Effect of light on the production of bioelectricity and added-value microalgae biomass in a Photosynthetic Alga Microbial Fuel Cell

This study demonstrates the simultaneous production of bioelectricity and added-value pigments in a Photosynthetic Alga Microbial Fuel Cell (PAMFC). A PAMFC was operated using Chlorella vulgaris in the cathode compartment and a bacterial consortium in the anode. The system was studied at two different light intensities and the maximum power produced was 62.7 mW/m(2) with a light intensity of 96 mu E/(m(2) s). The results showed that increasing light intensity from 26 to 96 mu E/(m(2) s) leads to an increase of about 6-folds in the power produced. Additionally, the pigments produced by the microalga were analysed and the results showed that the light intensity and PAMFC operation potentiated the carotenogenesis in the cathode compartment. The demonstrated possibility of producing added-value microalgae biomass in microbial fuel cell cathodes will increase the economic feasibility of these bioelectrochemical systems, allowing the development of energy efficient systems for wastewater treatment and carbon fixation. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.