1
|
Tay ZHY, Ng FL, Thong CH, Lee CW, Gnana Kumar G, Al-Sehemi AG, Phang SM. Evaluation of selected tropical marine microalgal cultures for use in biophotovoltaic platforms. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2024; 108:71. [PMID: 38194143 PMCID: PMC10776707 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-023-12951-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
In this study, the bioelectrical power generation potential of four tropical marine microalgal strains native to Malaysia was investigated using BPV platforms. Chlorella UMACC 258 produced the highest power density (0.108 mW m-2), followed by Halamphora subtropica UMACC 370 (0.090 mW m-2), Synechococcus UMACC 371 (0.065 mW m-2) and Parachlorella UMACC 245 (0.017 mW m-2). The chlorophyll-a (chl-a) content was examined to have a linear positive relationship with the power density (p < 0.05). The photosynthetic performance of strains was studied using the pulse-amplitude modulation (PAM) fluorometer; parameters measured include the following: maximum quantum efficiency (Fv/Fm), alpha (α), maximum relative electron transport rate (rETRmax), photo-adaptive index (Ek) and non-photochemical quenching (NPQ). The Fv/Fm values of all strains, except Synechococcus UMACC 371, ranged between 0.37 and 0.50 during exponential and stationary growth phases, suggesting their general health during those periods. The low Fv/Fm value of Synechococcus UMACC 371 was possibly caused by the presence of background fluorescence from phycobilisomes or phycobiliproteins. Electrochemical studies via cyclic voltammetry (CV) suggest the presence of electrochemically active proteins on the cellular surface of strains on the carbon anode of the BPV platform, while morphological studies via field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) imaging verify the biocompatibility of the biofilms on the carbon anode. KEY POINTS: • Maximum power output of 0.108 mW m-2 is recorded by Chlorella UMACC 258 • There is a positive correlation between chl-a content and power output • Proven biocompatibility between biofilms and carbon anode sans exogenous mediators.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zoe Hui-Yee Tay
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Fong-Lee Ng
- Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences (IOES), Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
- School of Biosciences, Taylor's University, Lakeside Campus, 47500, Subang Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.
| | - Cheng-Han Thong
- Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences (IOES), Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Institute for Advanced Studies (IAS), Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Choon-Weng Lee
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences (IOES), Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - G Gnana Kumar
- Department of Physical Chemistry, School of Chemistry, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai, 625021, Tamil Nadu, India
- Faculty of Engineering Technology & Built Environment, UCSI University, 56000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Abdullah G Al-Sehemi
- Research Center for Advanced Materials Science (RCAMS), King Khalid University, 61413, Abha, Saudi Arabia
| | - Siew-Moi Phang
- Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences (IOES), Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
- Faculty of Applied Sciences, UCSI University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Tay ZHY, Ng FL, Ling TC, Iwamoto M, Phang SM. The use of marine microalgae in microbial fuel cells, photosynthetic microbial fuel cells and biophotovoltaic platforms for bioelectricity generation. 3 Biotech 2022; 12:148. [PMID: 35733833 DOI: 10.1007/s13205-022-03214-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Algal green energy has emerged as an alternative to conventional energy production using fossil fuels. Microbial fuel cells (MFCs), photosynthetic microbial fuel cells (PMFCs) and biophotovoltaic (BPV) platforms have been developed to utilize microalgae for bioelectricity generation, wastewater treatment and biomass production. There remains a lack of research on marine microalgae in these systems, so to the best of our knowledge, all information on their integration in these systems have been gathered in this review, and are used to compare with the interesting studies on freshwater microalgae. The performance of the systems is extremely reliant on the microalgae species and/or microbial community used, the size of the bio-electrochemical cell, and electrode material and distance used. The mean was calculated for each system, PMFC has the highest average maximum power density of 344 mW/m2, followed by MFC (179 mW/m2) and BPV (58.9 mW/m2). In addition, the advantages and disadvantages of each system are highlighted. Although all three systems face the issue of low power outputs, the integration of a suitable energy harvester could potentially increase power efficiency and make them applicable for lower power applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zoe Hui-Yee Tay
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Fong-Lee Ng
- Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences (IOES), Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.,Institute for Advanced Studies, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Tau-Chuan Ling
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Mitsumasa Iwamoto
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo, Japan.,Faculty of Engineering, Technology and Built Environment, UCSI University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Siew-Moi Phang
- Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences (IOES), Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.,Faculty of Applied Sciences, UCSI University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| |
Collapse
|