Optimizing soil-based microbial fuel cells: From parameter tuning to practical power generation

Abstract:
The main aim of this work is to convert chemical energy into electrical energy using self-constructed soil-based microbial fuel cells, to optimize their performance, and to develop enhanced designs to improve efficiency. The focus is on modifying various operational parameters that are believed to influence the power output. Key parameters, including electrode surface area, substrate concentration, and fabrication methods, are systematically varied. Naturally occurring bacteria were used as biocatalysts, making the system both cost-effective and environmentally sustainable. Through a specifically developed optimization strategy, microbial fuel cell performance was significantly enhanced, increasing the initial opencircuit voltage from 92 mV to over 1 V and yielding a substantial gain in energy output. The selective use of various sugars as substrates allows for precise control over energy conversion. The resulting electrical energy is sufficient to power small electronic devices, highlighting the technology’s viability for practical, real-world applications. The increase in voltage to an optimized level, accompanied by a stable current, highlights the potential of soil-based microbial fuel cells as portable power sources, leading to the calculation of their corresponding capacity. Beyond this, the subsequent anaerobic metabolic process produces biogas, paving the way for microbial biogas fuel cells that support a closed-loop energy cycle. As a result, this work contributes to the development of soil-based microbial fuel cell systems by illustrating their potential in sustainable energy conversion and highlighting the influence of parameter adjustments on performance. The findings offer useful insights for future research and technological advancement.