Energy Production and Valuable Product Recovery with Biomass-Concentrating Hybrid Photosynthetic Microbial Fuel Cell

by Tuğçe Akca Güler | Dec 10, 2024
Funding Agency: Tubitak 1001_122Y345

Project Coordinator:  Prof. Dr. Mahmut Altınbaş (İstanbul Teknik Üniversitesi)

Investigators:  
Dr. Öğr. Üyesi Ece Polat (İstanbul Teknik Üniversitesi)
Dr. Öğr. Üyesi Murat Emre Demir (İstanbul Teknik Üniversitesi)
Dr. Öğr. Üyesi Bahar Yavuztürk Gül (İstanbul Teknik Üniversitesi)
Öğr. Gör. Sevde Korkut (İstanbul Teknik Üniversitesi)
Advisor
Dr. Öğr. Üyesi Türker Türken (İstanbul Teknik Üniversitesi)
Prof. Dr. Vahıd Vatanpour Sargheın (İstanbul Teknik Üniversitesi)
Prof. Dr. İsmail Koyuncu (İstanbul Teknik Üniversitesi)


Global climate change poses risks to food, water, and energy security, thereby threatening sustainable living. These issues also profoundly affect energy production. Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are used as a tool that considers environmental protection, energy, waste management, and the recovery of valuable products as a solution to global climate change. Photosynthetic microbial fuel cells (p-MFCs), which include microalgae, can simultaneously convert light energy into electrical energy while utilizing waste/wastewater sources as a growth medium, thus providing the nutrients necessary for biomass production from the waste/wastewater. In MFCs, a biocatalyst may be required for oxygen production, but using microalgae continuously to produce oxygen in the cathode eliminates the need for one. Additionally, high-value-added products such as protein, carotenoids, and biofuel can also be obtained from microalgae biomass. Besides bioelectricity production and wastewater treatment, the biomass obtained from microalgae is essential as it can be a source of high-value products potentially used in the food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and nutraceutical industries. Within the scope of this project, the setup of a p-MFC will first be carried out. To concentrate algae biomass and prevent biofilm formation, ultrafiltration flat plate membranes containing tungsten disulfide (WS₂) will be produced, and a cross-flow membrane system will be integrated and operated within the p-MFC system. The aim is to enhance the efficiency of electricity generation and increase microalgae biomass production. The planned system at a laboratory scale is schematically shown below.



Figure. Laboratory-scale UF-integrated p-MFC hybrid system

 

İTÜ Faculty of Civil Engineering

ins-anasayfa

It can be accepted that the history of ITU Civil Engineering Faculty was commenced in 1727 by the establishment of Humbarahane during the era of Damat İbrahim Paşa. However, this attempt was to no avail due to the martyrization of the studwents of this school by the Janissaries.


In 1734, during the grand viziership of Topal Osman Paşa, classes related to Civil Engineering was being taught in Hendesehane, which was founded in Üsküdar. Similarly, this school was also closed after three years due to the opposition of the Janissaries. The reasons of the tragedy that occured in Battle of Chesma, 1770 were inadequacy of the ships and the ignorance of the Ottoman Navy.


Although the Atlantic Map (1513) and the Map of Europe and the Mediterranean Sea (1523) by Piri Reis were the leading pieces of the era, Ottoman viziers were so ignorant that they claimed it was impossible for the Russian Baltic Fleet to reach the Mediterranean Sea assuming that there were no sea connection. With the proposal from Gazi Hasan Paşa and Baron de Tott, Mühendishane-i Bahri-i Humayun was established during the time of Sultan Mustafa III, aiming to train naval construction engineers. Since Ottoman Empire did not have any engineering schools at the time, military engineering classes were taught by French engineers beginning from 1784. French lecturers had to return to their country in 1788 with the increasing suppression from Austria and Russia, which were unwilling for the development and thriving of Ottoman Empire. In 1759, during the Grand Viziership of Koca Ragıp Paşa, Humbarahane was reopened in Karaağaç, Haliç (Golden Horn) and continued to teach even though it was incompetent. In 1792, Lağımcı Ocağı and Humbaracı Ocağı (Guild of Sappers) were established.