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Environ Sci Pollut Res (2015) 22:1562115635 DOI 10.1007/s11356-015-4744-8
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Using live algae at the anode of a microbial fuel cell to generate electricity
Chang Xu1,2 & Karen Poon1 & Martin M. F. Choi2 &
Ruihua Wang3
Received: 14 November 2014 /Accepted: 18 May 2015 /Published online: 28 May 2015 # Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2015
Abstract Live green microalgae Chlorella pyrenoidosa was introduced in the anode of a microbial fuel cell (MFC) to act as an electron donor. By controlling the oxygen content, light intensity, and algal cell density at the anode, microalgae would generate electricity without requiring externally added substrates. Two models of algal microbial fuel cells (MFCs) were constructed with graphite/carbon electrodes and no mediator. Model 1 algal MFC has live microalgae grown at the anode and potassium ferricyanide at the cathode, while model 2 algal MFC had live microalgae in both the anode and cathode in different growth conditions. Results indicated that a higher current produced in model 1 algal MFC was obtained at low light intensity of 2500 lx and algal cell density of 5106 cells/ ml, in which high algal density would limit the electricity generation, probably by increasing oxygen level and mass
transfer problem. The maximum power density per unit anode volume obtained in model 1 algal MFC was relatively high at 6030 mW/m2, while the maximum power density at30.15 mW/m2 was comparable with that of previous reported bacteria-driven MFC with graphite/carbon electrodes. A much smaller power density at 2.5 mW/m2 was observed in model 2 algal MFC. Increasing the algal cell permeability by 4-nitroaniline would increase the open circuit voltage, while the mitochondrial acting and proton leak promoting agents resveratrol and 2,4-dinitrophenol would increase the electric current production in algal MFC.
Keywords Electricity generation . Chlorella pyrenoidosa . Microbial fuel cell . Algae at anode
AbbreviationsMFC Microbial fuel cell 4NA 4-Nitroaniline RVT ResveratrolDNP 2,4-Dinitrophenol DO Dissolved oxygen
Introduction
Owing to the decreasing supply and increasing cost of petroleum, the development of alternative technologies to produce energy became a great interest in research communities (Kouroussis and Karimi 2006). Algae have been explored for sometime to provide an alternative source of energy. A lot of investigations have been put in oil extraction from algal biomass to synthesize biofuel. However, the...