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In the recent decades, consumption of energy within the world has had a prosperous
trend. Energy sources are classified into three batches: first is the fossil fuels, second is the
renewable sources and the third is the nuclear sources, wherein the latter includes an enormous
portion of energy consumption and could be categorized into two major classifications: Nuclear
and fossil energy, Fossil fuels negatively influence the nature owing to the emission of carbon
dioxide. It follows logically from what has been said that the consumption of fossil fuels has
severely imperiled human life through its drastic aftermaths, such as global warming and
atmospheric pollution. In addition, there have been struggles in farmers in continuously feeding
water to plants. Some are lost on the track of time and some are tired and constantly forgets to
Microbial fuel cell (MFC) is a bio-electrochemical system that drives an electric current
by using bacteria and mimicking bacterial interactions found in nature. Bacteria breathes
electrons and the product starts to collect all the electrons that will be used as energy. MFC
represents a promising technology for renewable energy production. The performance of MFC
depends on a complex of technical and mechanical parameters that need to be improved and
adapted for system conditions in order to develop the most efficient and practical device. The
microbial fuel cell has 2 chambers which is called the anode and the cathode. Microbial
production of electricity may become an important source of bioenergy in future because MFCs
offer the possibility of extracting electric current from a wide range of soluble or dissolved
complex organic wastes and renewable biomass. However, the materials used in these devices
are still not economic and researchers use different materials as cathode and anode in MFCs.
And the amount of electricity produced is still small compared to the electricity produced by
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IRRIGATION SYSTEM POWERED BY MICROBIAL FUEL CELL
other bioenergy source just like in solar energies and the microbial fuel cell still has a limit on
the range of how long it lasts. The only maximum amount of volts a microbial fuel cell can
produce is three volts which results to small numbers of what it can produce. A microbial fuel
Based on this problem the researchers wanted to know the microbial fuel cells potential
in being a power source in irrigation systems. The researchers aim was to make microbial fuel
cell as a source in energy in an automatic irrigation systems. The researchers used microbes in
Flat Plate Microbial Fuel Cell by Booki Min and Bruce E. Logan (2004)
The study talks about converting organic matter to electricity continuously. The
electricity generation using the FPMFC was examined by continuously feeding solution
containing wastewater into the anode chamber. The researchers have put the wastewater into the
anode chamber and water to the cathode chamber. Power generation was sustained at high rates
with several organic substrates (all at ∼1000 mg COD/L), including glucose (212 ± 2 mW/m2),
acetate (286 ± 3 mW/m2), butyrate (220 ± 1 mW/m2), dextran (150 ± 1 mW/m2), and starch
(242 ± 3 mW/m2). And the versatility of power generation in s MFC with a variety of organic
substrates and shows that power can be generated of a small amount of rate in a continuous flow
reactor system.
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IRRIGATION SYSTEM POWERED BY MICROBIAL FUEL CELL
Electricity Generation Using on Air Cathode Single Chamber Microbial Fuel Cell in the
Presence and Absence of a Proton Exchange Membrane. by Hong Liu, and Bruce E. Logan
(2004)
The study’s purpose is to generate electricity using air cathode microbial fuel cell and to
test the absence of proton exchange membrane. The researcher recommended the electricity
generation using an air membrane cathode microbial fuel cell in the presence and absence of a
proton exchange membranes. The power output increased with glucose concentration according
to saturation-type kinetics, with a half saturation constant of 79 mg/L with the PEM-MFC and
103 mg/L in the MFC without a PEM (1000 Ω resistor) and the 28 ± 3 mW/m2 (0.7 ± 0.1
mW/L) (28% Coulombic efficiency) was produced with the PEM, and 146 ± 8 mW/m2 (3.7 ±
0.2 mW/L) (20% Coulombic efficiency) was produced when the PEM was removed.
Microbial Fuel Cell (SCMFC) by Hong Liu, Ramanathan Ramnarayanan, and Bruce E.
