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Harnessing Microbes for Power: Evaluating Voltage Yield across Various Bio-waste Substrates

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Author Affiliations

  • 1Department of Microbiology, Nrupathunga University, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
  • 2Department of Microbiology, Nrupathunga University, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
  • 3Department of Microbiology, Nrupathunga University, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
  • 4Department of Microbiology, Nrupathunga University, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
  • 5Department of Microbiology, Nrupathunga University, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

Res. J. Recent Sci., Volume 15, Issue (3), Pages 47-54, July,2 (2026)

Abstract

The demand for sustainable energy drives the exploration of organic waste for power generation via Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs). This study explores the potential of microbial systems to generate electrical energy using different bio-wastes as substrates. Voltage outputs were compared across diverse organic wastes, to identify substrates that maximize energy production. Substrates used for the study include banana peel, sugarcane bagasse, rhizosphere soil and cattle manure. A dual-chambered MFC setup consistently utilized aluminum anodes, while cathode configurations varied viz., water with an aluminum electrode for banana peel, potassium ferricyanide with copper electrodes for sugarcane bagasse and rhizosphere soil and potassium permanganate with a copper electrode for cattle manure. Voltage and pH monitoring revealed significant variations in performance with cattle manure yielding the highest output of 1255 mV and banana peel the lowest at 252 mV. The identification of Rhizobium in rhizosphere soil emphasizes the critical role of specific microbial communities in driving the electrochemical process. The findings indicate that MFCs can effectively utilize organic residues for electricity generation while also helping waste utilization and renewable energy production. It also highlights the potential of MFC technology for environmental challenges and energy self-sufficiency, while offering insights into effective waste-to-energy conversion strategies.

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