BIOELECTRICITY GENERATION FROM A MICROBIAL FUEL CELL USING YEAST (SACCHAROMYCES CEREVISIAE), PLANTAIN PEEL WASTE AS SUBSTRATE AND A CLAY PROTON EXCHANGE MEMBRANE

ABSTRACT

This study was aimed at the generation of electricity from plantain peel waste, a major agricultural waste, the performance of a clay-starch Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) was also tested. Plantain peels obtained from Uselu market, Benin city were washed to remove dirt and sun dried. The plantain peel waste was then grounded to a fine powder and a measured amount was dissolved in water. The Proton Exchange Membrane was prepared using fine clay and starch, salt was added to improve its Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC), this membrane was then used in the construction of a two-chambered Microbial Fuel Cell, with the membrane acting as a connecting bridge. Zinc plate(35mm by 45mm) and graphite rods(8mm diameter) were chosen to be used as the anode and cathode respectively. A yeast culture was prepared and the anode and cathode chamber filled with the correct mediums (plantain peel waste slurry and distilled water respectively), the yeast culture was then used to inoculate the anolyte medium. The PH, conductivity, and BOD of the anode medium was measured. The anode chamber was sparged with nitrogen and sealed air tight to ensure anaerobic conditions within the cell. The cathode chamber was rather aerated using an air pump to supply oxygen needed for the reduction reaction at the cathode. The electric current and potentials were measured and recorded for 13 days. The results obtained showed an immediate activity of s.cerevisiae on the plantain peel, a current generation of 0.903m A being recorded on the first day. The average voltage generated from the cell was 0.447 volts, the maximum current density obtained from the study was 1157m A\m2 and the maximum power density recorded was 527.62m W\m2 .