The Application of Fresh Water Algae to Produce Electricity in Saline Water Media
El ghazy b.l.1, el Nadi m.h.2, nasr n.a.h.3, El monayeri.o.,d.4
1Elbaraa Louye Elsayed Mohamed Elghazy, Construction and building, AASTMT/ Engineering / Cairo, Egypt.
2Dr. Mohamed el hossieny el nadi, Professor of Sanitary & Environmental Faculty of Engineering, Ain Shams University, Cairo, EGYPT
3Dr. Nany aly hassan nasr, Associate Professor of Sanitary & Environmental Engineering Faculty of Engineering, Ain Shams University, Cairo, EGYPT.
4Dr. Ola deyaa el din el monayery, Associate Professor of Sanitary & Environmental Engineering Faculty of Engineering, AASTMT, Cairo, EGYPT
Manuscript received on 18 June 2019 | Revised Manuscript received on 25 June 2019 | Manuscript published on 30 June 2019 | PP: 2784-2789 | Volume-8 Issue-5, June 2019 | Retrieval Number: F7940088619/19©BEIESP
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© The Authors. Blue Eyes Intelligence Engineering and Sciences Publication (BEIESP). This is an open access article under the CC-BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
Abstract: Currently, there is an increased need for renewable energy resources to combat the rapid depletion of fossil fuels. Bio-photovoltaic (BPV) cells represent an environmentally friendly means of electricity generation from photosynthetic organisms such as algae. However, the applicability of scaling up BPVs to fit larger operations has been a challenge. This research presents a novel, simple and cost-effective chamber-less BPV that can be easily applied on a large-scale. The research also examined the effects of electrode spacing, height of the cell and water salinity on the performance of the BPV. Chlorella Vulgaris alga was cultured using UST medium, and was allowed to form a biofilm on a stainless steel anode. The chamber-less design consisted of three parallel and transparent acrylic plates (10 cm x 20 cm) positioned one on top of the other; a base, a middle plate holding the anodic biofilm and a top plate with a 4cm x 5cm opening in which a graphite air cathode settled. Light could reach the biofilm on the middle plate through the transparent top plate. The three plates were supported together by two acrylic rods, which allowed easy adjustment of electrode spacing and cell height. Current intensity was measured under different cathode-anode spacing distances, heights and salinities. The BPV device produced maximum outputs at a spacing, height and salinity of 2 cm, 15 cm and 20000 TDS respectively. The highest power produced from the device was 0.12 W/m2. Spacing negatively correlated with power output (R=- 0.556) while height and salinity correlated positively (R=0.938, R=0.793 respectively). A salinity of 40000 TDS, however, caused a reduction in electric current after 15 minutes, which indicates that Chlorella Vulgaris malfunctions at higher salinities. The low-cost, easy-maintenance, chamber-less design of this BPV qualifies it for large scale practice. Additionally ,increased power outputs at greater heights and salinities highlights its potential use in brackish waters or deep ponds.
Keywords: Bioelectricity, Bio-photovoltaic Action, Algae Activity, Saline Water Applications..
Scope of the Article: Bioinformatics