title: Optimization studies of bio-hydrogen production in a coupled microbial electrolysis-dye sensitized solar cell system.
abstract: Bio-hydrogen production in light-assisted microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) with a dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC) was optimized by connecting multiple MECs to a single dye (N719) sensitized solar cell (V(OC) approx. 0.7 V). Hydrogen production occurred simultaneously in all the connected MECs when the solar cell was irradiated with light. The amount of hydrogen produced in each MEC depends on the activity of the microbial catalyst on their anode. Substrate (acetate) to hydrogen conversion efficiencies ranging from 42% to 65% were obtained from the reactors during the experiment. A moderate light intensity of 430 W m(-2) was sufficient for hydrogen production in the coupled MEC-DSSC. A higher light intensity of 915 W m(-2), as well as an increase in substrate concentration, did not show any improvement in the current density due to limitation caused by the rate of microbial oxidation on the anode. A significant reduction in the surface area of the connected DSSC only showed a slight effect on current density in the coupled MEC-DSSC system when irradiated with light.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, 261 Cheomdan-gwagiro, Buk-gu Gwangju, 500-712, South Korea.
authors.forename: Folusho Francis
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Ajayi
authors.forename: Kyoung-Yeol
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kyu-Jung
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Chae
authors.forename: Mi-Jin
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: In Seop
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: In S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D001674:Bioelectric Energy Sources / Q000382:microbiology*; D019149:Bioreactors; D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D004572:Electrolysis / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D008027:Light; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D012993:Solar Energy; D013861:Thiocyanates / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D013861:Thiocyanates; C506095:bis(2,2'-bipyridyl-4,4'-dicarboxylate)ruthenium(II) bis(tetrabutylammonium) bis(thiocyanate); D006859:Hydrogen