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Marine Photosynthetic Microbial Fuel Cell for Circular Renewable Power Production

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Abstract

Marine photosynthetic microbial fuel cells (mpMFCs) can utilize marine photosynthetic microorganisms to drive electrical energy-generating electrochemical reactions. Due to improved ionic mobility and superior electrical conductivity of seawater, it is a suitable electrolyte for operating bio-electrochemical devices at operating elevated salinities. This study examined the use of seawater as a conducting medium in two-chambered MFCs to enhance power production in conjunction with a marine photosynthetic biocathode as an alternative to the abiotic chemical cathode. Using a modified BG11 seawater medium as catholyte, marine cyanobacteria were grown and maintained in the MFC cathode compartment. After a significant quantity of biomass had formed, it was harvested for use as the substrate for anode microorganisms. Isolated marine cyanobacteria from photosynthetic biocathode were identified using 16 s rRNA and Sanger DNA sequencing. In electrochemical characterization, mMFC, maximum power density (Pmax) was 147.84 mWm−2 and maximum current density (Jmax) reached 1311.82 mAm−2. In mpMFC, Pmax was 104.48 mWm−2 and Jmax was 1107.27 mAm−2. Pmax was 53.14 mWm−2 and Jmax was 501.81 mAm−2 in comparable freshwater MFC employing platinum catalyst, which proves that mMFC and mpMFC worked better. Dapis pleousa and Synechococcus moorigangaii were identified as dominant marine cyanobacteria. It was demonstrated that mpMFC, operated using seawater and employing a cyanobacteria biocathode, is suitable for circularized renewable energy production. The outcomes of this study imply that mpMFCs are good candidates for circular renewable energy production.

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Data Availability

The authors declare that the data supporting the findings of this study are available within the paper and its Supplementary Information files. Should any raw data files be needed in another format, they are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

The financial support provided by the RUSL microbiology UG special grants scheme and World Bank AHEAD grant scheme is thankfully acknowledged. Instrument access provided for SEM and CV analysis by the Faculty of Technology, RUSL is thankfully acknowledged.

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  1. Eustace Y. Fernando

    Present address: Department of Civil, Environmental and Ocean Engineering, Jr. School of Engineering and Science, Charles V. Schaefer, Rocco Technology Center, Hoboken, NJ, 07030, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Rajarata University, Mihintale, 50300, Sri Lanka

    Charitha Basnayaka, Maheshi Somasiri, Ahmed Ahsan, Zumaira Nazeer, Nirath Thilini & Eustace Y. Fernando

  2. Faculty of Technology, Rajarata University, Mihintale, 50300, Sri Lanka

    Sampath Bandara

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Contributions

CB, MS, AA, and NT conducted experiments. CB and EF wrote the original draft. SB and ZN provided instrument support and edited the manuscript. EF conceptualized the work, managed the overall project, and acquired funding.

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Correspondence to Eustace Y. Fernando.

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Basnayaka, C., Somasiri, M., Ahsan, A. et al. Marine Photosynthetic Microbial Fuel Cell for Circular Renewable Power Production. Bioenerg. Res. (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12155-024-10768-x

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