Chung Yu Guan

Title : Plant microbial fuel cells and biorefinery technology for climate change, global warming, energy shortages, and environmental problems

Abstract:

Due to environmental problems, energy shortages, climate change and global warming, it is urgent to use green technologies to treat pollution and convert green energy and valuable chemicals. The plant microbial fuel cell (PMFC) is considered a sustainable technology that can absorb CO2, treat pollution, and produce energy. Several studies have demonstrated the use of the PMFC system for the remediation of contaminated soils and groundwater. The removal efficiency of Cu and Cr in soils could reach 58.85% and 60.00%, and Zn of groundwater could also be reduced. Biomass materials are a widespread and renewable resource. In biorefinery area, collecting and converting biomass materials into valuable chemicals and energy. Biorefinery technology can reduce human use of fossil fuels. The microwave heating method has higher heating efficiency and shorter reaction time for biomass conversion. The higher reacting temperature and higher catalyst concentrations improve levulinic acid generation. Furthermore, the plant biomass waste used for plant remediation of groundwater and soil can also be collected and pre-treated. Afterward, the plant biomass samples were converted by microwave heating to produce platform compounds. The temperature, catalyst concentration, and green solvent can affect the yield of platform compounds and energy. Therefore, plant microbial fuel cells and biorefinery technology have the potential to be applied to environmental protection and sustainable development.

Audience Take Away

• This work will bring green technology, especially plant microbial fuel cells, and biorefinery technology, which can treat environmental problems and energy shortages.
• Plant microbial fuel cells and biorefinery technology have multiple functions. Researchers and teachers can develop and teach these methods.
• Plant microbial fuel cells and biorefinery technology are practical methods.

Biography:

Chung-Yu Guan is currently Associate Professor in the Department of Environmental Engineering at National Ilan University. He was a Visiting Scholar at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Visiting Scholar at Kyushu Institute of Technology in Japan. Chung-Yu Guan holds PhD from National Taiwan University, Taiwan. He has published over 30 SCI journal papers and serves as Gust Editor of some Journal paper.