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ABSTRACT
This study evaluates electricity generation using lettuce waste through microbial fuel cell (MFC). The single chamber (MFC) was used for electricity generation in the laboratory experiment using lettuce waste. The data of voltage recorded was in every 1:00 pm for 5days at the duration of 3 weeks. Therefore each week of lettuce waste has different weight (kg). Example, week 1 (1kg), week 2 (2kg) and week 3 (4kg). The voltage at the initial stage increased gradually, the third week (4kg) has the highest voltage at day5 was 108.8mV. The physicochemical experiment of the lettuce waste water were recorded, and pH was high at 6.5-8.5 according to WHO guideline, Dissolved oxygen was less at 5.0 and Biochemical Oxygen Demand was <4.0. Thus the MFC has emerged as an efficient and eco friendly solution for organic waste management, especially in developing countries and can provide green and safe electricity from organic wastes.
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF STUDY
Biomass which includes agricultural crops, seeds, algae, and bio waste are major sources of renewable energy that replenish themselves through natural processes, (Hossain and Mekhied, 2010; Mata et al, 2010; Diner, 200). Bio electricity generation is reported from waste water using a microbial fuel cell, (Khan 2009, Khan et al, 2010, Khan et al, 2011, Khan and Na2, 2014), lemon, orange, and grape fruit are examples of biomass and commonly known as citrus fruit, (Randhawa et al, 2014). They contain citric acid, sugar and other ingredient with sufficient chemical energy that can be converted into electrical energy by means of redox reaction with a specific condition and thus be utilized as batteries to light up LEDs and power up a clock or a calculator etc, (Kelter and Morgan, 1998). Under certain condition, the citric acid contained in citric fruit may act as an electrolyte, which enables the generation of electricity just the same way as a galvanic battery, (Ooni; 2007). Energy is the prime requirement of all sectors including industry, transportation, agriculture, and domestic use without which advancement of technology and survival of life is not possible (Carvalho et al, 2011). Most of the energy around the work comes from non–renewable sources including petroleum, coal, oil and natural gas which are being depleted at a high rate (Larhum, 2016). Fossil fuels are the major sources of global warming and pollution due to increase in green house gases, volatile matter and particles in the atmosphere, (Khan et al,2011). However, technologies of renewable energy are growing worldwidethat it can overcome these drawbacks, (Christi, 2007; Goff et al, 2004; Ha et al, 2010). Getting energy from waste is a process under which energy in form of heat or electricity is generated from wasteful disposal of manure, feaces, and various other organic materials. This waste is not just converted into these two forms of energy but besides this it can produce a combustible fuel commodity including methane, methanol, ethanol, or synthetic fuel. Different principles are used to convert the organic waste into any usable form ofenergy, (Pandey et al, 2015). Microbial fuel cell (MFC) are bio electrochemical transducers that convert microbial reducing power, (generated by the metabolism of organic substrates), into electrical energy, (Logan and Regan, 2006; Hong et al, 2009). Resources recovery from waste material is an important topic in both developed countries and developing countries. A major portion of the total solid waste and it is not properly treated for resources recovery, (Moqsud 2003; Sujuaddin and Hoque 2008; Zurbrugg et al 2005). Even in developed countries such as JAPAN, annual organic waste is directly incinerated with other combustible waste, with the residual ash disposed of in landsfills, (Koike et al 2009). Instead of considering organic waste as waste, it should be considered as valuable biomass for resources recovery. Microbial fuel cell (MFCs) use bacteria to covert the chemical energy of a particular substrate contained in waste water into electrical energy. This is achieved when bacteria transfer electrons to an electrode rather than directly to an electrode acceptor. Their technical feasibility has recently been proven and there is great enthusiasm in the scientific community that MFCs could provide a source of green electricity by exploiting domestic and industrial waste to generate power, (Hernandez – Fernandez et al 2015; L.J et al 2015, Liu et al 2015). A wide range of organic compound including compound present in various types of waste have been employed as substrates in microbial fuels cells (MFC) and this can be achieved directly from anaerobically digested wastes. The amount of electricity generated is influenced by the types of reactor and organic waste used, (Nyoyoko and Ibout 2015).
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE STUDY
The statement of this study is majorly the accumulation of waste and throws always, which results to several environmental problems, health issues and safety hazards, which prevent sustainable development in terms of recycling of waste materials and resource recovery. Therefore emission from landsfill and accumulation of solid waste material in Nigeria are problems which grow in parallel, also if corrected and well managed, waste can be a valuable reserve for production of material and energy.
1.3OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
This study is carried out;
- To demonstrate and evaluate the use of lettuce waste for generation of electricity which involves the construction and design of microbial fuel cell.
- To optimize the process for generating electricity, and determining the capacity of the electricity of the electrical power produced to power a bulb.
- To determine quality of electricity produced.
1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The significance of this project is to show that organic waste can be used to generate electricity, with the use of microbial fuel cell, and by so doing, it can reduce the rate of environmental pollution and overcome crisis of global warming.
1.5 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The scope of this project is taken from fruit garden; Port Harcourt, Nigeria where sample (lettuce waste), was collected for generation of electricity through microbial fuel cell.