Electricity generation from macroalgae Enteromorpha prolifera hydrolysates using an alkaline fuel cell

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Renewable Energy
• Electrochemistry

Background:

• Macroalgae, specifically Enteromorpha prolifera, represent an abundant and underutilized marine biomass resource.
• Developing sustainable methods for renewable energy production is crucial for reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
• Direct power generation from biomass offers a promising alternative for clean energy solutions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a direct power generation method using macroalgae Enteromorpha prolifera.
• To optimize saccharification process conditions for macroalgae.
• To construct and test an alkaline fuel cell without precious metal catalysts for electricity generation.

Main Methods:

• Optimized dilute acid hydrolysis of homogenized Enteromorpha prolifera at 170°C with 2% hydrochloric acid for 45 minutes.
• Developed a novel alkaline fuel cell system.
• Tested the fuel cell performance using the reducing sugar hydrolysate from macroalgae.

Main Results:

• Achieved a yield of 272.25g reducing sugar per kg of dry algal biomass under optimal hydrolysis conditions.
• The developed alkaline fuel cell reached a maximum power density of 3.81 W/m².
• This power density is significantly higher than previously reported for algae-fed fuel cells.

Conclusions:

• This study demonstrates the first successful direct electricity generation from macroalgae using an alkaline fuel cell.
• Optimized macroalgae saccharification and fuel cell design offer a viable pathway for renewable energy production.
• Marine biomass, particularly Enteromorpha prolifera, holds substantial potential for sustainable energy generation.