Microalgae as substrate in low cost terracotta-based microbial fuel cells: Novel application of the catholyte produced

M J Salar-García; I Gajda; V M Ortiz-Martínez; J Greenman; M M Hanczyc; A P de los Ríos; I A Ieropoulos

doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2016.02.083

Microalgae as substrate in low cost terracotta-based microbial fuel cells: Novel application of the catholyte produced

Bioresour Technol. 2016 Jun:209:380-5. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2016.02.083. Epub 2016 Feb 27.

Authors

M J Salar-García¹, I Gajda², V M Ortiz-Martínez¹, J Greenman², M M Hanczyc³, A P de los Ríos⁴, I A Ieropoulos⁵

Affiliations

¹ Polytechnic University of Cartagena, Chemical and Environment Engineering Department, Campus Muralla del Mar, C/Doctor Fleming S/N, E-30202 Cartagena, Murcia, Spain.
² Bristol BioEnergy Centre, Bristol Robotic Laboratory, Block T, UWE, Bristol, Coldharbour Lane, Bristol BS16 1QY, UK.
³ University of Trento, Laboratory for Artificial Biology, Via Sommarive N°9, E: 38123 Povo, Trento, Italy.
⁴ University of Murcia, Chemical Engineering Department, Campus de Espinardo, E: 30071, Murcia, Spain.
⁵ Bristol BioEnergy Centre, Bristol Robotic Laboratory, Block T, UWE, Bristol, Coldharbour Lane, Bristol BS16 1QY, UK. Electronic address: ioannis.ieropoulos@brl.ac.uk.

PMID: 26995319
DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2016.02.083

Abstract

In this work, the by-product generated during the operation of cylindrical MFCs, made out of terracotta material, is investigated as a feasible means of degrading live microalgae for the first time. In addition to the low cost materials of this design, the reuse of the solution produced in the cathode renders the technology truly green and capable of generating bioenergy. In this study, the effect of a light/dark cycle or dark conditions only on the digestion of live microalgae with the catholyte is investigated. The results show that a combination of light/dark improves degradation and allows algae to be used as substrate in the anode. The addition of 12.5mL of a 1:1 mix of catholyte and microalgae (pre-digested over 5days under light/dark) to the anode, increases the power generation from 7μW to 44μW once all the organic matter in the anode had been depleted.

Keywords: Bioenergy; Catholyte; Ceramic membrane; Microalgae; Microbial fuel cells.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Bioelectric Energy Sources*
Conservation of Energy Resources / methods*
Electrodes
Light
Microalgae*