Logan (2004)
The study has a purpose of producing electricity from domestic wastewater. The system
operated under continuous flow conditions with primary clarifier effluent obtained from a local
wastewater. The reactor generated electrical power while removing 80% of the COD of the
wastewater. Power output was proportional to the hydraulic retention time over a range of 3−33
h and to the influent wastewater strength over a range of 50−220 mg/L of COD. Current
generation was controlled primarily by the efficiency of the cathode. Optimal cathode
performance was obtained by allowing passive air flow rather than forced air flow. It was
indicated that a substantial fraction of the organic matter was lost without current generation.
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IRRIGATION SYSTEM POWERED BY MICROBIAL FUEL CELL
Putrefaciens by Hyung JooKim, Hyung SooPark, Moon Sik Hyun, In Seop Chang, Mia
The electron was transferred directly from different Shewanella putrefaciens strains to an
electrode was examined using cyclic voltammetry and a fuel cell type electrochemical cell. Both
methods determine the electrochemical activity of the bacterium without any electrochemical
mediators. The concentration of the electron donor in the anode compartment determined the
current generation capacity and potential development in the microbial fuel cell. the high
concentration of the bacteria (0.47 g dry cell weight/liter) and an electrode that has large surface
area (apparent area: 50 cm2) were used, relatively high Coulombic yield (over 3 C for 12 h) was
Low Power Cost Effective Automatic Irrigation System by Sandeep Nallani and V. Berlin
Hency (2015)
The study’s objective is to develop a low cost power effective sensor based automatic
irrigation system which is integrated to the microcontroller unit. The sensors used in this paper
are soil temperature sensor and humidity sensor SHT1X. The sensors are interfaced to the
Wireless Sensing Unit (WSU) and the entire unit was placed under the soil. The irrigation system
is tested under various temperatures and different levels of humidity for several plants in all
conditions. The soil moisture sensor limits the water content in a particular area.
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IRRIGATION SYSTEM POWERED BY MICROBIAL FUEL CELL
Environmental Impact: How Our Waste Water Impacts The Earth Around Us
There are many bad effects of wastewater on the environment, one of its effect is the
danger of sea creatures, when wastewaters are not treated well it might lead to contamination of
homes of sea creature and plants. Toxic materials will kill fish and aquatic plants, but even
regular sewage will harm aquatic life. Regular organic waste contains large amounts of
phosphorus and other fertilizing compounds. This can stimulate an overgrowth of algae and other
aquatic plants. The Dangers Of Untreated Water On Groundwater And Humans, is also to be
remembered because of wastewaters containing pathogens that can cause serious infections in
humans. This includes infections such as typhoid and cholera. Wastewaters can also effect foods
and crops because in small amounts, these metals are not harmful, but they are usually heavily
concentrated in wastewater. If the water is not properly treated, then the metals will be deposited
These past years wastewaters issues are also emerging because of funding concerns
which leads to lack of utilities that should be used as wastewater treatments. Water scarcity has
also been one of the issues because scarcity and conservation issues rated quite differently by
geographical area. Because of people lacking knowledge about the effect of consumption to
water, the rate of consumption of water and the number of wastewater has increased. In addition,
aging infrastructure also makes big effect on wastewater industries. Aging infrastructure, which
includes pipelines, tunnels, dams, pumping, storage and treatment facilities has been forlorn by
In these years innovations in wastewaters has also been increasing with the help of
companies, government and to people who has been making protests about the increase of
wastewater in countries. It has now been recognised that the potential energy in domestic
wastewater is in excess of the energy required for its full treatment and thus energy recovery was
one of the first technologies to be adopted on a wide scale. The success of this approach has
meant that energy neutral wastewater treatment will be a real possibility within the next two
decades.
The researchers aim to determine the microbial fuel cell’s potential on being a power
Hypotheses
The research work will be anchored on the following Null and Alternative forms
Hₒ= The Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) has no potential in powering up an irrigation system.
Hₐ= The Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) has a potential in powering up an irrigation system.
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IRRIGATION SYSTEM POWERED BY MICROBIAL FUEL CELL
The researchers came up with this study to benefit the people because of the energy it can
use in a person’s daily life. It will also lessen the amount of electricity they use from a different
source of energy, just like geothermal energy and many more. In addition to that, it will even
help numbers of people who are in rural area that were unable to have electricity. The study will
also help increase the number of water reused or will be used again.
