Examining the efficiency and biogeochemistry of plankton-fed microbial fuel cells

FUEL 160

Clare E. Reimers, creimers@coas.oregonstate.edu1, Hilmar A. Stecher III2, Helen K. White, hwhite@alum.mit.edu3, and Peter Girguis3. (1) College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences, Oregon State University, Hatfield Marine Science Center, 2030 SE Marine Science Drive, Newport, OR 97365, (2) Hatfield Marine Science Center, Oregon State University, 2030 SE Marine Science Dr, Newport, OR 97365, (3) Organismic & Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Biolabs, Room 3085, 16 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138
Decomposition products, power output, electrode potentials, microbial communities and Coulombic efficiency were investigated as a function of discharge potential in two-chamber, seawater-filled, microbial fuel cells (MFCs) fed with marine plankton. In the aquatic environment, particulate organic carbon derived from plankton is the most abundant "biofuel" available for MFCs, and hence could be used to power autonomous sensors, beacons and communication devices for ocean monitoring and navigation. In this study, increased plankton decomposition rates were observed in active MFC experiments compared to those in an open circuit control cell. These increased decomposition rates coincided with peak electricity generation and sulfide removal and are interpreted to be due to the catalysis of organic matter degradation by andophillic microorganisms. Coulombic efficiencies for the MFCs were between 9-12%, and ~20% of the planktonic carbon added remained after 56.7 days. Optimization of MFC designs specifically aimed at plankton degradation reactions has the potential to improve these recoveries.
 

Fuel Cell Technology: Biofuel Cells, Enzymatic and Microbial
1:25 PM-5:25 PM, Tuesday, August 21, 2007 Boston Park Plaza -- Arlington Rm, Oral

Division of Fuel Chemistry

The 234th ACS National Meeting, Boston, MA, August 19-23, 2007