Affordable ESP32-based monitoring system for microbial fuel cells: real-time analysis and performance evaluation (ESP32-based data logger as a monitoring system for microbial fuel cell)

• Published in: International Journal of Energy and Water Resources Vol. 8; no. 2; pp. 199 - 212
• Main Authors: Indriyani, Y. A., Efendi, R., Rustami, E., Rusmana, I., Anwar, S., Djajakirana, G., Santosa, D. A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01.06.2024; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Alternative energy sources; Analog to digital converters; Aquatic Pollution; Bacteria; Biocatalysts; Biochemical fuel cells; Bioelectricity; Chemical energy; Data collection; Earth and Environmental Science; Electric potential; Electricity generation; Electrochemistry; Energy; Environment; Fossil fuels; Fuel cells; Fuel technology; Internet of Things; Low cost; Metabolism; Microorganisms; Monitoring; Monitoring systems; Multimeters; Original Article; Oxidation; Performance evaluation; Power; R&D; Renewable resources; Research & development; Soil sciences; Substrates; Voltage; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control; Water Quality/Water Pollution; Indonesia; Electrochemistry; Biofuel; Electricity; Renewable energy; Green technology
• ISSN: 2538-3604; 2522-0101
• DOI: 10.1007/s42108-023-00255-y

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are bioelectrochemical instruments that exploit living microbes as biocatalysts for the conversion of chemical energy stored in the bonds of substrates into electrical energy. Monitoring of current or voltage generation in microbial fuel cells at rigid time intervals is noteworthy. Unfortunately, bioelectrochemical studies are often constrained due to the need for expensive and precise devices for electrochemical measurements. Utilization of low-cost microcontroller as monitoring system can be a considerable solution, compared with data logger that is a high-cost device, or compared with commercial multimeter that have to be used manually in collecting data. In this present work, microbial fuel cells electricity generation was successfully online monitored and the voltage data was also successfully collected using an ESP32 based-data logger. Statistically, there was no significant difference between ESP32 and multimeter in voltage reading, and the average of absolute and relative error values were 0.85 mV and 2.72%, respectively. It suggested that ESP32 could be a possible and low-cost monitoring system for microbial fuel cells bioelectricity generation. Additionally, ADS1115 (an external analogue to digital converter interface to ESP32) has up to four analogue channels, whereas multimeter has just one. In this research, microbial fuel cell powered by isolate KCf1 generated highest voltage value of 789 mV and power density of 541 mW m −2 .