Sustainable Agri-power: Utilizing of Plant Spacing in Shared-Anolyte Calamansi

Citrofortunella microcarpa Plant Microbial Fuel Cell

Rina Marie C. Maniba

A RESEARCH PLAN

Submitted as an Entry to the 2019-2020 Regional Science Fair

Secondary Level

Physical Science

Individual Category

Antique National School

San Jose, Antique

October, 2019

Fred John C. Hiponia

Martin John M. Salanatin

Research Adviser
Sustainable Agri-Power: Utilizing of Plant Spacing in Shared-Anolyte Calamansi Citrofortunella

microcarpa Plant Microbial Fuel Cell

Research Plan

Rationale

Philippines is an emerging country and its economy is greatly shifted from agricultural to
industrial. In terms of energy used, conventional fossil fuels are the main source of its primary
energy demands (IRENA, 2017). The Plant Microbial Fuel Cell (PMFC) uses living plants and
bacteria to generate electricity. The PMFC makes use of naturally occurring processes around the
roots of plants to directly generate electricity. Up to 70% of this organic matter ends up in the
soil as dead root material, lysates, mucilage and exudates. This organic matter can be oxidized by
bacteria living at and around the roots, releasing CO2, protons and electrons. Electrons are
donated by the bacteria to the anode of a microbial fuel cell (Kropff, 2012).

Research Questions, Hypothesis, Engineering Goals, Expected Outcomes

1. Objectives of the Study

The study aims to find out how plant spacing affects Calamansi Citrofortunella

microcarpa in a Shared-Anolyte Plant Microbial Fuel Cell. Specifically the study will:

1.1 determine the voltage produced by Shared-Anolyte Calamansi Citrofortunella

microcarpa Plant Microbial Fuel Cell as an alternative source of electricity;

1.2 compare the different voltages of Calamansi Citrofortunella microcarpa Shared-

Anolyte Plant Microbial Fuel Cell on different plant spacing; and

1.3 determine the correlation between the mean voltages, plant spacing and the number

of plants in the Plant Microbial Fuel Cell.

2. Hypothesis of the Study

The following hypotheses will be put forward:

2.1 there is no significant difference on voltages of Shared-Anolyte Calamansi

Citrofortunella microcarpa Plant Microbial Fuel Cell on different plant spacing; and

2.2 there is no correlation between the mean voltages, plant spacing and the number of

plants in the Plant Microbial Fuel Cell.

3. Engineering Goals

This study will be beneficial to the following:

Electric Companies. This study can benefit the electric companies due to the fact that the

plant microbial fuel cell will be able to produce sustainable electricity. Since the PMFC can be

able to produce voltage as long as the plant stays alive.

Environment. It can aid in producing clean energy, such that, it can be a competitor

against the damaging process of producing energy by burning fossil fuels.

Agriculture. The technology will be useful in addressing the issues on food supply and

could pave a way in the production of electricity.

People in Society. It could decrease the cost of electric power and could provide a clean

and cheap way in getting alternative electricity.

Description in Detail in Method or Procedure

1. Collection of Calamansi and Preparation of Research Materials, Tools and Equipment

The thirty three (33) calamansi saplings will be collected from the source in Camarin,

Hamtic, Antique and Sibalom, Antique. The calamansi saplings will be brought to a local

greenhouse in Camarin, Hamtic, Antique ahead of time before the experiment and will be

exposed to sunlight.

Collection and Preparation of Research Equipment for the Experimentation

The materials such as: eighteen (18) styrofoam containers, eighteen (18) 1.5 liter water

bottles, rainwater, one (1) sack of coco peat, duct tape, twenty-one (21) alligator clips, voltmeter,

measuring tape, copper wire, thirty-six (36) graphite rods, thirty-three (33) net-pots, PVC pipes,

and epoxy will be obtained from local establishments around San Jose de Buenavista, Antique.

Laboratory equipment, materials and tools such as weighing scale, measuring materials,

digital multi-tester and the like will be borrowed from the agriculturist’s greenhouse in Hamtic,

Antique.

The chemical needed such as agar will also be bought from a source.
2. Procedure

The lids of the collected Styrofoam container will be cut accordingly with a diameter

equal to the net-pot. The holes will differ with distances varying from ten (10) centimeters to

thirty-five (35) centimeters apart. (Refer to Fig.1)

Fig 1: Graphical outline on the Styrofoam container.

10/35 cm

While the calamansi saplings are being obtained from the source, the plant microbial fuel

cell will be constructed;

Seven (7) sets of two-chamber plant microbial fuel cells will be fabricated in containers

with three (3) trials each.

The fabricated two-chamber plant microbial fuel cell will be comprised of four (4) parts:

the anode chamber, the cathode chamber, a salt bridge and an electrical circuit.

The styrofoam container and the one gallon plastic bottle will be used as the anode and

cathode chambers of the Plant Microbial Fuel Cell. A hole will be drilled from one side of the

Styrofoam container and one side of the (1.5) liter plastic bottle such that the PVC pipe will be

connected rigidly. One hole will be made on the lid of the bottle such that the copper wire can

pass through.
 A salt bridge will be made to connect the plastic bottles and Styrofoam. A beaker and the

following will be needed 100 ml of distilled water will be heated until it reaches the boiling point

(100°). The agar will be dissolved in salt water and will be added to the boiling water. While the

mixture is hot, it will be stirred continuously. The mixture will be poured into the PVC pipe

while it is warm and before it begins to thicken. One end of the pipe will be temporarily sealed

and the agar/salt solution mixture will be allowed to cool and solidify. Afterwards, the PVC pipe

will be connected to the sides of the bottles and will be sealed with epoxy.

