title: Enhanced metabolic and redox activity of vascular aquatic plant Lemna valdiviana under polarization in Direct Photosynthetic Plant Fuel Cell.
abstract: In this study, duckweed species Lemna valdiviana was investigated as a photoautotrophycally grown biocatalyst in recently developed Direct Photosynthetic Plant Fuel Cell. Stable current outputs, reaching maximum of 226±11 mА/m(2), were achieved during the operating period. The electricity production is associated with electrons generated through the light-dependent reactions in the chloroplasts as well as the respiratory processes in the mitochondria and transferred to the anode via endogenous electron shuttle, synthesized by the plants as a specific response to the polarization. In parallel, a considerable increase in the content of proteins (47%) and reserve carbohydrates (44%) of duckweeds grown under polarization conditions was established by means of biochemical analyses. This, combined with the electricity generation, makes the technology a feasible approach for the duckweed farming.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, "Paisii Hilendarski" University of Plovdiv, 24 Tzar Asen Str., 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria. Electronic address: jolinahubenova@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Yolina
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hubenova
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, South-West University "Neofit Rilski", 66 Ivan Mihajlov Str., 2700 Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria. Electronic address: mitovmario@mail.bg.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mitov
mesh_terms: D029064:Araceae / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D001674:Bioelectric Energy Sources; D004579:Electron Transport; D005110:Extracellular Space / Q000378:metabolism; D042541:Intracellular Space / Q000378:metabolism; D010788:Photosynthesis
keywords: Direct Photosynthetic Plant Fuel Cell; Duckweeds; Electricity generation; Lemna valdiviana; Protein and carbohydrates production