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Microbial Fuel Cells01:23

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Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are bioelectrochemical devices that generate electricity by exploiting the metabolic processes of electrogenic bacteria. These systems provide a renewable energy source and serve as an innovative method for treating organic waste, such as wastewater.A typical MFC consists of two chambers: an anoxic (oxygen-free) compartment that houses the bacteria and an oxic (oxygen-rich) compartment that contains oxygen as the terminal electron acceptor. Many MFCs use proton...
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Cultivation of Green Microalgae in Bubble Column Photobioreactors and an Assay for Neutral Lipids
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Published on: January 7, 2019

Energy from algae using microbial fuel cells.

Sharon B Velasquez-Orta1, Tom P Curtis, Bruce E Logan

  • 1School of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE17RU, United Kingdom. s.b.velasquez-orta@ncl.ac.uk

Biotechnology and Bioengineering
|May 7, 2009
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

This study shows that algae like Chlorella vulgaris and Ulva lactuca can generate electricity in microbial fuel cells (MFCs). Different algae yield varying energy recovery and degradation efficiencies, highlighting their potential for renewable bioelectricity production.

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Area of Science:

  • Bioenergy and Renewable Energy Sources
  • Environmental Biotechnology
  • Electrochemical Systems

Background:

  • Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) offer a promising avenue for sustainable energy generation.
  • Algae represent a potential feedstock for bioelectricity production due to their organic content.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the bioelectricity production capabilities of Chlorella vulgaris (phytoplankton) and Ulva lactuca (macrophyte) in MFCs.
  • To compare energy recovery, substrate degradation, and power densities between the two algal species.

Main Methods:

  • Single-chamber microbial fuel cells (MFCs) were utilized with powdered C. vulgaris and U. lactuca as substrates.
  • Energy recovery, chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal, and power densities were measured.
  • Linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) was employed to assess polarization curves at different scan rates (0.1 mV/s and 1 mV/s).
  • Microbial community analysis was performed to understand the microbial consortia development.

Main Results:

  • C. vulgaris yielded higher energy generation per unit mass (2.5 kWh/kg), while U. lactuca showed more complete degradation (73% COD removal).
  • Maximum power densities were 0.98 W/m² (C. vulgaris) and 0.76 W/m² (U. lactuca).
  • LSV at 1 mV/s overestimated power density; 0.1 mV/s provided better agreement with experimental data.
  • Microbial communities in MFCs showed low similarity (11%) to inocula and clustered based on the bioprocess.

Conclusions:

  • Algae, specifically C. vulgaris and U. lactuca, can be utilized as a renewable source for electricity generation in MFCs.
  • The choice of algal species significantly impacts energy recovery, degradation efficiency, and power output.
  • Optimized LSV scan rates are crucial for accurate MFC performance assessment.