Geobacter Microbial Fuel Cells for IoT System Support: Microbial Fuel Cells in Marine, River and Coastal Environments

The research focuses on the aquatic, marine, and coastal landscape, where through the use of “Geobacter Sulfurreducens” microorganisms[1] found in lagoon and marsh sediments, it is possible to produce electricity through a determined Microbial Fuel Cell system. Such electrolytic capabilities offer a twofold result, firstly in the production of renewable energy from organic substances (particularly iron oxide), and secondly in the bioremediation of water. Analysis and field testing have aimed at the development of a regenerative system for marine renewable energy production. The paper is divided into an introductory part in which the energies involved in the project, the bioelectrochemical principles behind the operation of a MFC (Microbial Fuel Cell) and an MFC in an open environment are explained. In addition, the introductory part explains the characteristics of geobacteria and the various places where they can be found, with a focus on the structures studied so far. Then experimentation is addressed focusing on service design, public sector, IoT, and sensing and then conclusions are drawn and the real possibilities of application in different scenarios related to aquatic and coastal scenarios. The research project uses in part the methodologies of biomimesis and bio-inspired design that start from the understanding that biological systems are like databases of sustainable design solutions and innovations (Benyus, 2002; Langella, 2007) that can be used in flood monitoring and forecasting. These, enabled by IoT, combine AI, IoT and big data for advanced flood analytical research (Negi, Harendra Singh et al., 2020).