Samuditha Abeywickrama

As part of an undergraduate research initiative at the University of Birmingham Dubai, I am currently leading a project as Principal Investigator and Project Manager to develop and test bio-based microbial fuel cells (MFCs) using various citrus substrates. Our research explores the potential of organic waste—specifically limes, oranges, tangerines, mandarins, and lemons—as a sustainable source of bioelectricity.

The project involves designing, assembling, and testing five individual MFC units, each configured with different fruit-based substrates to analyse their electrochemical performance and long-term stability. I am responsible for the full experimental setup, including electrode selection, cell construction, and sensor integration using Arduino Uno. The real-time data acquisition system monitors critical parameters such as voltage, current, pH, temperature, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD).

My role includes data collection, calibration, circuit design, and research documentation. The aim is to evaluate how different fruit types impact power generation and wastewater treatment effectiveness in MFCs. This interdisciplinary project integrates elements of bioenergy, electrochemistry, environmental sustainability, and instrumentation. It has strengthened my skills in hands-on experimentation, embedded systems, and renewable energy research, while contributing to the development of low-cost, off-grid energy solutions using organic waste.