MFCs and algae

Algae and photosynthetic bacteria may be integrated or associated with Microbial Fuel Cells MFCs in a number of different ways including: (1) use of whole (intact) or lipid-extracted lyzed cells as the primary carbon-energy source for anodic microbial metabolism; (2) use of algal cultures (with light) as cathodic oxygenators to improve output. The idea that microalgae can grow continuously producing oxygen in close proximity to a cathode, and that their cell production as biomass can be later fed to the anode as substrate, would represent an attractive self-contained autonomous system to extract useful energy from carbon dioxide and light. The aims of the present study were to investigate the suitability of processed algal by-products as suitable fuel (C-E substrate) in the anodic feedstock (at constant flow) for electricity generation and to investigate whether live algal cultures could be used as an efficient cathodic oxygenator in a self-sustaining (catholyte) circulatory system. ©The Electrochemical Society