Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

I'm thinking of doing the microbial fuel cell experiment found here:
https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... shtml#help
but I wanted to know if I could use the fuel cell to produce electricity using algae instead of benthic mud. Algae is also abundant in fresh and salt water bodies and I was wondering if it could be used as an energy source too in the fuel cell if I used water containing algae and the electrochemically active anaerobic bacteria.

How would I make the fuel cell to accomadate for algae?

Hi,

Welcome to Science Buddies!

The microbial fuel cell is a great project, and you will learn a lot about microbial metabolism and engineering in doing this project. Generation of electricity by the microbial fuel cell depends on the bacteria establishing a biofilm on the surface of the electrode and transferring electrons to the electrode in the anaerobic chamber to produce energy for cell growth,

Aerobic organisms use oxygen as the terminal electron so an organism with this type of metabolism would not be suitable for use in a microbial fuel cell. Green algae grow best aerobically, but do have the ability to grow anaerobically. Blue green algae can grow anaerobically and also produce biofilms, so should work in a microbial fuel cell.

https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... p032.shtml

I recommend that you do additional research and select algae that has suitable metabolism for the application. Benthic mud is the mud at the bottom of a stream or lake and always contains a mixture of anaerobes that work in microbial fuel cells, and might even contain some algae that would work.

Since algae are photosynthetic organisms, you would need to provide light and a suitable carbon source (carbon dioxide) for them to grow. You should do more research and make sure to include any micronutrients that the algae would need to grow. Try doing an internet search for "growth medium for cyanobacteria," or "optimum growth for algae." to find more information.

Why were you thinking about using algae for this project? Do you have a specific organism in mind?

Donna Hardy