Electricity Generation from sugar mill waste using microbes

Published on 19 Apr 2022. Written by Vinay Raj

Nowadays a lot of waste is being generated daily. Developing countries like India, Brazil, Afghanistan are facing severe problem due to the rapid industrialization and urbanization. If the waste is not treated properly it will pollute the environment.

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If the effluent which is the last product of the treated waste is not disposed of properly even it causes pollution to the surroundings. This will spread diseases and make society a dangerous place to live. So, the effluent must be treated and disposed of properly.

One of the best uses of the effluent (effluents has a high content of carbon and fats) is that we can generate the electricity from them. Wastes from agriculture, food industries, and household wastes are best suitable for producing energy because they are rich in organic contents. One of the best methods of generating electricity is by using microbial fuel cells (MFC). In recent years, microbial fuel cells have gained importance because of their capability to produce bioelectricity from organic wastes.

MFCs are unique devices which are capable to produce electricity.  This device utilizes microorganisms as catalysts for altering chemical energy into electrical energy under anaerobic conditions which in turn treats the wastewater and also produces the electricity.

Requirements:

• Container for storing the microbes and wastewater from the sugar industry.
• Microbes
• Organic matter (any waste matter which contains carbohydrates and fat)
• Electrodes for anode and cathode.

Project Implementation:

1. Take a container and fill sugar mill waste (about 80%).
2. Put two cylinders that absorb the wastewater only from the sideways.
3. Place the anode and cathode electrodes into the small cylinders.
4. Fill the microbes into the small cylinders.
5. Give the microbes enough time to convert the chemical energy into electrical energy.
6. The extra material formed on the anode and cathode is removed frequently for more efficiency.

Advantages:

• Generates Electric energy from the wastewater.
• No waste generated in this process
• The by-products generated from the cell can be used as manure in the field.

Conclusion:

MFCs is the alternative for wastewater treatment and generation of electricity. Electricity can be generated from any waste that contains carbohydrates or fat in it. The only disadvantage is the higher cost when used with more cathodes but the efficiency of the cell will increase.

Kit required to develop Electricity Generation from sugar mill waste using microbes:

• NA

Technologies you will learn by working on Electricity Generation from sugar mill waste using microbes:

• Reusing waste
• Electric
• sugar mill
• microbes

Any Questions?