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Khairuddin F, Zaharah Mohd Fuzi SF, Ahmad A, Oon LK, Bokhari A, Dailin DJ, Habila MA, Nawaz A, Chuah LF. Evaluation on microalgae for the production of bio-chemicals and electricity. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 350:141007. [PMID: 38141667 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.141007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2023] [Revised: 11/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/25/2023]
Abstract
Recent advancement in biophotovoltaic systems using microalgae, coupled with biorefinery approach, would improve economy-feasibility in production. The major concern is its commercial strength in terms of scalability, strain selection and extraction procedure cost. It must compete with conventional feedstocks such as fossil fuels. This project proposes to enhance the economic feasibility of microalgae-based biorefinery by evaluating their performance for bio-electricity, bio-diesel and carotenoids production in a single cycle. The first part of the study was to construct and select a Bio-bottle Voltaic (BBV) device that would allow microalgae to grow and produce bioproducts, as well as generate the maximum current output reading derived from the microalgae's photosynthesis process. The second phase consisted of a 25-day investigation into the biorefinery performance of six different microalgal species in producing bio-electricity, bio-diesel and carotenoid in a prototype BBV device. The prototype BBV device with aluminium foil and pencil lead as its anode and cathode produced the highest carotenoid and biodiesel component production from the two microalgae tested, according to the results of the first phase of the experiment. In the second portion of the study, Scenedesmus dimorphus and Chlorella vulgaris were identified as the two microalgae most capable of maintaining their growth throughout the experiment. The maximum current reading observed for C. vulgaris was 653 mV. High Performance Liquid Chromatography analysis showed four major carotenoid compounds found which were Neoxanthin, Cantaxanthin, Astaxanthin and 9-cis antheraxanthin, and the highest carotenoid producer was C. vulgaris which recorded at 1.73 μg/mL. C. vulgaris recorded as the most alkanes producer with 22 compounds detected and Heptacosane and Heneicosane as the two major biodiesel compounds found in the extracts. Evaluation of C. vulgaris data showed that it has enormous potential for microalgal biorefinery candidates. Further ongoing research and development efforts for C. vulgaris will improve the economic viability of microalgae-based industries and reduce reliance on depleted fossil fuels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farahayu Khairuddin
- Malaysia Genome & Vaccine Institute, National Institutes of Biotechnology Malaysia, Jalan Bangi, 43000 Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia; Faculty of Applied Sciences & Technology, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, Hab Pendidikan Tinggi Pagoh, KM 1, Jalan Panchor, 84600, Panchor, Johor, Malaysia
| | - Siti Fatimah Zaharah Mohd Fuzi
- Faculty of Applied Sciences & Technology, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, Hab Pendidikan Tinggi Pagoh, KM 1, Jalan Panchor, 84600, Panchor, Johor, Malaysia
| | - Awais Ahmad
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Low Kheng Oon
- Malaysia Genome & Vaccine Institute, National Institutes of Biotechnology Malaysia, Jalan Bangi, 43000 Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - A Bokhari
- School of Engineering, Lebanese American University, Byblos, Lebanon
| | - Daniel Joe Dailin
- Institute of Bioproduct Development, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310, Skudai, Johor, Malaysia; Department of Bioprocess and Polymer Engineering, Faculty of Chemical and Energy Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310, Skudai, Johor, Malaysia
| | - Mohamed A Habila
- Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, P. O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Alam Nawaz
- School of Chemical Engineering, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, 712-749, Republic of Korea
| | - L F Chuah
- School of Technology Management and Logistics, Universiti Utara Malaysia, 06010 Sintok, Kedah Darul Aman, Malaysia
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Effect of hydrodynamic parameters on hydrogen production by Anabaena sp. in an internal-loop airlift photobioreactor. BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s43153-022-00245-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
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3
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Dong F, Simoska O, Gaffney E, Minteer SD. Applying synthetic biology strategies to bioelectrochemical systems. ELECTROCHEMICAL SCIENCE ADVANCES 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/elsa.202100197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Fangyuan Dong
- Department of Chemistry University of Utah Salt Lake City Utah USA
| | - Olja Simoska
- Department of Chemistry University of Utah Salt Lake City Utah USA
| | - Erin Gaffney
- Department of Chemistry University of Utah Salt Lake City Utah USA
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Electrotaxis-mediated cell motility and nutrient availability determine Chlamydomonas microsphaera-surface interactions in bioelectrochemical systems. Bioelectrochemistry 2021; 143:107989. [PMID: 34735914 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioelechem.2021.107989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2021] [Revised: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 10/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Cell attachment onto electrode-forming biocathodes is a promising alternative to expensive catalysts used for electricity production in bioelectrochemical systems (BESs). Though BESs have been extensively studied for decades, the processes, underlying mechanisms, and determinant driving forces of microalgal biocathode formation remain largely unknown. In this study, we employed a model unicellular motile microalga, Chlamydomonas microsphaera, to investigate the microalgal attachment processes onto the electrode surface of a BES and to identify the determinant factors. Results showed that the initial attachment of C. micrrosphaera cells is determined by the applied external voltage rather than nutrient availability and occurs via electrotaxis-mediated cell motility. The subsequent development of the C. microsphaera biofilm is then increasingly determined by nutrient availability. Our results revealed that, in the absence of an external voltage, nutrient availability remains a dominant factor controlling the fate of the microalgal surface attachment and subsequent biofilm formation processes. Thus, our results show that electrotactic and chemotactic movements are crucial to facilitate the initial attachment and subsequent biofilm formation of C. microsphaera onto the electrode surfaces of BES. This study provides new insights into the mechanisms of microalgal surface attachment and biofilm formation processes on microalgal biocathodes, which hold great promise for improving the electrochemical properties of cathodes.
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Tseng CP, Silberg JJ, Bennett GN, Verduzco R. 100th Anniversary of Macromolecular Science Viewpoint: Soft Materials for Microbial Bioelectronics. ACS Macro Lett 2020; 9:1590-1603. [PMID: 35617074 DOI: 10.1021/acsmacrolett.0c00573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Bioelectronics brings together the fields of biology and microelectronics to create multifunctional devices with the potential to address longstanding technological challenges and change our way of life. Microbial electrochemical devices are a growing subset of bioelectronic devices that incorporate naturally occurring or synthetically engineered microbes into electronic devices and have broad applications including energy harvesting, chemical production, water remediation, and environmental and health monitoring. The goal of this Viewpoint is to highlight recent advances and ongoing challenges in the rapidly developing field of microbial bioelectronic devices, with an emphasis on materials challenges. We provide an overview of microbial bioelectronic devices, discuss the biotic-abiotic interface in these devices, and then present recent advances and ongoing challenges in materials related to electron transfer across the abiotic-biotic interface, microbial adhesion, redox signaling, electronic amplification, and device miniaturization. We conclude with a summary and perspective of the field of microbial bioelectronics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chia-Ping Tseng
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| | - Jonathan J. Silberg
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
- Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| | - George N. Bennett
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
- Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| | - Rafael Verduzco
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
- Department of Materials Science and NanoEngineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
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6
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Vargas SR, Santos PVD, Giraldi LA, Zaiat M, Calijuri MDC. Anaerobic phototrophic processes of hydrogen production by different strains of microalgae Chlamydomonas sp. FEMS Microbiol Lett 2018; 365:4953416. [DOI: 10.1093/femsle/fny073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2017] [Accepted: 03/23/2018] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Regina Vargas
- Department of Hydraulic and Sanitation, Universidade de São Paulo Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos, Av. Trabalhador São-carlense, 400, Arnold Schimidt, São Carlos 13566-590, Brazil
| | - Paulo Vagner dos Santos
- Department of Hydraulic and Sanitation, Universidade de São Paulo Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos, Av. Trabalhador São-carlense, 400, Arnold Schimidt, São Carlos 13566-590, Brazil
| | - Laís Albuquerque Giraldi
- Department of Hydraulic and Sanitation, Universidade de São Paulo Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos, Av. Trabalhador São-carlense, 400, Arnold Schimidt, São Carlos 13566-590, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Zaiat
- Department of Hydraulic and Sanitation, Universidade de São Paulo Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos, Av. João Dagnone, 1100, Santa Angelina, São Carlos-SP, 13563-120, Brazil
| | - Maria do Carmo Calijuri
- Department of Hydraulic and Sanitation, Universidade de São Paulo Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos, Av. Trabalhador São-carlense, 400, Arnold Schimidt, São Carlos 13566-590, Brazil
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Polyphosphate metabolism by purple non-sulfur bacteria and its possible application on photo-microbial fuel cell. J Biosci Bioeng 2017; 123:722-730. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiosc.2017.01.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2016] [Accepted: 01/19/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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8
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Schuergers N, Werlang C, Ajo-Franklin CM, Boghossian AA. A Synthetic Biology Approach to Engineering Living Photovoltaics. ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE 2017; 10:1102-1115. [PMID: 28694844 PMCID: PMC5501249 DOI: 10.1039/c7ee00282c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
The ability to electronically interface living cells with electron accepting scaffolds is crucial for the development of next-generation biophotovoltaic technologies. Although recent studies have focused on engineering synthetic interfaces that can maximize electronic communication between the cell and scaffold, the efficiency of such devices is limited by the low conductivity of the cell membrane. This review provides a materials science perspective on applying a complementary, synthetic biology approach to engineering membrane-electrode interfaces. It focuses on the technical challenges behind the introduction of foreign extracellular electron transfer pathways in bacterial host cells and the past and future efforts to engineer photosynthetic organisms with artificial electron-export capabilities for biophotovoltaic applications. The article highlights advances in engineering protein-based, electron-exporting conduits in a model host organism, E. coli, before reviewing state-of-the-art biophotovoltaic technologies that use both unmodified and bioengineered photosynthetic bacteria with improved electron transport capabilities. A thermodynamic analysis is used to propose an energetically feasible pathway for extracellular electron transport in engineered cyanobacteria and identify metabolic bottlenecks amenable to protein engineering techniques. Based on this analysis, an engineered photosynthetic organism expressing a foreign, protein-based electron conduit yields a maximum theoretical solar conversion efficiency of 6-10% without accounting for additional bioengineering optimizations for light-harvesting.
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Affiliation(s)
- N. Schuergers
- Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - C. Werlang
- Interschool Institute of Bioengineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - C. M. Ajo-Franklin
- Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
- Molecular Foundry, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
- Synthetic Biology Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
| | - A. A. Boghossian
- Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
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Novel microbial photobioelectrochemical cell using an invasive ultramicroelectrode array and a microfluidic chamber. Biotechnol Lett 2017; 39:849-855. [PMID: 28238062 DOI: 10.1007/s10529-017-2307-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2017] [Accepted: 02/07/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To fabricate a novel microbial photobioelectrochemical cell using silicon microfabrication techniques. RESULTS High-density photosynthetic cells were immobilized in a microfluidic chamber, and ultra-microelectrodes in a microtip array were inserted into the cytosolic space of the cells to directly harvest photosynthetic electrons. In this way, the microbial photobioelectrochemical cell operated without the aid of electron mediators. Both short circuit current and open circuit voltage of the microbial photobioelectrochemical cell responded to light stimuli, and recorded as high as 250 pA and 45 mV, respectively. CONCLUSION A microbial photobioelectrochemical cell was fabricated with potential use in next-generation photosynthesis-based solar cells and sensors.
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Hasan K, Milton RD, Grattieri M, Wang T, Stephanz M, Minteer SD. Photobioelectrocatalysis of Intact Chloroplasts for Solar Energy Conversion. ACS Catal 2017. [DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.7b00039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kamrul Hasan
- Departments of Chemistry and Materials Science & Engineering, University of Utah, 315 S 1400 E Room 2020, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States
| | - Ross D. Milton
- Departments of Chemistry and Materials Science & Engineering, University of Utah, 315 S 1400 E Room 2020, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States
| | - Matteo Grattieri
- Departments of Chemistry and Materials Science & Engineering, University of Utah, 315 S 1400 E Room 2020, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States
| | - Tao Wang
- Departments of Chemistry and Materials Science & Engineering, University of Utah, 315 S 1400 E Room 2020, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States
| | - Megan Stephanz
- Departments of Chemistry and Materials Science & Engineering, University of Utah, 315 S 1400 E Room 2020, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States
| | - Shelley D. Minteer
- Departments of Chemistry and Materials Science & Engineering, University of Utah, 315 S 1400 E Room 2020, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States
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11
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Bombelli P, Dennis RJ, Felder F, Cooper MB, Madras Rajaraman Iyer D, Royles J, Harrison STL, Smith AG, Harrison CJ, Howe CJ. Electrical output of bryophyte microbial fuel cell systems is sufficient to power a radio or an environmental sensor. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2016; 3:160249. [PMID: 27853542 PMCID: PMC5098967 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.160249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2016] [Accepted: 09/26/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Plant microbial fuel cells are a recently developed technology that exploits photosynthesis in vascular plants by harnessing solar energy and generating electrical power. In this study, the model moss species Physcomitrella patens, and other environmental samples of mosses, have been used to develop a non-vascular bryophyte microbial fuel cell (bryoMFC). A novel three-dimensional anodic matrix was successfully created and characterized and was further tested in a bryoMFC to determine the capacity of mosses to generate electrical power. The importance of anodophilic microorganisms in the bryoMFC was also determined. It was found that the non-sterile bryoMFCs operated with P. patens delivered over an order of magnitude higher peak power output (2.6 ± 0.6 µW m-2) than bryoMFCs kept in near-sterile conditions (0.2 ± 0.1 µW m-2). These results confirm the importance of the microbial populations for delivering electrons to the anode in a bryoMFC. When the bryoMFCs were operated with environmental samples of moss (non-sterile) the peak power output reached 6.7 ± 0.6 mW m-2. The bryoMFCs operated with environmental samples of moss were able to power a commercial radio receiver or an environmental sensor (LCD desktop weather station).
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Bombelli
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Hopkins Building, Downing Site, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QW, UK
| | - Ross J. Dennis
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Hopkins Building, Downing Site, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QW, UK
- The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Division of Plant Industry, Canberra, Queensland, Australia
| | - Fabienne Felder
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Hopkins Building, Downing Site, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QW, UK
| | - Matt B. Cooper
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Site, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EA, UK
| | - Durgaprasad Madras Rajaraman Iyer
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Centre for Bioprocess Engineering Research, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Jessica Royles
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Site, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EA, UK
| | - Susan T. L. Harrison
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Centre for Bioprocess Engineering Research, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Alison G. Smith
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Site, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EA, UK
| | - C. Jill Harrison
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Life Sciences Building, Downing, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK
| | - Christopher J. Howe
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Hopkins Building, Downing Site, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QW, UK
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Modifying the endogenous electron fluxes of Rhodobacter sphaeroides 2.4.1 for improved electricity generation. Enzyme Microb Technol 2016; 86:45-51. [DOI: 10.1016/j.enzmictec.2016.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2015] [Revised: 01/18/2016] [Accepted: 01/19/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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13
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Walter X, Greenman J, Taylor B, Ieropoulos I. Microbial fuel cells continuously fuelled by untreated fresh algal biomass. ALGAL RES 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.algal.2015.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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14
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Hasan K, Reddy KVR, Eßmann V, Górecki K, Conghaile PÓ, Schuhmann W, Leech D, Hägerhäll C, Gorton L. Electrochemical Communication Between Electrodes andRhodobacter capsulatusGrown in Different Metabolic Modes. ELECTROANAL 2014. [DOI: 10.1002/elan.201400456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
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15
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Lee DH, Oh HJ, Bai SJ, Song YS. Photosynthetic solar cell using nanostructured proton exchange membrane for microbial biofilm prevention. ACS NANO 2014; 8:6458-6465. [PMID: 24840499 DOI: 10.1021/nn502033f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Unwanted biofilm formation has a detrimental effect on bioelectrical energy harvesting in microbial cells. This issue still needs to be solved for higher power and longer durability and could be resolved with the help of nanoengineering in designing and manufacturing. Here, we demonstrate a photosynthetic solar cell (PSC) that contains a nanostructure to prevent the formation of biofilm by micro-organisms. Nanostructures were fabricated using nanoimprint lithography, where a film heater array system was introduced to precisely control the local wall temperature. To understand the heat and mass transfer phenomena behind the manufacturing and energy harvesting processes of PSC, we carried out a numerical simulation and experimental measurements. It revealed that the nanostructures developed on the proton exchange membrane enable PSC to produce enhanced output power due to the retarded microbial attachment on the Nafion membrane. We anticipate that this strategy can provide a pathway where PSC can ensure more renewable, sustainable, and efficient energy harvesting performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong Hyun Lee
- Department of Fiber System Engineering, Dankook University , 126 Jukjeon-dong, Suji-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do 448-701, Korea
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Mao L, Verwoerd WS. Computational comparison of mediated current generation capacity of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii in photosynthetic and respiratory growth modes. J Biosci Bioeng 2014; 118:565-74. [PMID: 24875305 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiosc.2014.04.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2014] [Revised: 04/16/2014] [Accepted: 04/28/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Chlamydomonas reinhardtii possesses many potential advantages to be exploited as a biocatalyst in microbial fuel cells (MFCs) for electricity generation. In the present study, we performed computational studies based on flux balance analysis (FBA) to probe the maximum potential of C. reinhardtii for current output and identify the metabolic mechanisms supporting a high current generation in three different cultivation conditions, i.e., heterotrophic, photoautotrophic and mixotrophic growth. The results showed that flux balance limitations allow the highest current output for C. reinhardtii in the mixotrophic growth mode (2.368 A/gDW), followed by heterotrophic growth (1.141 A/gDW) and photoautotrophic growth the lowest (0.7035 A/gDW). The significantly higher mediated electron transfer (MET) rate in the mixotrophic mode is in complete contrast to previous findings for a photosynthetic cyanobacterium, and was attributed to the fact that for C. reinhardtii the photophosphorylation improved the efficiency of converting the acetate into biomass and NADH production. Overall, the cytosolic NADH-dependent current production was mainly associated with five reactions in both mixotrophic and photoautotrophic nutritional modes, whereas four reactions participated in the heterotrophic mode. The mixotrophic and photoautotrophic metabolisms were alike and shared the same set of reactions for maximizing current production, whereas in the heterotrophic mode, the current production was additionally contributed by the metabolic activities in the two organelles: glyoxysome and chloroplast. In conclusion, C. reinhardtii has a potential to be exploited in MFCs of MET mode to produce a high current output.
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Affiliation(s)
- Longfei Mao
- Centre for Advanced Computational Solutions, Department of Molecular Biosciences, Lincoln University, Ellesmere Junction Road/Springs Road, Lincoln 7647, New Zealand.
| | - Wynand S Verwoerd
- Centre for Advanced Computational Solutions, Department of Molecular Biosciences, Lincoln University, Ellesmere Junction Road/Springs Road, Lincoln 7647, New Zealand
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Cereda A, Hitchcock A, Symes MD, Cronin L, Bibby TS, Jones AK. A bioelectrochemical approach to characterize extracellular electron transfer by Synechocystis sp. PCC6803. PLoS One 2014; 9:e91484. [PMID: 24637387 PMCID: PMC3956611 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0091484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2013] [Accepted: 02/11/2014] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Biophotovoltaic devices employ photosynthetic organisms at the anode of a microbial fuel cell to generate electrical power. Although a range of cyanobacteria and algae have been shown to generate photocurrent in devices of a multitude of architectures, mechanistic understanding of extracellular electron transfer by phototrophs remains minimal. Here we describe a mediatorless bioelectrochemical device to measure the electrogenic output of a planktonically grown cyanobacterium, Synechocystis sp. PCC6803. Light dependent production of current is measured, and its magnitude is shown to scale with microbial cell concentration and light intensity. Bioelectrochemical characterization of a Synechocystis mutant lacking Photosystem II demonstrates conclusively that production of the majority of photocurrent requires a functional water splitting aparatus and electrons are likely ultimately derived from water. This shows the potential of the device to rapidly and quantitatively characterize photocurrent production by genetically modified strains, an approach that can be used in future studies to delineate the mechanisms of cyanobacterial extracellular electron transport.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelo Cereda
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Andrew Hitchcock
- Ocean and Earth Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Mark D. Symes
- School of Chemistry, The University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Leroy Cronin
- School of Chemistry, The University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas S. Bibby
- Ocean and Earth Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Anne K. Jones
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, United States of America
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18
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Mao L, Verwoerd WS. Genome-scale stoichiometry analysis to elucidate the innate capability of the cyanobacterium Synechocystis for electricity generation. J Ind Microbiol Biotechnol 2013; 40:1161-80. [PMID: 23851491 DOI: 10.1007/s10295-013-1308-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2013] [Accepted: 06/20/2013] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 has been considered as a promising biocatalyst for electricity generation in recent microbial fuel cell research. However, the innate maximum current production potential and underlying metabolic pathways supporting the high current output are still unknown. This is mainly due to the fact that the high-current production cell phenotype results from the interaction among hundreds of reactions in the metabolism and it is impossible for reductionist methods to characterize the pathway selection in such a metabolic state. In this study, we employed computational metabolic techniques, flux balance analysis, and flux variability analysis, to exploit the maximum current outputs of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, in five electron transfer cases, namely, ferredoxin- and plastoquinol-dependent electron transfers under photoautotrophic cultivation, and NADH-dependent mediated electron transfer under photoautotrophic, heterotrophic, and mixotrophic conditions. In these five modes, the maximum current outputs were computed as 0.198, 0.7918, 0.198, 0.4652, and 0.4424 A gDW⁻¹, respectively. Comparison of the five operational modes suggests that plastoquinol-/c-type cytochrome-targeted electricity generation had an advantage of liberating the highest current output achievable for Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. On the other hand, the analysis indicates that the currency metabolite, NADH-, dependent electricity generation can rely on a number of reactions from different pathways, and is thus more robust against environmental perturbations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Longfei Mao
- Centre for Advanced Computational Solutions, Department of Molecular Biosciences, Lincoln University, Ellesmere Junction Road, Lincoln, 7647, New Zealand,
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Biological photovoltaics: intra- and extra-cellular electron transport by cyanobacteria. Biochem Soc Trans 2013; 40:1302-7. [PMID: 23176472 DOI: 10.1042/bst20120118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
A large variety of new energy-generating technologies are being developed in an effort to reduce global dependence on fossil fuels, and to reduce the carbon footprint of energy generation. The term 'biological photovoltaic system' encompasses a broad range of technologies which all employ biological material that can harness light energy to split water, and then transfer the resulting electrons to an anode for power generation or electrosynthesis. The use of whole cyanobacterial cells is a good compromise between the requirements of the biological material to be simply organized and transfer electrons efficiently to the anode, and also to be robust and able to self-assemble and self-repair. The principle that photosynthetic bacteria can generate and transfer electrons directly or indirectly to an anode has been demonstrated by a number of groups, although the power output obtained from these devices is too low for biological photovoltaic devices to be useful outside the laboratory. Understanding how photosynthetically generated electrons are transferred through and out of the organism is key to improving power output, and investigations on this aspect of the technology are the main focus of the present review.
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Electrochemical investigation of a microbial solar cell reveals a nonphotosynthetic biocathode catalyst. Appl Environ Microbiol 2013; 79:3933-42. [PMID: 23603672 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00431-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Microbial solar cells (MSCs) are microbial fuel cells (MFCs) that generate their own oxidant and/or fuel through photosynthetic reactions. Here, we present electrochemical analyses and biofilm 16S rRNA gene profiling of biocathodes of sediment/seawater-based MSCs inoculated from the biocathode of a previously described sediment/seawater-based MSC. Electrochemical analyses indicate that for these second-generation MSC biocathodes, catalytic activity diminishes over time if illumination is provided during growth, whereas it remains relatively stable if growth occurs in the dark. For both illuminated and dark MSC biocathodes, cyclic voltammetry reveals a catalytic-current-potential dependency consistent with heterogeneous electron transfer mediated by an insoluble microbial redox cofactor, which was conserved following enrichment of the dark MSC biocathode using a three-electrode configuration. 16S rRNA gene profiling showed Gammaproteobacteria, most closely related to Marinobacter spp., predominated in the enriched biocathode. The enriched biocathode biofilm is easily cultured on graphite cathodes, forms a multimicrobe-thick biofilm (up to 8.2 μm), and does not lose catalytic activity after exchanges of the reactor medium. Moreover, the consortium can be grown on cathodes with only inorganic carbon provided as the carbon source, which may be exploited for proposed bioelectrochemical systems for electrosynthesis of organic carbon from carbon dioxide. These results support a scheme where two distinct communities of organisms develop within MSC biocathodes: one that is photosynthetically active and one that catalyzes reduction of O2 by the cathode, where the former partially inhibits the latter. The relationship between the two communities must be further explored to fully realize the potential for MSC applications.
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Badalamenti JP, Torres CI, Krajmalnik-Brown R. Light-responsive current generation by phototrophically enriched anode biofilms dominated by green sulfur bacteria. Biotechnol Bioeng 2012; 110:1020-7. [DOI: 10.1002/bit.24779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2012] [Revised: 10/19/2012] [Accepted: 10/24/2012] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Comparison of power output by rice (Oryza sativa) and an associated weed (Echinochloa glabrescens) in vascular plant bio-photovoltaic (VP-BPV) systems. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2012; 97:429-38. [PMID: 23093175 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-012-4473-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2012] [Revised: 09/24/2012] [Accepted: 09/25/2012] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Vascular plant bio-photovoltaics (VP-BPV) is a recently developed technology that uses higher plants to harvest solar energy and the metabolic activity of heterotrophic microorganisms in the plant rhizosphere to generate electrical power. In the present study, electrical output and maximum power output variations were investigated in a novel VP-BPV configuration using the crop plant rice (Oryza sativa L.) or an associated weed, Echinochloa glabrescens (Munro ex Hook. f.). In order to compare directly the physiological performances of these two species in VP-BPV systems, plants were grown in the same soil and glasshouse conditions, while the bio-electrochemical systems were operated in the absence of additional energy inputs (e.g. bias potential, injection of organic substrate and/or bacterial pre-inoculum). Diurnal oscillations were clearly observed in the electrical outputs of VP-BPV systems containing the two species over an 8-day growth period. During this 8-day period, O. sativa generated charge ∼6 times faster than E. glabrescens. This greater electrogenic activity generated a total charge accumulation of 6.75 ± 0.87 Coulombs for O. sativa compared to 1.12 ± 0.16 for E. glabrescens. The average power output observed over a period of about 30 days for O. sativa was significantly higher (0.980 ± 0.059 GJ ha(-1) year(-1)) than for E. glabrescens (0.088 ± 0.008 GJ ha(-1) year(-1)). This work indicates that electrical power can be generated in both VP-BPV systems (O. sativa and E. glabrescens) when bacterial populations are self-forming. Possible reasons for the differences in power outputs between the two plant species are discussed.
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Bahartan K, Amir L, Israel A, Lichtenstein RG, Alfonta L. In Situ fuel processing in a microbial fuel cell. CHEMSUSCHEM 2012; 5:1820-1825. [PMID: 22833422 DOI: 10.1002/cssc.201200063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2012] [Revised: 03/02/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
A microbial fuel cell (MFC) was designed in which fuel is generated in the cell by the enzyme glucoamylase, which is displayed on the surface of yeast. The enzyme digests starch specifically into monomeric glucose units and as a consequence enables further glucose oxidation by microorganisms present in the MFC anode. The oxidative enzyme glucose oxidase was coupled to the glucoamylase digestive enzyme. When both enzymes were displayed on the surface of yeast cells in a mixed culture, superior fuel-cell performance was observed in comparison with other combinations of yeast cells, unmodified yeast, or pure enzymes. The feasibility of the use of the green macroalgae Ulva lactuca in such a genetically modified MFC was also demonstrated. Herein, we report the performance of such fuel cells as a proof of concept for the enzymatic digestion of complex organic fuels in the anode of MFCs to render the fuel more available to microorganisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karnit Bahartan
- The Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren, Department of Biotechnology Engineering and the Ilse Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel
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Babauta J, Renslow R, Lewandowski Z, Beyenal H. Electrochemically active biofilms: facts and fiction. A review. BIOFOULING 2012; 28:789-812. [PMID: 22856464 PMCID: PMC4242416 DOI: 10.1080/08927014.2012.710324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
This review examines the electrochemical techniques used to study extracellular electron transfer in the electrochemically active biofilms that are used in microbial fuel cells and other bioelectrochemical systems. Electrochemically active biofilms are defined as biofilms that exchange electrons with conductive surfaces: electrodes. Following the electrochemical conventions, and recognizing that electrodes can be considered reactants in these bioelectrochemical processes, biofilms that deliver electrons to the biofilm electrode are called anodic, ie electrode-reducing, biofilms, while biofilms that accept electrons from the biofilm electrode are called cathodic, ie electrode-oxidizing, biofilms. How to grow these electrochemically active biofilms in bioelectrochemical systems is discussed and also the critical choices made in the experimental setup that affect the experimental results. The reactor configurations used in bioelectrochemical systems research are also described and the authors demonstrate how to use selected voltammetric techniques to study extracellular electron transfer in bioelectrochemical systems. Finally, some critical concerns with the proposed electron transfer mechanisms in bioelectrochemical systems are addressed together with the prospects of bioelectrochemical systems as energy-converting and energy-harvesting devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jerome Babauta
- The Gene and Linda Voiland School of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Ryan Renslow
- The Gene and Linda Voiland School of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | | | - Haluk Beyenal
- The Gene and Linda Voiland School of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
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Bombelli P, Zarrouati M, Thorne RJ, Schneider K, Rowden SJL, Ali A, Yunus K, Cameron PJ, Fisher AC, Ian Wilson D, Howe CJ, McCormick AJ. Surface morphology and surface energy of anode materials influence power outputs in a multi-channel mediatorless bio-photovoltaic (BPV) system. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2012; 14:12221-9. [DOI: 10.1039/c2cp42526b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Krewer U. Portable Energiesysteme: Von elektrochemischer Wandlung bis Energy Harvesting. CHEM-ING-TECH 2011. [DOI: 10.1002/cite.201100084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
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Thorne R, Hu H, Schneider K, Bombelli P, Fisher A, Peter LM, Dent A, Cameron PJ. Porous ceramic anode materials for photo-microbial fuel cells. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011. [DOI: 10.1039/c1jm13058g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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