Microbial energy conversion and practical application to an algal fuel cell. Peter Weigele MIT Biology and Edgerton Center Presentation for 10.391 Sustainable Energy February 15, 2007 Department of Biology
Jan 12, 2016
Microbial energy conversion andpractical application to
an algal fuel cell.
Peter WeigeleMIT Biology and Edgerton Center
Presentation for 10.391 Sustainable Energy February 15, 2007
Department ofBiology
http://visibleearth.nasa.gov/
A Culinary and Cultural Staple in Crisis:Mexico Grapples With Soaring Prices for Corn -- and Tortillas
By Manuel Roig-FranziaWashington Post Foreign ServiceSaturday, January 27, 2007; A01
“Mexico is in the grip of the worst tortilla crisis in its modern history. Dramatically rising international corn prices, spurred by demand for the grain-based fuel ethanol, have led to expensive tortillas.”
Food and fuel subject to the same market forces?
9 x 109 by 2050
respiration!
Electrons go where they are most wanted...
Aerobic respiration: O2 as terminal electron acceptor
“Bacteria are beautiful” by Diane Newman
Anaerobic respiration with Iron(III) as extracellular terminal e- acceptor
“Bacteria are beautiful” by Diane Newman
solubleelectroncarriers
see also www.geobacter.org
http://www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.0604517103
Protein nanowires also found in gram negative aerobes, cyanobacteria, and methanogens
Schematic of a microbial fuel cell
Sediment battery: a type of microbial fuel cell
Bacterial biomass from electricity
Summary, part I: The microbial fuel cell could be a core technology for energy conversion
microbial metabolismex vivo protein complexes
anode/cathode compositionelectron carriers
fuel cell construction
cellulose-derived carbohydratesenergy rich wastewater
organic sedimentssunlight
electricity
electricityhydrogenalcoholsmethanetreated water
MFC
Part II: Photosynthesis
cyt bfcomplexcyt bf
complex
FNRFNRFdFd
photo-system I(P700)
photo-system I(P700)
LightHarvestingComplex(LHCII)
LightHarvestingComplex(LHCII)
LightHarvesting
Complex(LHCI)
LightHarvesting
Complex(LHCI)
thylakoid lumen
stroma
2 H2O 4 H+ + O2
OECOEC
H+
H+
H+
H+
ADP + Pi ATPNADP+NADPH
photo-system II(P680)
photo-system II(P680)
PCPC
light light
1 23
4
5F1F0
ATP-synthase
Q
QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
1
2
3
4
5
Part III:A simple, low-cost algal fuel cell
for research and education
Chlamydomonas rheinhardtii making colonies on solid medium
Photobioreactors: modular, scalable
Algal growth using an airlift bioreactor
Gas Dispersion Tube Only
Airlift with Gas Dispersion Tube
PVC insert to create air-lift for improved mixing
PVC tubing + caps + fittings + tubing + pump = gas recirculator
The finished recirculating pump
Gas managment and fuel cell
Luer fittings and stopcocks fromCole-Parmer
petstore
40 bucks from fuelcellstore.com
Bioreactor setup
Fuel cell under load
Photobioreactor
Fuel Cell
Online Data Monitoring
H2
e-
Data collection using an A/D converter
Dataq model 154, ~$100, microvolt resolution
algal growth on solid substrate
grow algae with bubbling air and S+ medium
inoculate large bioreactor containing S- medium
seal, start pump, and collect data
measure cell mass, and chlorophyll concentration
Experimental overview
Chlamydomonasrheinhardtii
Unknown: “WP2” Unknown: “WP1”
Do other kinds of green, microalgae make H2?
Testing different algal strains (note clumping Chlamy)
Algal strain choice impacts H2 production: As Indicated by Varying Voltage Output
data from 10.28 Team C, 2006
data from 10.28 Team C, 2006
10.28 Team C
Asish Misra
Sohrab Virk
Joia Ramachandani
Sophmore biology students from Nashoba Regional HS
Kay Leigh Kay
Andrew Hoy Mackey Craven
Sam Jewell
Nina Kshetry
Many, many thanks!
Tom KnightJon KingChris Kaiser
Samantha SuttonJason Kelly
openwetware.org
Edgerton CenterSteven BanzaertSandi Lipnonski
New blood!John M. CravenAndrew Hoy
J.F. Hamel and 10.28
Team CJoia RamachandaniAsish MisraSohrab Virk
David Form, NRHSAshley, Meaghan, Kay Leigh, Jackie, and Kay
6 CO2 + 6 H2O --> C6H12O6
Marine Synechococcus
Marine Synechococcus: a gram negative bacteriumperforming oxygenic photosynthesis.
Hill-billy photobioreactor
200 nm
Syn9host: Synechococcus WH8109contractile tail177,300 bp225 orfs