Enhancement of CO2 biofixation and bioenergy generation using a novel airlift type photosynthetic microbial fuel cell

Ming Li; Minghua Zhou; Chaolin Tan; Xiaoyu Tian

doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2018.10.078

Enhancement of CO₂ biofixation and bioenergy generation using a novel airlift type photosynthetic microbial fuel cell

Bioresour Technol. 2019 Jan:272:501-509. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2018.10.078. Epub 2018 Oct 28.

Authors

Ming Li¹, Minghua Zhou², Chaolin Tan¹, Xiaoyu Tian¹

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Pollution Process and Environmental Criteria, Ministry of Education, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, PR China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Urban Ecology Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, PR China; Tianjin Advanced Water Treatment Technology International Joint Research Center, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, PR China.
² Key Laboratory of Pollution Process and Environmental Criteria, Ministry of Education, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, PR China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Urban Ecology Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, PR China; Tianjin Advanced Water Treatment Technology International Joint Research Center, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, PR China. Electronic address: zhoumh@nankai.edu.cn.

PMID: 30391843
DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2018.10.078

Abstract

This study developed a novel airlift type photosynthetic microbial fuel cell (AL-PMFC) using Chlorella vulgaris to enhance the CO₂ biofixation and bioenergy (bioelectricity and biodiesel) generation. The performances of AL-PMFC in CO₂ fixation rate, lipid accumulation and power output were investigated and compared with a bubbling-type photosynthetic microbial fuel cell (B-PMFC). Due to the enhanced mass transfer, the CO₂ fixation rate of AL-PMFC reached 835.7 mg L^-1 d^-1, 28.6% higher than that of B-PMFC. Besides, the analysis of energy balance indicated that a maximum net energy of 2.701 kWh m^-3 was achieved in AL-PMFC, which performed better than B-PMFC. After optimization of C. vulgaris inoculum density, CO₂ concentration and aeration rate, the maximum CO₂ fixation rate, lipid productivity, and power density in AL-PMFC reached 1292.8 mg L^-1 d^-1, 234.3 mg L^-1 d^-1, and 5.94 W m^-3, respectively. The AL-PMFC provided an attractive approach for CO₂ fixation and bioenergy generation.

Keywords: Airlift type photosynthetic microbial fuel cell; Bioelectricity and biodiesel generation; CO(2) biofixation; Chlorella vulgaris.

MeSH terms

Bioelectric Energy Sources*
Biofuels
Carbon Dioxide / metabolism*
Chlorella vulgaris / metabolism*
Lipids / biosynthesis
Photosynthesis*

Substances

Biofuels
Lipids
Carbon Dioxide