Application of metal-air fuel cell electrocoagulation for the harvesting of Nannochloropsis salina marine microalgae

Asad Mahmood, Jung Hwan Kim and Jae-Woo Park

Renewable Energy, 2021, vol. 171, issue C, 1224-1235

Abstract: The main goal of this study was to evaluate the applicability of Fe-, Al-, and Mg-air fuel cell fuel cell electrocoagulation (EC) for harvesting Nannochloropsis salina (marine microalgae). During the operation of metal-air fuel cell EC, the charge neutralization and sweep flocculation of the microalgae floc with metal hydroxides occurred as the zeta potential of the microalgae floc increased with time; subsequently, the microalgae recovery was effectively possible. A system using an Fe anode had a harvesting efficiency of <85% with an EC operation time of 3 h and a settling time of 4 h. However, in systems using Al and Mg anodes, 100% microalgae recovery was achieved within EC operation times of 2 and 1 h, respectively. The maximum lipid recovery efficiencies of N. salina using Fe, Al, and Mg anodes were approximately 15.8, 23.8, and 28.9%, respectively. The maximum power densities using Fe, Al, and Mg anodes ranged from 0.35 to 1.09, 0.16–1.83, and 4.6–15 Wm-2, respectively, within the NaCl concentration range of 0–100 mM. The maximum electric energy production (EEP) from the microalgae using Fe, Al, and Mg anodes ranged from 1.96 to 32, 0.08–37.6, and 38.7–683 Wh kg−1, respectively, within the NaCl concentration range of 0–100 mM.

Keywords: Metal-air fuel cell electrocoagulation; Marine microalgae; Harvesting efficiency; Electricity production; Anode dissolution (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:renene:v:171:y:2021:i:c:p:1224-1235

DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2021.02.101

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