Microbial fuel cells by using kitchen garbage in hybrid composting method

  • Dr MdAzizul Moqsud, Institute of Lowland Technology, Saga University, Japan
  • Asso Prof Kiyoshi Omine, Japan
  • Prof Shigenori Hayashi, Japan

Resource recovery and recycle of organic waste is a major concern now-a-days all over the world. Conversion of biomass into electricity is possible using microbial fuel cells (MFCs). This present study deals with the MFC using kitchen garbage to produce electricity as well as recycle of organic waste both in developing and industrialize countries. A rectangular acrylic container (10 x 10 cm) was used as the cell. The container was filled with well mixed kitchen garbage (120 g), leaf mold (120 g), effective microorganism (15g) and distilled water (80 g). The anode and cathode made of carbon fiber were used which were connected with the data logger. The data logger stored the data of voltage and temperature in every 20 minutes in the constant room temperature at 250 C for the 45 days. It was observed that voltage increased rapidly during initial time (first 2 days), then gradually increase and reached to peak after 2 weeks and after reaching the peak gradually decreased. The maximum voltage reached at 590 mV. The maximum power was 682 mW/m 2 during the laboratory test of the MFC by using the kitchen garbage in a hybrid composting method.