Eco-friendly Generation of Electricity Using the Bacteria Proteus Vulgaris as a Catalyst

Abstract

The increase in the human population has generated the search for new ways to generate sustainable electrical energy in various ways, among which microbial fuel cell technology has been investigated. In this research, the main objective was to generate electrical energy using Proteus vulgaris bacteria as a biocatalyst in a physiologically sterile saline solution. This bacterium was molecularly identified and obtained from tomato waste. It has been possible to generate current and voltage peaks of 0.368 ± 0.0556 mA and 0.9545 ± 0.0399 V, respectively, with an optimum operating pH of approximately 5.884 ± 0.07 on the eleventh day, while the power density found was 85.76 mW/m2 at a current density of 215.53 mA/m2 with an internal resistance of 51.113 ± 4.375 Ω. The micrographs show the presence of biofilms formed on the anode electrode, which appear rough and porous. Finally, the three monitored microbial fuel cells were connected in series, turning on a red LED light. This research helps to publicize the potential of this bacterium as a fuel source to generate bioelectricity without polluting the environment.