Bioelectromics of a photosynthetic microalgae assisted microbial fuel cell for wastewater treatment and value added production

Abstract Power generation and recovery of value-added products using microalgae, Haematococcus lacustris is tested in a dual chamber photosynthetic microalgae-assisted microbial fuel cell (PMA-MFCt1). The microalgal cells in conical flask act as control. The performance was compared to another, test...

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Main Authors: Ankesh Ahirwar, Mohd Jahir Khan, Priyanka Khandelwal, Gurpreet Singh, Harish, Vandana Vinayak, Makarand Madhao Ghangrekar
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-08-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-13271-1
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author Ankesh Ahirwar
Mohd Jahir Khan
Priyanka Khandelwal
Gurpreet Singh
Harish
Vandana Vinayak
Makarand Madhao Ghangrekar
author_facet Ankesh Ahirwar
Mohd Jahir Khan
Priyanka Khandelwal
Gurpreet Singh
Harish
Vandana Vinayak
Makarand Madhao Ghangrekar
author_sort Ankesh Ahirwar
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Power generation and recovery of value-added products using microalgae, Haematococcus lacustris is tested in a dual chamber photosynthetic microalgae-assisted microbial fuel cell (PMA-MFCt1). The microalgal cells in conical flask act as control. The performance was compared to another, test PMA-MFCt2. The control MFC in second test had electrode wires not connected (PMA-MFCnw). The PMA-MFCt1 set had microalgal catholytic media replenished unlike in PMA-MFCt2. A comparative PMA0-MFC, was used without microalgae and only water as catholyte. The results demonstrated maximum power density (PDmax) of 33.76 mW m−2 in PMA-MFCt1, 15.36 mW m−2 in PMA-MFCt2 and 8.05 mW m−2 in PMA0-MFC. The non replenishment of catholytic media in PMA-MFCt2 set resulted in nutrient limitations, poor photosynthesis, and disrupted redox reactions. Further lowest PDmax in PMA0-MFC proves that microalgae are excellent source of free nascent oxygen required for redox reaction. Taxonomic identity of microbes at the anode via 16 S rRNA showed the dominance of catalytic microbes mainly Proteobacteria. The different kinds of carotenoids from microalgae were estimated by UV-Vis and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis. The microalgal growth, evaluated in terms of biomass dry weight (DW), was 118 mg L−1, after 40 days of PMA-MFCt1 operation, which was lesser than in control (conical flask) 123 mg L−1. The pigments including total chlorophyll (a + b), and total carotenoids were 699.7 µg g−1 and 224.6 µg g−1, respectively, on day 16. Microalgal performance in PMA-MFCt2 and its control (PMA-MFCnw) was 10% and 32.52% inferior than in PMA-MFCt1 and its control. The continuous replenishment of media in PMA-MFCt1 maintained microalgal cells in continuous state of multiplication and photosynthesis resulting into higher bioelectricity generation and bioproducts than PMA-MFCt2, and PMA-MFCnw.
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spelling doaj-art-6675b4cdf75d48c4a253c36093bfd8012025-08-24T11:29:30ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-08-0115111910.1038/s41598-025-13271-1Bioelectromics of a photosynthetic microalgae assisted microbial fuel cell for wastewater treatment and value added productionAnkesh Ahirwar0Mohd Jahir Khan1Priyanka Khandelwal2Gurpreet Singh3Harish4Vandana Vinayak5Makarand Madhao Ghangrekar6Diatom Nano Engineering and Metabolism Laboratory (DNM), School of Applied Sciences, Dr. Harisingh Gour Central UniversityDiatom Nano Engineering and Metabolism Laboratory (DNM), School of Applied Sciences, Dr. Harisingh Gour Central UniversityDiatom Nano Engineering and Metabolism Laboratory (DNM), School of Applied Sciences, Dr. Harisingh Gour Central UniversityDiatom Nano Engineering and Metabolism Laboratory (DNM), School of Applied Sciences, Dr. Harisingh Gour Central UniversityDepartment of Botany, Mohanlal Sukhadia UniversityDiatom Nano Engineering and Metabolism Laboratory (DNM), School of Applied Sciences, Dr. Harisingh Gour Central UniversityDirector, National Institute of Technology PuducherryAbstract Power generation and recovery of value-added products using microalgae, Haematococcus lacustris is tested in a dual chamber photosynthetic microalgae-assisted microbial fuel cell (PMA-MFCt1). The microalgal cells in conical flask act as control. The performance was compared to another, test PMA-MFCt2. The control MFC in second test had electrode wires not connected (PMA-MFCnw). The PMA-MFCt1 set had microalgal catholytic media replenished unlike in PMA-MFCt2. A comparative PMA0-MFC, was used without microalgae and only water as catholyte. The results demonstrated maximum power density (PDmax) of 33.76 mW m−2 in PMA-MFCt1, 15.36 mW m−2 in PMA-MFCt2 and 8.05 mW m−2 in PMA0-MFC. The non replenishment of catholytic media in PMA-MFCt2 set resulted in nutrient limitations, poor photosynthesis, and disrupted redox reactions. Further lowest PDmax in PMA0-MFC proves that microalgae are excellent source of free nascent oxygen required for redox reaction. Taxonomic identity of microbes at the anode via 16 S rRNA showed the dominance of catalytic microbes mainly Proteobacteria. The different kinds of carotenoids from microalgae were estimated by UV-Vis and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis. The microalgal growth, evaluated in terms of biomass dry weight (DW), was 118 mg L−1, after 40 days of PMA-MFCt1 operation, which was lesser than in control (conical flask) 123 mg L−1. The pigments including total chlorophyll (a + b), and total carotenoids were 699.7 µg g−1 and 224.6 µg g−1, respectively, on day 16. Microalgal performance in PMA-MFCt2 and its control (PMA-MFCnw) was 10% and 32.52% inferior than in PMA-MFCt1 and its control. The continuous replenishment of media in PMA-MFCt1 maintained microalgal cells in continuous state of multiplication and photosynthesis resulting into higher bioelectricity generation and bioproducts than PMA-MFCt2, and PMA-MFCnw.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-13271-1BioelectricityCarotenoidsHaematococcus lacustrisLipidsMetagenomics, microalgaeMicrobial fuel cell
spellingShingle Ankesh Ahirwar
Mohd Jahir Khan
Priyanka Khandelwal
Gurpreet Singh
Harish
Vandana Vinayak
Makarand Madhao Ghangrekar
Bioelectromics of a photosynthetic microalgae assisted microbial fuel cell for wastewater treatment and value added production
Scientific Reports
Bioelectricity
Carotenoids
Haematococcus lacustris
Lipids
Metagenomics, microalgae
Microbial fuel cell
title Bioelectromics of a photosynthetic microalgae assisted microbial fuel cell for wastewater treatment and value added production
title_full Bioelectromics of a photosynthetic microalgae assisted microbial fuel cell for wastewater treatment and value added production
title_fullStr Bioelectromics of a photosynthetic microalgae assisted microbial fuel cell for wastewater treatment and value added production
title_full_unstemmed Bioelectromics of a photosynthetic microalgae assisted microbial fuel cell for wastewater treatment and value added production
title_short Bioelectromics of a photosynthetic microalgae assisted microbial fuel cell for wastewater treatment and value added production
title_sort bioelectromics of a photosynthetic microalgae assisted microbial fuel cell for wastewater treatment and value added production
topic Bioelectricity
Carotenoids
Haematococcus lacustris
Lipids
Metagenomics, microalgae
Microbial fuel cell
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-13271-1
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