DOI: 10.62520/fujece.2015580 ISSN: 2822-2881

Electrochemical Performance and Anodic Microbial Community Structure In Membrane-Less Microbial Fuel Cells Fed With Alkali-Pretreated Pleurochrysis Carterae Biomass

Banu Taşkan, Ergin Taşkan
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The increasing global energy demand and the environmental impacts of fossil-fuel-based technologies necessitate the development of sustainable, low-carbon energy production methods. Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) generate electricity directly through microbial oxidation of organic matter. However, the hard, mineralized cell wall of some microalgal species can limit MFC performance by restricting substrate bioavailability. Pleurochrysis carterae, a microalga effective at carbon dioxide removal, is resistant to biological degradation due to calcium carbonate plates in its cell wall, which can negatively affect electricity production efficiency. This study investigated the effect of alkaline pretreatment of Pleurochrysis carterae biomass on electricity generation in a membrane-less MFC (MLMFC) system. The goal of alkaline pretreatment was to partially dissolve the cell wall and increase the soluble organic fraction; the pretreated biomass was used as the anodic nutrient source. The results showed that the maximum power density in the reactor receiving 2% NaOH-pretreated biomass reached 791.2 mW m-², which was approximately 64% higher than that of the control reactor. Reactors receiving alkaline-pretreated biomass also showed lower internal resistance and a more stable bioelectric power-generation profile. The increase in substrate availability following pretreatment is thought to be associated with enhanced electron transfer processes and electrochemical activity of the anode biofilm. These results indicate that microalgal species with rigid cell walls, such as Pleurochrysis carterae, may serve as an effective bioenergy source in MLMFCs following appropriate pretreatment, providing a potential approach for sustainable electricity production.

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