Photochemical energy conversion system using immobilized chloroplasts

Immobilized chloroplasts and Clostridium butyricum were employed for a photochemical energy conversion system. Spinach chloroplasts were immobilized in 2% agar gel. The optimum temperature of immobilized chloroplasts was 30°C. The maximum activity was obtained in the phosphate buffer solution (pH 8.0) containing 8μM of ferredoxin under an N₂ bubbling condition. Hydrogen was evolved under illumination by immobilized chloroplasts and C. butyricum. Hydrogen produced by this system was applied to a hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell. Photoinduced current was obtained from this photochemical energy conversion system. A photocurrent of 0.4?1.5 mA was continuously obtained for 4 h. The conversion ratio from hydrogen to current was 80?100%.     

Photochemical energy conversion using immobilized blue-green algae

A blue-green alga, Anabaena N-7363, was immobilized in 2% κ-carrageenan gel. The hydrogen productivity of the immobilized algae was 2.4 times higher than that of free algae, with a maximum rate of hydrogen production of 3.24 mmol h⁻¹ g⁻¹ dry gel, in a nitrogen free medium under illumination (6000 lux). The immobilized blue-green algae (39 kg wet gel) was employed for continuous production of hydrogen under illumination (6000 lux), producing 0.5–1.1 ml min⁻¹ for more than 8 days. The hydrogen produced was supplied to a phosphoric acid fuel cell, which generated an approximate 50 mW power output and a current of 300 mA over a period of 4 h.     

A photochemical fuel cell system using Anabaena N-7363

Summary A blue-green algae, Anabaena N-7363, was immobilized in 2% agar gel. The hydrogen productivity of the immobilized algae was three times higher than that of free algae. The maximum hydrogen production rate by the immobilized blue-green algae was 0.52 moles h^–1 g^–1 (of wet gel) in the medium without nitrogen sources under illumination (10,000 lux). The oxygen evolved was then removed by a reactor containing aerobic bacteria. A photo-current of 15–20 mA was continuously produced for 7 days by the photochemical fuel cell system consisting of the immobilized Anabaena reactor, the oxygen-removing reactor and the hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell. The conversion ratio of hydrogen to current was from 80% to 100%.     

Methane production from wastewaters by immobilized methanogenic bacteria

A methanogenic population was immobilized onto agar gel, polyacrylamide gel, and collagen membrane. Agar-gel-entrapped methanogenic microorganisms gave the highest activity. The optimum agar concentration was between 1.5 and 3% (w/v), and the optimum microbial content was 20 mg wet cells/g gel. The optimum conditions for methane production by immobilized whole cells were pH 7.0–7.5 and 37–45°C. The rate of methane production was initially 1.8 μmol/g gel/hr. Methane productivity was gradually increased and reached a steady state (4.5μmol/g gel/hr) after 25 days of incubation. The immobilized methanogenic microbial population continuously evolved methane over a 90 day period. No difference in methane productivity was observed after three months of storage at 5°C. Methane was also produced by immobilized whole cells under aerobic conditions. Furthermore, carbohydrates, such as glucose, in wastewater completely decomposed by immobilized whole cells.     

Regeneration of NAD(P)H by immobilized whole cells of Clostridium butyricum under hydrogen high pressure

Immobilized whole cells of Clostridium butyricum reduced both NAD(+) and NADP(+) in the presence of hydrogen at a pressure of 100 atm. The NAD(+) and NADP(+) reduction activities were 4.45 and 4.30 U/g dry cells, respectively [U = NAD(P)H regenerated, mu mol/min]. The amount of NADH regenerated by immobilized cells increased with increasing hydrogen pressure above 10 atm. Immobilized cells (6 mg dry cells) of Cl. butyricum completely converted NAD(+) (6.4 mumole) to NADH for 5 h, whereas only 60% of NAD(+) were reduced by free cells. Immobilized cells retained 89% activity after the 5-h reactions were repeated 4 times. L-Alanine was continuously produced at the rate of 12.8 mumol/min g dry cells from hydrogen, ammonium, and pyruvate with immobilized Cl. butyricum-alanine dehydrogenase.     