The future researchers will also benefit because, it will help them gather more
information about topics involving microbial fuel cell. It might also give them much easier
access on knowing the amount of energy it gives. It might also help them to innovate microbial
The environment will also be benefited because this study might help the decrease of
wastewaters in sea, lakes and other water forms. The study will also help decrease the death rate
of aquatic animals because of the effect of wastewaters. It will also save more or reuse more
water for the people to use and it might also lessen the chance of water pollution. Aside from
these, it will help the farmers to lessen the areas wastewater, so that the plants can have less
contamination.
The study only focuses on the potentiality of microbial fuel cell’s ability to produce
energy for the support of power in irrigation systems and on how long the product works in a
given time.
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IRRIGATION SYSTEM POWERED BY MICROBIAL FUEL CELL
This part describes the procedure and methods which was used in the preparation for the
Research design
In this study, the researchers used the single group design. In which the researchers only
Research Materials
microbe (rich sludge)(32 litres), four containers that can contain 16 litres, aluminium mesh(W
189 inch, H 128 inch), gauge wire 14 AWG, distilled water(32 litres), Salt, waterproof sealant,
cutter, Volt meter, Arduino Uno, Soil Humidity Moisture Sensor Module Soil Hygrometer, pipe
284 inches, Field(two by one meter), a hacksaw, Water pump, Relay module, and Soldering Iron.
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IRRIGATION SYSTEM POWERED BY MICROBIAL FUEL CELL
Figure 1. Flowchart
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IRRIGATION SYSTEM POWERED BY MICROBIAL FUEL CELL
Research Procedure
The procedure was started by gathering all materials, and assembling the two chambers,
the anode and the cathode. The researchers cut five aluminium mesh based from the width and
the height of the container and using an electrical tape and a wire, stick the wire on top of the
aluminium mesh and apply it to the rest. The researchers placed five cut aluminium mesh evenly,
and vertically inside the container. After that, the researchers poured the microbes evenly inside
the container until the microbes reaches the top of the aluminium mesh, then it was combined
with all the wires until the end of the wires are all as one, the energy from the wire was the
product of the cathode chamber. Then cut five ropes in five inches that has been boiled with salt
and agar inside the bridges in the middle of the anode chamber and cathode chamber.
On the anode chamber, cut another aluminium mesh into five, based on the width and the
height of the container. Then, using an electrical tape and a wire, the researchers stuck the wire
on top of the aluminium mesh and applied it to the rest. The researchers Placed six cut
aluminium mesh evenly, and vertically inside the container and poured distilled water inside it
until the distilled water reaches the top of the aluminium mesh then the researchers put salt in
each container. Join all the wires together, to make them all as one. The energy from the wire
was the product of the anode chamber. The researchers Used a Volt meter to test how much it
can produce.
The researchers Started setting up the irrigation system sample by gathering its materials.
After that, start using the submersible water pump and connect water pump from a container
which will be a water source for the Irrigation system to the other hose for the Irrigation system.
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IRRIGATION SYSTEM POWERED BY MICROBIAL FUEL CELL
The researchers started programming the irrigation system sample using the Arduino
Uno. Based on your program, start connecting the wires which depends on what pin have you
assigned including the sensor and the Soil Humidity Moisture Sensor Module Soil Hygrometer.
Start cutting the hose by four pieces, once piece is 2 meters long then the rest are one meter
long. Then connect the two meter hose into the other side for the submersible water pump. The
researchers put water proof sealant around the end of the hose connection to avoid loss in water.
Then, start making small holes evenly so that the water will be released to the soil of the plants.
When the product is done, start testing the experiment and start collecting data.
The study about the irrigation support system powered by microbial fuel cell has rules to
keep you safe and to avoid you from errors. You must be careful on connecting wires because it
might cause errors on the product. You also have to be careful of typing the programs on the
irrigation system to avoid failures in uploading. And the last is that you must always be clean.
