Effect of light on the production of bioelectricity and added-value microalgae biomass in a Photosynthetic Alga Microbial Fuel Cell

• Published in: Bioresource technology 2014-02, Vol.154, p.171-177
• Main Authors: Gouveia, Luísa, Neves, Carole, Sebastião, Diogo, Nobre, Beatriz P., Matos, Cristina T.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anodes; Bacteria; Biochemical fuel cells; Bioelectric Energy Sources - microbiology; Bioelectricity; Biofuel production; Biological and medical sciences; Biomass; Biotechnology; Cathodes; Chlorella vulgaris; Chlorella vulgaris - metabolism; Chlorella vulgaris - radiation effects; Compartments; Electricity; Energy; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects; Light; Microalgae - radiation effects; Microbial fuel cell; Microorganisms; Nitrogen - deficiency; Photosynthesis - radiation effects; Pigments; Pigments, Biological - metabolism
• ISSN: 0960-8524; 1873-2976
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2013.12.049

[Display omitted] •Bioelectricity and value pigments production in a PAMFC.•A light intensity increase resulted in a consequent increase of the PAMFC power.•The maximum power produced was 62.7mW/m2 with a light intensity of 96μE/(m2s).•Light intensity and PAMFC operation potentiated the carotenogenesis in the cathode. This study demonstrates the simultaneous production of bioelectricity and added-value pigments in a Photosynthetic Alga Microbial Fuel Cell (PAMFC). A PAMFC was operated using Chlorella vulgaris in the cathode compartment and a bacterial consortium in the anode. The system was studied at two different light intensities and the maximum power produced was 62.7mW/m2 with a light intensity of 96μE/(m2s). The results showed that increasing light intensity from 26 to 96μE/(m2s) leads to an increase of about 6-folds in the power produced. Additionally, the pigments produced by the microalga were analysed and the results showed that the light intensity and PAMFC operation potentiated the carotenogenesis in the cathode compartment. The demonstrated possibility of producing added-value microalgae biomass in microbial fuel cell cathodes will increase the economic feasibility of these bioelectrochemical systems, allowing the development of energy efficient systems for wastewater treatment and carbon fixation.