Electrochemical treatment of graphite to enhance electron transfer from bacteria to electrodes

In this paper, graphite felts were continuously electrochemically oxidized to increase the current generation in microbial fuel cells (MFCs). The treated and untreated graphite felts were utilized as anodes in MFCs and current production was compared. The current production on electrochemically treated graphite felt anodes was about 1.13 mA, 39.5% higher compared with that of MFCs containing untreated anodes. The results demonstrated that the electronic coupling between graphite felt electrodes and electrogenic bacteria could be enhanced by electrochemical oxidization of the electrodes. Further study showed that the newly generated carboxyl containing functional groups from electrochemical oxidization were responsible for the enhanced electron transfer, due to their strong hydrogen bonding with peptide bonds in bacterial cytochromes.     

Microbial Detection Method Based on Sensing Molecular Hydrogen

A simple method for detecting bacteria, based on the time of hydrogen evolution, was developed and tested against various members of the Enterobacteriaceae group. The test system consisted of (i) two electrodes, platinum and a reference electrode, (ii) a buffer amplifier, and (iii) a strip-chart recorder. Hydrogen evolution was measured by an increase in voltage in the negative (cathodic) direction and recorded on a strip-chart recorder. Hydrogen response curves consisted of (i) a lag period, (ii) a period of rapid buildup in potential due to hydrogen, and (iii) a period of decline in potential. A linear relationship was established between inoculum size and the time hydrogen was detected (lag period). Lag times ranged from 1 h for 10(6) cells/ml to 7 h for 10(0) cells/ml. For each 10-fold decrease in inoculum, length of the lag period increased 60 to 70 min. Mean cell concentrations at the time of hydrogen evolution were 10(6)/ml. Based on the linear relationship between inoculum size and lag period, these results indicate the potential application of the hydrogen-sensing method for rapidly detecting coliforms and other gas-producing microorganisms in a variety of clinical, food, and other samples.     

Simultaneous production of hydrogen and bioflocculant by Enterobacter sp. BY-29

Hydrogen and a bioflocculant could be produced simultaneously by anaerobic culture of Enterobacter sp. BY-29. For production of hydrogen and the bioflocculant by cell culture of the bacterium in batch cultures, cultivation at 37 °C in a medium containing glucose as a carbon source and Polypepton as a nitrogen source was found to be suitable. In continuous production of hydrogen and the bioflocculant by cell culture or immobilized cells of the bacterium, the hydrogen production rate and hydrogen yield by the immobilized cells on porous glass beads in stirred and column reactors were higher than those by the cell culture in a stirred reactor. However, production of the bioflocculant by the cell culture was superior to that by the immobilized cells in continuous production.     

Enhanced hydrogen production from aromatic acids by immobilized cells of Rhodopseudomonas palustris

Cells of the purple non-sulphur bacterium Rhodopseudomonas palustris DSM 131 were immobilized in agar, agarose, -carrageenan or sodium alginate gel. With alginate beads, prepared by an emulsion technique, and an optimal cell load of 10 mg dry weight/ml gel, the hydrogen production from aromatic acids was doubled as compared to that resulting from liquid cultures. Hydrogen yields of 60%, 57%, 86% or 88% of the maximal theoretical value were obtained from mandelate, benzoylformate, cinnamate or benzoate respectively. Benzoate concentrations above 16.5 mM were inhibitory. During a period of 55 days the process of hydrogen evolution with immobilized cells was repeated in five cycles with slowly decreasing efficiency.     

