable and environmentally friendly way, generating in the near future a mechanism for the reuse of waste in a beneficial way for farmers, communities and agro-industrial companies.

Keywords: organic waste; tomato; microbial fuel cells; electric power; biomass; metal electrodes; bioenergy extraction (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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