Plant–microbial fuel cells in green roofs of tropical urban regions for sustainable water treatment and energy generation

Abstract

Abstract A plant–microbial fuel cell (PMFC) is a derived technology of microbial fuel cell technology that integrates plant photosynthesis and rhizosphere microbial metabolism for bioelectricity generation and organic pollutant treatment. With living plants as a structural component, PMFCs can also function as green roofs. Integration of PMFCs in a green roof is a new and innovative approach that has huge scope for sustainable development in urban areas, particularly with tropical climates. Solving of bottlenecks in system configuration and operational optimization are both essential for successful implementation and performance of PMFC–green roofs. Adaptive features of PMFC–green roofs in tropical urban regions include intensive and natural growth media, regular watering with supplementary wastewater sources, and diverse plant adaptation with superior resistance to strong irradiation and toxic pollutants in wastewaters. These critical issues determine the plant vitality and plant–microbe interactions. Plant species adopting C4 carbon fixation and crassulacean acid metabolism are prioritized to achieve high day and night transpiration rates, photosynthetic efficiency, and tolerance capacity to harsh tropical rooftop conditions. Runoff contamination and management of end-of-life disposals are specific concerns to ensure public safety and the full assessment of wastewater amended PMFC–green roofs in tropical urban regions. This chapter describes the working principles underlying PMFC technology and its possibility to integrate into tropical rooftops for a simultaneous wastewater treatment. This chapter also highlights challenges that need to be overcome for large-scale applications of PMFC–green roofs in tropical urban regions.

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Identifiers

DOI

10.2166/9781789065015_0149

Journal

Nature-Based Solutions for Urban Sustainability

Year

2025