Energy Harvesting from Organic Wastes for Electricity Generation

A Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) converts the chemical energy of organic matter into electrical energy using microorganisms, while simultaneously treating wastes. Comparative experiments show cow dung produced 353 mW/m² of energy versus 118.3 mW/m² for human faeces under identical operating conditions. Stacking six MFCs charged with cow dung powered an LED through a power management system that stores energy in a battery for efficient use. Beyond powering low-power devices, MFCs provide wastewater treatment, hydrogen and bio-fertilizer production.