Microalgae Scenedesmus obliquus as renewable biomass feedstock for electricity generation in microbial fuel cells (MFCs)

Abstract

Renewable algae biomass, Scenedesmus obliquus, was used as substrate for generating electricity in two chamber microbial fuel cells (MFCs). From polarization test, maximum power density with pretreated algal biomass was 102 mW·m^-2 (951 mW·m^-3) at current generation of 276 mA·m^-2. The individual electrode potential as a function of current generation suggested that anodic oxidation process of algae substrate had limitation for high current generation in MFC. Total chemical oxygen demand (TCOD) reduction of 74% was obtained when initial TCOD concentration was 534 mg·L^-1 for 150 h of operation. The main organic compounds of algae oriented biomass were lactate and acetate, which were mainly used for electricity generation. Other by-products such as propionate and butyrate were formed at a negligible amount. Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) analysis pinpointed the charge transfer resistance (112 Ω) of anode electrode, and the exchange current density of anode electrode was 1214 nA·cm^-2.

Keywords

microbial fuel cell (MFC) / algae / bioelectricity / substrate / volatile fatty acid / biomass / COD removal efficiency

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Acknowledgements

Authors like to thank Dr. Byong-Hun Jeon and Jae-Hoon Hwang, for providing the algae culture inoculum. This study was carried out with the research grant from Korea foundation for advancement of science and creativity (KOFAC-Under graduate program.) and National research foundation of Korea (Project Nos: 2010-0003940; 2012R1A1A2042031).

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2014 Higher Education Press and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg