Enhancing Energy Production in
C.reinhardtii Using a Double
Chamber Microbial Fuel Cell
Christina George and Julie Paone
Need
http://www.physicalgeography.net/fundamentals/images/co2_atmosphere.jpg
Need
http://www.tspusa.com/images/TICimages/alternativefuels1.gif
Knowledge Base
C.reinahrdtii
• Autotrophic
organism that
produces hydrogen
in sulfur deprived
anaerobic
conditions
http://www.sciencedaily.com/images/2009/03
/090324171556-large.jpg
Isoamylase
• Important enzyme
for starch
accumulation
which is important
for hydrogen
production
(Posewitz, 2005).
http://www.mrc-lmb.cam.ac.uk/genomes/date/1bf2.gif
Knowledge Base
Any organic material can create electricity
• Two step process
– Removal of electrons from
organic matter (oxidation)
– Giving the electrons to
something that will accept
them (reduction)(oxygen)
• The electrons flow to cathode
and join with protons
• Voltage and current
Logan, 2009
http://www.engr.psu.edu/ce/enve/logan/publications/2009-Logan-NatRevMicrobiol.pdf
Electrogenesis
•
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•
http://www.nature.com/nrmicro/journal/v4/n7/fig_tab/nrmicro1442_F2.html
Process of converting food
into energy
Respiratory enzymes 
ATP
Terminal electron acceptor
(TEA)
Exogenously
Construction
• Efficiency
• Cost
• Materials
PEM
Anode
(carbon rod)
Plastic Bottle
(Carolina)
Solution
(C.reinhardtii and
Algae Medium)
Cathode
(carbon rod)
Solution
(Potassium
Ferricyanide)
Purpose
• The purpose of this study is to determine whether a MFC
can increase energy production in C.reinhardtii.
Hypothesis
• The null hypothesis states that there will be no significant
energy production in the C.reinhardtii while in the MFC .
• The alternate hypothesis states that an MFC will
significantly increase the energy production in C.reinhardtii.
Literature Review
• Rosenbaum, Miriam (2005)
‘Utilizing the Green Alga C.reinhardtii for
Microbial Electricity Generation”
•Direct electricity generation from microbial photosynthetic activity
•Oxidative depletion of hydrogen, photosynthetically produced by
C.reinahrdtii under sulfur deprived conditions, by polymer coated electro
catalytic electrodes
Literature Review
• Logan, Bruce E. (2006)
“Using Algae and other Biomass for
Hydrogen Production in a Modified
Microbial Fuel Cell”
•A small voltage was applied (.25 V) to the algae, which generated pure
hydrogen gas at the cathode
Methodology
Enhancing Energy Production in C. reinhardtii Using a Double
Chamber Microbial Fuel Cell
Purpose: to determine whether a MFC can increase energy production in
C.reinhardtii.
Control
Groups: The
Algae growth
medium,
Temperature,
and light
intensity
Independent Variable:
Growth of C.reinhardtii
and hydrogen produced
(original concentration
700mL)
Control group of
algae will be grown
in the airlift
bioreactor (700 ml)
with no anaerobic
or sulfur deprived
conditions
.5 hours of
anaerobic
atmospheric
conditions
3 hours of
anaerobic
atmospheric
conditions
Dependent
Variable: Carbon
dioxide levels, pH
levels
6 hours of
anaerobic
atmospheric
conditions
Algae will be grown in designated duration of anaerobic
time in an anaerobic container, and will be fertilized with
sulfur deprived growth medium (100 mL).
-Double chamber MFC will be
constructed
-Carbon dioxide concentration measured using a Pasco GLX Xplorer
-pH levels measured using pH paper
-growth of C.reinhardtii measured using a Spectrophotometer
-The hydrogen gas produced will be measured
using an H2Scan hydrogen detector.
-A fluorometer will be used to measure the
photosynthetic rate.
All data will statistically analyzed by SPSS, by an ANOVA
followed by a Sheffe Post Hoc Test. Data will then be
put in line graphs.
Enhancing Energy Production in C. reinhardtii Using a Double
Chamber Microbial Fuel Cell
Purpose: to determine whether an MFC can increase energy production in
C.reinhardtii.
Control: Algae will
be grown in the
Cyto-Airlift
bioreactor.
Variable: Algae will
be grown in an
MFC at
………concentration
/amount
Procedure: an MFC will be constructed
Variable: Algae will
be grown in an
MFC at
………concentration
/amount
Budget
•
Experiment was done last year
•
Most materials are familiar
•
Background in culturing
•
Data collection was previously done
•
Materials are accessible
•
C.reinhardtii: Can be grown in the lab as done in
previous years
•
Anaerobic container can be purchased
•
A hydrogen sensor will be difficult to find at a low
cost
http://www.engr.psu.edu/ce/enve/logan/bioenergy/mfc_make_cell.htm
Do ability
Work Cited
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