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IRRIGATION SYSTEM POWERED BY MICROBIAL FUEL CELL
Data Analysis
This study will use chi square test for independence in computing the study on the Microbial
Fuel Cell (MFC) because the researchers only want to see if there is a potential using the
Where 𝛼 = 0.05
Schematic Diagram
Cathode Anode
ee
Soil
Moistur
Arduino
e Sensor
UNO
Module
Soil
Hygrom
eter
Relay
module
Submersi
ble
Water
pump
Container
with
water
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IRRIGATION SYSTEM POWERED BY MICROBIAL FUEL CELL
Table 1: Numbers of hours when the Irrigation System is HIGH (The Irrigation system when
turned on) or LOW (The Irrigation system when turned off).
HIGH LOW
(The Irrigation system when
(The Irrigation system when turned off)
turned on)
Table 1 Showed the result of having 80 hours of HIGH (The Irrigation system when
turned on) and 40 hours of LOW (The Irrigation system when turned off) in 120 hours of
experimentation with the expected value of 60 in HIGH (The Irrigation system when turned on)
Conclusion
The Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) has a potential in powering up an irrigation system.
Recommendations
Based on the findings of the study, the following recommendations are offered to
Bibliography
Kim,H.B., Kim,H.J., et.al.(2002). Mediator-less microbial fuel cell using a metal reducing
https://ukm.pure.elsevier.com/en/publications/a-mediator-less-microbial-fuel-cell-using-
a-metal-reducing-bacter
https://www.aquaenviro.co.uk/events/conferences/innovations-in-wastewater-treatment/
Liu, H., Logan, E.B.(2004). Electricity generation using on air cathode single chamber microbial
fuel cell in the presence and absence of a proton exchange membrane. Retrieved from
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/es0499344
Min, B., Logan, E.B.(2004). Continuous Electricity Generation from Domestic Wastewater and
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/es0491026
treatment using a single chamber microbial fuel cell (SCMFC) . Retrieved from
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/es034923g
PROUDGREENHOME. (2017, March). Environmental Impact: How Our Waste Water Impacts
The Earth Around Us. Retrieved from March, 16, 2017, from
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IRRIGATION SYSTEM POWERED BY MICROBIAL FUEL CELL
https://www.proudgreenhome.com/news/environmental-impact-how-our-waste-water-
West, J.(2013, November). Top 10 Issues Facing the Wastewater Industry. Retrieved from
https://www.tpomag.com/online_exclusives/2013/11/top_10_issues_facing_the_wastewa
ter_industry
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IRRIGATION SYSTEM POWERED BY MICROBIAL FUEL CELL
APPENDICES
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IRRIGATION SYSTEM POWERED BY MICROBIAL FUEL CELL
Table 1: Numbers of hours when the Irrigation System is HIGH (The Irrigation system when
turned on) or LOW (The Irrigation system when turned off).
HIGH LOW
(The Irrigation system when
(The Irrigation system when turned off)
turned on)
Table 2: Hours of the Experiment with the amount of Volts and when the Irrigation System is
HIGH (The Irrigation system when turned on) or LOW (The Irrigation system when turned off).
