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

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