Integrating Microbial Fuel Cell and Hydroponic Technologies Using a Ceramic Membrane Separator to Develop an Energy–Water–Food Supply System
In this study, a microbial fuel cell was integrated into a hydroponic system (MFC-Hyp) using a ceramic membrane as a separator. The MFC-Hyp is a passive system that allows the transport of nutrients from wastewater in the microbial fuel cell (MFC) to water in the hydroponic vessel (Hyp) through a ce...
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MDPI AG
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Membranes |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0375/13/9/803 |
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| author | Chikashi Sato Wilgince Apollon Alejandro Isabel Luna-Maldonado Noris Evelin Paucar Monte Hibbert John Dudgeon |
| author_facet | Chikashi Sato Wilgince Apollon Alejandro Isabel Luna-Maldonado Noris Evelin Paucar Monte Hibbert John Dudgeon |
| author_sort | Chikashi Sato |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In this study, a microbial fuel cell was integrated into a hydroponic system (MFC-Hyp) using a ceramic membrane as a separator. The MFC-Hyp is a passive system that allows the transport of nutrients from wastewater in the microbial fuel cell (MFC) to water in the hydroponic vessel (Hyp) through a ceramic membrane separator, with no external energy input. The performance of this system was examined using potato-process wastewater as a source of energy and nutrients (K, P, N) and garlic chives (<i>Allium tuberosum</i>) as a hydroponic plant. The results showed that based on dry weight, the leaves of <i>Allium tuberosum</i> grew 142% more in the MFC-Hyp than those of the plant in the Hyp without the MFC, in a 49-day run. The mass fluxes of K, P, and NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup>-N from the MFC to the Hyp through the ceramic membrane were 4.18 ± 0.70, 3.78 ± 1.90, and 2.04 ± 0.98 µg s<sup>−1</sup>m<sup>−2</sup>, respectively. It was apparent that the diffusion of nutrients from wastewater in the MFC enhanced the plant growth in the Hyp. The MFC-Hyp in the presence of <i>A. tuberosum</i> produced the maximum power density of 130.2 ± 45.4 mW m<sup>−2</sup>. The findings of this study suggest that the MFC-Hyp system has great potential to be a “carbon-neutral” technology that could be transformed into an important part of a diversified worldwide energy–water–food supply system. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:27:51Z |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-0375 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:27:51Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Membranes |
| spelling | doaj.art-4c6c12f109dd4e2f8860163bc3eeaea22023-11-19T11:54:41ZengMDPI AGMembranes2077-03752023-09-0113980310.3390/membranes13090803Integrating Microbial Fuel Cell and Hydroponic Technologies Using a Ceramic Membrane Separator to Develop an Energy–Water–Food Supply SystemChikashi Sato0Wilgince Apollon1Alejandro Isabel Luna-Maldonado2Noris Evelin Paucar3Monte Hibbert4John Dudgeon5Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Idaho State University, 921 S. 8th Ave., Stop 8060, Pocatello, ID 83209, USADepartment of Agriculture and Food Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon, Campus of Agricultural and Animal Sciences, General Escobedo 66050, Nuevo Leon, MexicoDepartment of Agriculture and Food Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon, Campus of Agricultural and Animal Sciences, General Escobedo 66050, Nuevo Leon, MexicoDepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Idaho State University, 921 S. 8th Ave., Stop 8060, Pocatello, ID 83209, USADepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Idaho State University, 921 S. 8th Ave., Stop 8060, Pocatello, ID 83209, USADepartment of Anthropology, Idaho State University, 921 South 8th Avenue, Stop 8094, Pocatello, ID 83209, USAIn this study, a microbial fuel cell was integrated into a hydroponic system (MFC-Hyp) using a ceramic membrane as a separator. The MFC-Hyp is a passive system that allows the transport of nutrients from wastewater in the microbial fuel cell (MFC) to water in the hydroponic vessel (Hyp) through a ceramic membrane separator, with no external energy input. The performance of this system was examined using potato-process wastewater as a source of energy and nutrients (K, P, N) and garlic chives (<i>Allium tuberosum</i>) as a hydroponic plant. The results showed that based on dry weight, the leaves of <i>Allium tuberosum</i> grew 142% more in the MFC-Hyp than those of the plant in the Hyp without the MFC, in a 49-day run. The mass fluxes of K, P, and NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup>-N from the MFC to the Hyp through the ceramic membrane were 4.18 ± 0.70, 3.78 ± 1.90, and 2.04 ± 0.98 µg s<sup>−1</sup>m<sup>−2</sup>, respectively. It was apparent that the diffusion of nutrients from wastewater in the MFC enhanced the plant growth in the Hyp. The MFC-Hyp in the presence of <i>A. tuberosum</i> produced the maximum power density of 130.2 ± 45.4 mW m<sup>−2</sup>. The findings of this study suggest that the MFC-Hyp system has great potential to be a “carbon-neutral” technology that could be transformed into an important part of a diversified worldwide energy–water–food supply system.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0375/13/9/803<i>Allium tuberosum</i>ceramicshydroponicsmicrobial fuel cellnutrient recoverywastewater treatment |
| spellingShingle | Chikashi Sato Wilgince Apollon Alejandro Isabel Luna-Maldonado Noris Evelin Paucar Monte Hibbert John Dudgeon Integrating Microbial Fuel Cell and Hydroponic Technologies Using a Ceramic Membrane Separator to Develop an Energy–Water–Food Supply System Membranes <i>Allium tuberosum</i> ceramics hydroponics microbial fuel cell nutrient recovery wastewater treatment |
| title | Integrating Microbial Fuel Cell and Hydroponic Technologies Using a Ceramic Membrane Separator to Develop an Energy–Water–Food Supply System |
| title_full | Integrating Microbial Fuel Cell and Hydroponic Technologies Using a Ceramic Membrane Separator to Develop an Energy–Water–Food Supply System |
| title_fullStr | Integrating Microbial Fuel Cell and Hydroponic Technologies Using a Ceramic Membrane Separator to Develop an Energy–Water–Food Supply System |
| title_full_unstemmed | Integrating Microbial Fuel Cell and Hydroponic Technologies Using a Ceramic Membrane Separator to Develop an Energy–Water–Food Supply System |
| title_short | Integrating Microbial Fuel Cell and Hydroponic Technologies Using a Ceramic Membrane Separator to Develop an Energy–Water–Food Supply System |
| title_sort | integrating microbial fuel cell and hydroponic technologies using a ceramic membrane separator to develop an energy water food supply system |
| topic | <i>Allium tuberosum</i> ceramics hydroponics microbial fuel cell nutrient recovery wastewater treatment |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0375/13/9/803 |
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