title: Microalgae as substrate in low cost terracotta-based microbial fuel cells: Novel application of the catholyte produced.
abstract: In this work, the by-product generated during the operation of cylindrical MFCs, made out of terracotta material, is investigated as a feasible means of degrading live microalgae for the first time. In addition to the low cost materials of this design, the reuse of the solution produced in the cathode renders the technology truly green and capable of generating bioenergy. In this study, the effect of a light/dark cycle or dark conditions only on the digestion of live microalgae with the catholyte is investigated. The results show that a combination of light/dark improves degradation and allows algae to be used as substrate in the anode. The addition of 12.5mL of a 1:1 mix of catholyte and microalgae (pre-digested over 5days under light/dark) to the anode, increases the power generation from 7μW to 44μW once all the organic matter in the anode had been depleted.
authors.affiliation: Polytechnic University of Cartagena, Chemical and Environment Engineering Department, Campus Muralla del Mar, C/Doctor Fleming S/N, E-30202 Cartagena, Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Salar-García
authors.affiliation: Bristol BioEnergy Centre, Bristol Robotic Laboratory, Block T, UWE, Bristol, Coldharbour Lane, Bristol BS16 1QY, UK.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gajda
authors.affiliation: Polytechnic University of Cartagena, Chemical and Environment Engineering Department, Campus Muralla del Mar, C/Doctor Fleming S/N, E-30202 Cartagena, Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: V M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Ortiz-Martínez
authors.affiliation: Bristol BioEnergy Centre, Bristol Robotic Laboratory, Block T, UWE, Bristol, Coldharbour Lane, Bristol BS16 1QY, UK.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Greenman
authors.affiliation: University of Trento, Laboratory for Artificial Biology, Via Sommarive N°9, E: 38123 Povo, Trento, Italy.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Hanczyc
authors.affiliation: University of Murcia, Chemical Engineering Department, Campus de Espinardo, E: 30071, Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: de los Ríos
authors.affiliation: Bristol BioEnergy Centre, Bristol Robotic Laboratory, Block T, UWE, Bristol, Coldharbour Lane, Bristol BS16 1QY, UK. Electronic address: ioannis.ieropoulos@brl.ac.uk.
authors.forename: I A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Ieropoulos
mesh_terms: D001674:Bioelectric Energy Sources; D003246:Conservation of Energy Resources / Q000379:methods*; D004566:Electrodes; D008027:Light; D058086:Microalgae
keywords: Bioenergy; Catholyte; Ceramic membrane; Microalgae; Microbial fuel cells