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Using live algae at the anode of a microbial fuel cell to generate electricity

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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 5 × 106 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 at 30.15 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.

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Abbreviations

MFC:

Microbial fuel cell

4NA:

4-Nitroaniline

RVT:

Resveratrol

DNP:

2,4-Dinitrophenol

DO:

Dissolved oxygen

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the help of Gillespie S. Ma in maintaining the algal cell culture, the help of Jian Liu in helping some of the preliminary research work, and UIC College Research Grant R201315 for supporting this project.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Program of Food Science and Technology, Division of Science and Technology, BNU-HKBU United International College, 28 Jinfeng Road, Tangjiawan, Zhuhai, Guangdong, China

    Chang Xu & Karen Poon

  2. Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, 224 Waterloo Road, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, SAR, China

    Chang Xu & Martin M. F. Choi

  3. Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People’s Hospital South Campus, 6600 Nanfeng Road, Fengxian District, Shanghai, China, 201499

    Ruihua Wang

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  1. Chang Xu
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  2. Karen Poon
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  3. Martin M. F. Choi
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Correspondence to Ruihua Wang.

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Xu, C., Poon, K., Choi, M.M.F. et al. Using live algae at the anode of a microbial fuel cell to generate electricity. Environ Sci Pollut Res 22, 15621–15635 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-4744-8

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