Plant microbial fuel cells (P-MFCs) are sustainable and eco-friendly technologies, which use plant root exudates to directly nourish the electrochemically active bacteria (EABs) to generate sustainable electricity. However, their use in evaluating plant growth has been insufficiently studied. In this study, interconnection between plant growth and the production of bioelectricity was evaluated by using P-MFCs inoculated with 642.865 mL ≅ 643 mL of livestock’s urine such as cow urine, goat urine, and sheep urine. The greatest mean stem diameter of 0.52 ± 0.01 cm was found in P-MFC-3 inoculated with goat urine, while the P-MFC-2 treated with cow urine reached a higher average number of roots with a value of 86 ± 2.50 (95% improvement) (p < 0.05). Besides, P-MFC-4 presented greater height of 50.08 ± 0.67 cm. For polarization curve experiment a higher maximum power density of 132 ± 11.6 mW m⁻² (931 mA m⁻²) was reached with cow urine; in turn, with regard to the long-term operation, the same reactor indicated a higher maximum average power density of 43.68 ± 3.05 mW m⁻². The study’s findings indicated that Stevia P-MFC inoculated with urine was a good option to increase the biomass amount for the agricultural plants along with power generation. Further, this study opens the way for more investigation of evaluating the impact of P-MFC on plant growth.

Renewable biodiesel with a high content of n-C₁₇ alkanes was prepared through the catalytic hydrodeoxygenation of oleic acid under optimum conditions of temperature, reaction time and weight percentage of Ni deposited in γ-Al₂O₃. The hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) was blended with petrodiesel (20 % and 40 % of HVO) to evaluate its behaviour in a diesel engine. Comparative studies of power and emission of atmospheric pollutants such as NO_x, CO, HC and smoke were evaluated under prepared blends and petrodiesel. The presence of HVO biodiesel at full load generated a slight decrease in power compared to petrodiesel; however, the decrease in emission of pollutants when using the blends containing HVO was significant. In the case of 40 % HVO were able to reduce more of 20 % of CO and HC emissions, and more than 40 % reduction in smoke when compared with petrodiesel. The NO_x emissions of the blends with HVO had a significant slightly decrease. Further, the properties of Ni/γ-Al₂O₃ catalysts are justified by the results of EDS characterization, surface area (SBET), XRD, XPS, HR-TEM and it’s capacity to produce biodiesel.

Fertilizer production is an energy-intensive process. Alternatively urine waste contains essential major nutrients. Combined self-sustainable direct reutilization with energy generation with Plants is beneficial to the environment. In this study, a plant microbial fuel cell (P-MFC) embedded with Stevia rebaudiana was built with a clay cup, for the direct reutilization of nutrients associated with the generation of bioelectricity. The P-MFCs were inoculated with 642.86 mL of urine waste from three species of domestic animals: P-MFC-1* (uninoculated), P-MFC-2 (cow urine), P-MFC-3 (goat urine) and P-MFC-4 (sheep urine). Higher direct reutilization of NH 4 + –N (94.68%), PO 4 3 - (98.7%) and K (33.33%) respectively, was achieved in P-MFC-2. According to the polarization curve experiments, the power density and current density increased by 98.47% in P-MFC-4. For the long-term operation (43 days), P-MFC-3 indicated a higher average power density of 46.97 ± 0.67 mW m- 2 (p≤0.05), for a current density of 77.45 ± 0.24 mA m- 2 , with a resistance of 1000 Ω. The development of P-MFC system is a viable and economical alternative for the generation of sustainable and renewable energy.

Transformers are essential in electrical networks, and their failure can lead to the shutdown of a section or the entire grid. This study proposes a combination of techniques for early fault detection, distinguishing between small load imbalances and incipient interturn short circuits. An experimental setup was developed using a three-phase transformer bank with three single-phase dry-type transformers. One transformer was modified to create controlled short circuits of two and four turns and to simulate a load imbalance by reducing the winding by four turns. The main contribution of this research is the development of a combined diagnostic approach using instantaneous space phasor (ISP) spectral analysis and infrared thermal imaging to differentiate between load imbalances and incipient interturn short circuits in transformers. This method enhances early fault detection by identifying distinctive electrical and thermal signatures associated with each condition. The results could improve transformer monitoring, reducing the risk of failure and enhancing grid reliability.

This work exposes the conditioning of the zenith greenhouse of the Polytechnic University of Aguascalientes for its conformation as a high-tech entity, through the adaptation of sensors, actuators and a controller, which ensure the supervision of the environmental conditions inside, mainly established by the variables of temperature and humidity. The development and application of a computer graphical interface is presented as an intuitive tool for monitoring and controlling the field devices used, and therefore, the environmental conditions provided or recorded from their activation. Likewise, the use of the open communication standard OPC is demonstrated as an alternative for effective interaction between the LabVIEW software, from which the management interface was developed, and the PLC, used as the system controller. The results achieved provide proof of the adequate operation of the devices adapted in the greenhouse installation, the compilation of the information associated with the performance of their task and the manipulation of their operation or reading, from the graphical interface developed for this purpose.

En la actualidad, la transición energética requiere tecnologías renovables que generen electricidad y minimicen el impacto ambiental. Las biobaterías, como las celdas de combustible microbianas (MFCs, por sus siglas en inglés), son prometedoras porque producen energía mientras tratan las aguas residuales y eliminan los contaminantes. En este artículo se explora cómo operan las MFC, así como los avances recientes en materiales y microbiología, y sus aplicaciones en el tratamiento del agua, la limpieza del suelo y de los sedimentos. También se examinan los desafíos que obstaculizan su rendimiento y el papel realista que podrían desempeñar para 2050. Se concluye que, en lugar de reemplazar por completo las fuentes tradicionales, las MFC servirán como un suplemento valioso en áreas específicas, como en instalaciones de tratamiento descentralizadas, en industrias que generan residuos orgánicos, en sensores y en biorremediación in situ. Las MFC aportan beneficios tangibles tanto para el medio ambiente como para la producción de energía limpia. ¿Te gustaría saber cómo?