23 9 HIGH
24 9 HIGH
25 9 HIGH
26 9 HIGH
27 9 HIGH
28 9 HIGH
29 9 HIGH
30 10 HIGH
31 10 HIGH
32 10 HIGH
33 10 HIGH
34 10 HIGH
35 10 HIGH
36 10 HIGH
37 10 HIGH
38 10 HIGH
39 11 HIGH
40 11 HIGH
41 11 HIGH
42 11 HIGH
43 11 HIGH
44 11 HIGH
45 11 HIGH
46 12 HIGH
47 12 HIGH
48 12 HIGH
49 12 HIGH
50 12 HIGH
51 12 HIGH
52 12 HIGH
53 11 HIGH
54 11 HIGH
55 10 HIGH
56 10 HIGH
57 10 HIGH
58 10 HIGH
59 10 HIGH
60 11 HIGH
61 10 HIGH
62 10 HIGH
63 10 HIGH
64 11 HIGH
65 10 HIGH
66 10 HIGH
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IRRIGATION SYSTEM POWERED BY MICROBIAL FUEL CELL
67 10 HIGH
68 10 HIGH
69 10 HIGH
70 10 HIGH
71 10 HIGH
72 10 HIGH
73 10 HIGH
74 10 HIGH
75 10 HIGH
76 10 HIGH
77 10 HIGH
78 9 HIGH
79 9 HIGH
80 9 HIGH
81 9 HIGH
82 9 HIGH
83 9 HIGH
84 9 HIGH
85 9 HIGH
86 9 HIGH
87 9 HIGH
88 9 HIGH
89 9 HIGH
90 9 HIGH
91 9 HIGH
92 9 HIGH
93 9 HIGH
94 9 HIGH
95 9 HIGH
96 9 HIGH
97 9 HIGH
98 8 LOW
100 8 LOW
101 7 LOW
102 7 LOW
103 6 LOW
104 5 LOW
105 5 LOW
106 4 LOW
107 3 LOW
108 2 LOW
109 2 LOW
110 1 LOW
111 0 LOW
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IRRIGATION SYSTEM POWERED BY MICROBIAL FUEL CELL
112 0 LOW
113 0 LOW
114 0 LOW
115 0 LOW
116 0 LOW
117 0 LOW
118 0 LOW
119 0 LOW
120 0 LOW
Table 3: Hour where the Irrigation System is activated because of lack of moisture in the Soil
40 DEACTIVATED
41 ACTIVATED
42 DEACTIVATED
43 DEACTIVATED
44 ACTIVATED
45 ACTIVATED
46 DEACTIVATED
47 DEACTIVATED
48 DEACTIVATED
49 ACTIVATED
50 DEACTIVATED
51 DEACTIVATED
52 ACTIVATED
53 DEACTIVATED
54 DEACTIVATED
55 DEACTIVATED
56 DEACTIVATED
57 ACTIVATED
58 DEACTIVATED
59 DEACTIVATED
60 DEACTIVATED
61 ACTIVATED
62 DEACTIVATED
63 DEACTIVATED
64 DEACTIVATED
65 DEACTIVATED
66 DEACTIVATED
67 ACTIVATED
68 DEACTIVATED
69 DEACTIVATED
70 DEACTIVATED
71 DEACTIVATED
72 DEACTIVATED
73 DEACTIVATED
74 DEACTIVATED
75 ACTIVATED
76 DEACTIVATED
77 DEACTIVATED
78 DEACTIVATED
79 DEACTIVATED
80 DEACTIVATED
81 DEACTIVATED
82 ACTIVATED
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IRRIGATION SYSTEM POWERED BY MICROBIAL FUEL CELL
83 DEACTIVATED
84 DEACTIVATED
85 DEACTIVATED
86 DEACTIVATED
87 ACTIVATED
88 DEACTIVATED
89 DEACTIVATED
90 DEACTIVATED
91 DEACTIVATED
92 ACTIVATED
93 DEACTIVATED
94 DEACTIVATED
95 DEACTIVATED
96 DEACTIVATED
97 DEACTIVATED
Table 1 Showed the result of having 80 hours of HIGH (The Irrigation system when turned on)
and 40 hours of LOW (The Irrigation system when turned off) in 120 hours of experimentation
with the expected value of 60 in HIGH (The Irrigation system when turned on) and LOW (The
Table 2 Showed the result of the Volts and if the Irrigation system is HIGH (The
Irrigation system when turned on) or LOW (The Irrigation system when turned off) in 120 hours.
Table 3 showed the hour when the Irrigation System is Activated or Deactivated when the soil is
lacking moisture or not.
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IRRIGATION SYSTEM POWERED BY MICROBIAL FUEL CELL
This study will use chi square test for independence in computing the study on the
Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) because the researchers only want to see if there is a potential using
Where 𝛼 = 0.05
HIGH LOW
(The Irrigation system when
(The Irrigation system when turned off)
turned on)
Degrees
Of
Freedom
3.814 13.34
X
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IRRIGATION SYSTEM POWERED BY MICROBIAL FUEL CELL
Curriculum Vitae
A. Personal Information
Laguna
Nationality: Filipino
B. Educational Attainment
A. Personal Information
Laguna
Nationality: Filipino
B. Educational Attainment
A. Personal Information
Laguna
Nationality: Filipino
B. Educational Attainment