title: Concurrent bio-electricity and biomass production in three Plant-Microbial Fuel Cells using Spartina anglica, Arundinella anomala and Arundo donax.
abstract: In a Plant Microbial Fuel Cell (P-MFC) three plants were tested for concurrent biomass and bio-electricity production and maximization of power output. Spartina anglica and Arundinella anomala concurrently produced biomass and bio-electricity for six months consecutively. Average power production of the P-MFC with S. anglica during 13weeks was 16% of the theoretical maximum power and 8% during 7weeks for A. anomala. The P-MFC with Arundo donax, did not produce electricity with a stable output, due to break down of the system. The highest obtained power density in a P-MFC was 222mW/m(2) membrane surface area with S. anglica, over twice as high as the highest reported power density in a P-MFC. High biomass yields were obtained in all P-MFC's, with a high root:shoot ratio, probably caused nutrient availability and anaerobia in the soil. Power output maximization via adjusting load on the system lead to unstable performance of the P-MFC.
authors.affiliation: Sub-department of Environmental Technology, Wageningen University, Bomenweg 2, P.O. Box 8129, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Helder
authors.forename: D P B T B
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Strik
authors.forename: H V M
authors.initials: HV
authors.lastname: Hamelers
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Kuhn
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Blok
authors.forename: C J N
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Buisman
mesh_terms: D001674:Bioelectric Energy Sources; D018533:Biomass; D004560:Electricity; D010944:Plants / Q000378:metabolism*