MESSAI.iO

AI summary

70% confidence

This study examines energy production from two types of algae, Chlorella vulgaris and Ulva lactuca, in single-chamber microbial fuel cells (MFCs). The results show that C. vulgaris produces more energy per substrate mass, but U. lactuca is degraded more completely. The study also highlights the importance of using a slow scan rate for accurate polarization curve analysis.

Generated by MESSAI extraction pipeline · review against source PDF

Generic MFCRepresentative model
Click to animate flow
loading 3D model…

Representative MFC — matched on the paper’s system type only, not its reactor or geometry.

Extraction

Reported parameters

4 extracted values

View extracted values

Open in lab for full controls, parameter editing, and template overlays.

Open in lab →

What they did

System
MFC

What worked

No outcome metrics extracted yet.

Abstract

Abstract Bioelectricity production from a phytoplankton, Chlorella vulgaris , and a macrophyte, Ulva lactuca was examined in single chamber microbial fuel cells (MFCs). MFCs were fed with the two algae (as powders), obtaining differences in energy recovery, degradation efficiency, and power densities. C. vulgaris produced more energy generation per substrate mass (2.5 kWh/kg), but U. lactuca was degraded more completely over a batch cycle (73 ± 1% COD). Maximum power densities obtained using either single cycle or multiple cycle methods were 0.98 W/m 2 (277 W/m 3 ) using C. vulgaris , and 0.76 W/m 2 (215 W/m 3 ) using U. lactuca . Polarization curves obtained using a common method of linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) overestimated maximum power densities at a scan rate of 1 mV/s. At 0.1 mV/s, however, the LSV polarization data was in better agreement with single‐ and multiple‐cycle polarization curves. The fingerprints of microbial communities developed in reactors had only 11% similarity to inocula and clustered according to the type of bioprocess used. These results demonstrate that algae can in principle, be used as a renewable source of electricity production in MFCs. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2009;103: 1068–1076. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Key findings

  • [object Object]
  • [object Object]
  • [object Object]

Keywords

Chlorella vulgarisMicrobial fuel cellUlva lactucaAlgaeLactucaLinear sweep voltammetry

Identifiers

DOI
10.1002/bit.22346
Journal
Biotechnology and Bioengineering
Year
2009