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Comparison of power output by rice (Oryza sativa) and an associated weed (Echinochloa glabrescens) in vascular plant bio-photovoltaic (VP-BPV) systems

  • Bioenergy and biofuels
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Abstract

Vascular plant bio-photovoltaics (VP-BPV) is a recently developed technology that uses higher plants to harvest solar energy and the metabolic activity of heterotrophic microorganisms in the plant rhizosphere to generate electrical power. In the present study, electrical output and maximum power output variations were investigated in a novel VP-BPV configuration using the crop plant rice (Oryza sativa L.) or an associated weed, Echinochloa glabrescens (Munro ex Hook. f.). In order to compare directly the physiological performances of these two species in VP-BPV systems, plants were grown in the same soil and glasshouse conditions, while the bio-electrochemical systems were operated in the absence of additional energy inputs (e.g. bias potential, injection of organic substrate and/or bacterial pre-inoculum). Diurnal oscillations were clearly observed in the electrical outputs of VP-BPV systems containing the two species over an 8-day growth period. During this 8-day period, O. sativa generated charge ∼6 times faster than E. glabrescens. This greater electrogenic activity generated a total charge accumulation of 6.75 ± 0.87 Coulombs for O. sativa compared to 1.12 ± 0.16 for E. glabrescens. The average power output observed over a period of about 30 days for O. sativa was significantly higher (0.980 ± 0.059 GJ ha−1 year−1) than for E. glabrescens (0.088 ± 0.008 GJ ha−1 year−1). This work indicates that electrical power can be generated in both VP-BPV systems (O. sativa and E. glabrescens) when bacterial populations are self-forming. Possible reasons for the differences in power outputs between the two plant species are discussed.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful for funding provided by the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), the Cambridge Commonwealth Trust, Commonwealth Scholarship Commission and Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Trust.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Hopkins Building, Downing Site, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1QW, UK

    Paolo Bombelli, Alistair J. McCormick & Christopher J. Howe

  2. Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge New Museums Site, Pembroke Street, Cambridge, CB2 3RA, UK

    Durgaprasad Madras Rajaraman Iyer, Kamran Yunus & Adrian C. Fisher

  3. Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Site, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EA, UK

    Sarah Covshoff & Julian M. Hibberd

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  1. Paolo Bombelli
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  2. Durgaprasad Madras Rajaraman Iyer
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  3. Sarah Covshoff
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  4. Alistair J. McCormick
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  5. Kamran Yunus
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  6. Julian M. Hibberd
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  7. Adrian C. Fisher
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  8. Christopher J. Howe
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Correspondence to Christopher J. Howe.

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PB and DMRI contributed equally to this work.

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Bombelli, P., Iyer, D.M.R., Covshoff, S. et al. Comparison of power output by rice (Oryza sativa) and an associated weed (Echinochloa glabrescens) in vascular plant bio-photovoltaic (VP-BPV) systems. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 97, 429–438 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-012-4473-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-012-4473-6

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