After making the salt bridge, ten (10) meters of copper wire that will serve as the

electrodes of the plant microbial fuel cell will be cut using pliers into a length of seven (7) inches

each.

The circuit will then be assembled, the red copper wire will be for the graphite rods and

the black copper wire will be for the cathode. One end of the red copper wire will be wrapped

around the graphite rod and the other end of black wire will be connected to the cathode. The

other ends of the copper wire will be connected to the digital multi-tester using an alligator clip.

The same procedure will be done to the other copper wires.

The PMFC will be constructed with different numbers of plants. The saplings will be

transferred to the net pots containing 500 grams of coco peat each. The net pots with the saplings

will be properly placed on the holed lids constructed with the different arrangements (refer to

Fig.1).
 The graphite electrode will be joined with the finished anode by placing the graphite rod,

approximately one centimeter near the rootstock of the saplings in each treatment. On the

cathode chamber, 9000 ml of salt water will be prepared and will be transferred to the water

bottles. (Refer to Fig.2)

Fig 2: Graphical outline of plant microbial fuel cell

3. Preparation of Set-up Treatments

The six set-ups will be:

PMFC A – 3 calamansi saplings+ 500 grams coco peat+ 1000ml distilled water+ 500ml

saltwater + 35cm spacing

PMFC B – 3 calamansi saplings+ 500 grams coco peat+ 1000ml distilled water+ 500ml saltwater

+ 10cm spacing

PMFC C – 2 calamansi saplings+ 500 grams coco peat+ 1000ml distilled water+ 500ml saltwater

+ 35cm spacing

PMFC D – 2 calamansi saplings+ 500 grams coco peat+ 1000ml distilled water+ 500ml

saltwater + 10cm spacing

PMFC E – 1 calamansi sapling+ 500 grams coco peat+ 1000ml distilled water+ 500ml saltwater

PMFC F – 500 grams coco peat + 1000ml distilled water+ 1500ml salt water

After the analyses and experimental activities, excess and organic materials will be

placed inside the reagent containers and will be buried thirty (30) centimeters below the ground.

Borrowed and brought materials and equipment will be washed, cleaned, and sterilized

and will be returned inside the science laboratory stock room for future use.
2. Risk and Safety

The chemical that is present in the research is nutrient agar-agar. There is a risk of

exposure to bacteria, microorganisms and chemicals. The researchers will use Personal

Protective Equipment (PPE) as the safety precaution.

3. Statistical Data Analysis Procedure

3.1 Data Analysis

The data obtained from the study will be subjected to the following descriptive and

inferential statistical treatments; mean between the number of leaves and the height of the plant,

the standard deviation of each treatment, variance, and critical range of the Tukey-Kramer

Multiple Comparison test.

3.2 Statistical Analysis Tools

The statistical tools that will be used in the study are: Mean-to determine the average

scored of the results of the set-up treatments and the average growth of the plants; Standard

Deviation- to determine the dispersion between mean; Correlation Analysis to determine the

correlation between the voltages, the plant spacing and number of plants of the Plant Microbial

Fuel Cell; Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Tukey-Kramer Multiple Comparison test to

evaluate the treatments means and their interactions at 0.05 level of significance, respectively.
REFERENCES

Journals

David P. B. T. B., (2017) Rachnarin Nitisoravut and Roshan Regmi Plant microbial fuel
cells: A promising biosystems engineering, retrieved from:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/315297440_Plant_microbial_fuel_cells_
A_promising_biosystems_engineering

Feng Zhao et al. (2012) Energy from Plants and Microorganisms: Progress in Plant-
Microbial Fuel Cells, retrieved from:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/51871942_Energy_from_Plants_and_
Microorganisms_Progress_in_Plant-Microbial_Fuel_Cells

Jan F. H. Snel2 and Cees J. N. Buisman1 (2008) Green electricity production with living
plants and bacteria in a fuel cell, retrieved from:

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/er.1397

Kropff (2012)- Design criteria for the Plant-Microbial Fuel Cell, retrieved from:

http://edepot.wur.nl/239054

Websites

Darren Quick(2012)- Plant-Microbial Fuel Cell generates electricity from living plants,
Retrieved from: https://newatlas.com/plant-microbial-fuel-cell/25163/

How Plant-microbial Fuel Cells Work (2008) [online] Available at:

https://auto.howstuffworks.com/fuel-efficiency/alternative-fuels/plant-microbial-
fuel-cell.htm

IRENA (2017) -Renewables Readiness Assessment: The Philippines

https://www.irena.org/publications/2017/Mar/Renewables-Readiness-
Assessment-The-Philippines
Megan Treacy (2012)- Plant-Microbial Fuel Cell Produces Power from Plants from:

https://www.treehugger.com/clean-technology/plant-microbial-fuel-cell-produces-
power-plants.html

Nanda Schrama (2015)- How to generate electricity from living plants, from:

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2015/08/how-can-you-generate-electricity-
from-living-plants