Impact of Dragon Fruit Waste in Microbial Fuel Cells to Generate Friendly Electric Energy

Abstract

Pollution generated by the misuse of large amounts of fruit and vegetable waste has become a major environmental and social problem for developing countries due to the absence of specialized collection centers for this type of waste. This research aims to generate electricity in an eco-friendly way using red dragon fruit (pitahaya) waste as the fuel in single-chamber microbial fuel cells on a laboratory scale using zinc and copper electrodes. It was possible to generate voltage and current peaks of 0.46 ± 0.03 V and 2.86 ± 0.07 mA, respectively, with an optimum operating pH of 4.22 ± 0.09 and an electrical conductivity of 175.86 ± 4.72 mS/cm at 8 °Brix until the tenth day of monitoring. An internal resistance of 75.58 ± 5.89 Ω was also calculated with a maximum power density of 304.33 ± 16.51 mW/cm2 at a current density of 5.06 A/cm2, while the FTIR spectra showed a decrease in the initial compounds and endings, especially at the 3331 cm−1 peaks of the O–H bonds. Finally, the yeast-like fungus Geotrichum candidum was molecularly identified (99.59%). This research will provide great opportunities for the generation of renewable energy using biomass as fuel through electronic devices with great potential to generate electricity.

Biodegradable Battery from Fruit Peels as an Effort to Develop Local Potential-Based Innovative Learning in Elementary Schools

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Obtaining Sustainable Electrical Energy from Pepper Waste

“…Aleid et al (2023) generated the maximum values of electric potential and power density of 102 mV and 0.099 mW/m 2 on day 25, using mango waste and an external resistance of 5000 Ω as fuel [21]. Red dragon fruit (pitahaya) waste has also been used as fuel in single-chamber MFCs, achieving a maximum electrical potential and power density of 0.46 ± 0.03 V and 304.33 ± 16.51 mW/cm 2 on the tenth day and showing an internal resistance of 75.58 ± 5.89 Ω [22].…”