Long-term Continuous Production of Monoclonal Antibody by Hybridoma Cells Immobilized in a Fibrous-Bed Bioreactor

The kinetics and long-term stability of continuous production of monoclonal antibody IgG2b by hybridoma HD-24 cells immobilized in a fibrous-bed bioreactor (FBB) were studied for a period of ～8 months. The cells were immobilized in the fibrous bed by surface attachment of cells and entrapment of large cell clumps in the void space of the fibrous matrix. A high viable cell density of 1.01 × 10⁸/ml was attained in the bioreactor, which was about 63 times higher than those in conventional T-flask and spinner flask cultures. The continuous FBB produced IgG at a concentration of ～0.5 g/l, with reactor productivity of ～7 mg/h·l, which was about 23 times higher than those from conventional T-flask and spinner flask cultures. The IgG concentration can be further increased to ～0.67 g/l by using higher feed (glucose and glutamine) concentrations and running the reactor at a recycle batch or fed-batch mode. The long-term performance of this bioreactor was also evaluated. For a period of 36 days monitored, the MAb produced in the continuous well-mixed bioreactor at 50 h retention time (0.02/h dilution rate) was maintained at a steady concentration level of ～0.3 g/l with less than 8% drift. At the end of the study, it was found that ～25% of the cells were strongly attached to the fiber surfaces and the other ～75% entrapped or weakly immobilized in the fibrous matrix. The strongly attached cells had a high viability of ～90%, compared to ～75% for cells weakly immobilized and only ～1.4% for freely suspended cells, suggesting that the fibrous matrix preferentially retained and protected the viable (productive) cells. The FBB thus was able to maintain its long-term productivity because nonviable and dead cells were continuously washed off from the fibrous matrix. The high MAb concentration and production rate and excellent stability for continuous long-term production obtained in this study compare favorably to other bioreactor studies reported in the literature. The reactor performance can be further improved by providing better pH and aeration controls at higher feed concentrations. The FBB is easy to operate and scale-up, and thus can be used economically for industrial production of MAb.     

Electricity generation in microbial fuel cells using neutral red as an electronophore

Neutral red (NR) was utilized as an electron mediator in microbial fuel cells consuming glucose to study both its efficiency during electricity generation and its role in altering anaerobic growth and metabolism of Escherichia coli and Actinobacillus succinogenes. A study of chemical fuel cells in which NADH, NR, and ferricyanide were the electron donor, the electronophore, and the electron acceptor, respectively, showed that electrical current produced from NADH was proportional to the concentration of NADH. Fourfold more current was produced from NADH in chemical fuel cells when NR was the electron mediator than when thionin was the electron mediator. In microbial fuel cells in which E. coli resting cells were used the amount of current produced from glucose when NR was the electron mediator (3.5 mA) was 10-fold more than the amount produced when thionin was the electron mediator (0.4 mA). The amount of electrical energy generated (expressed in joules per mole of substrate) and the amount of current produced from glucose (expressed in milliamperes) in NR-mediated microbial fuel cells containing either E. coli or A. succinogenes were about 10- and 2-fold greater, respectively, when resting cells were used than when growing cells were used. Cell growth was inhibited substantially when these microbial fuel cells were making current, and more oxidized end products were formed under these conditions. When sewage sludge (i.e., a mixed culture of anaerobic bacteria) was used in the fuel cell, stable (for 120 h) and equivalent levels of current were obtained with glucose, as observed in the pure-culture experiments. These results suggest that NR is better than other electron mediators used in microbial fuel cells and that sludge production can be decreased while electricity is produced in fuel cells. Our results are discussed in relation to factors that may improve the relatively low electrical efficiencies (1.2 kJ/mol) obtained with microbial fuel cells.     

Hydrogen production by Rhodopseudomonas capsulata cells entrapped in carrageenan beads

Summary The photosynthetic bacteria Rhodopseudomonas capsulata strain B10 were immobilized in agar or in carrageenan beads (Ø = 1–3 mm). Beads containing 5.8 mg cell dry weight/mL of gel produced hydrogen from lactate at a rate of 54 mL/h.g dry weight; the efficiency of H₂ production by immobilized cells was comparable to that of free cells and was 60 to 65% that of the theoretical maximum from lactate. Carrageenan-entrapped cells produced H₂ steadily over a 16-day period.     

Methane production from organic acid-rich wastewaters by immobilized thermophilic methane-producing bacteria

Thermophilic methane-producing bacteria isolated from a wastewater treatment facility have been immobilized in acetylcellulose filter with agar. The immobilized cells produced methane from wastewaters in rich organic acid (acetic, propionic and butyric acids) at the rate of 1.4 μmol mg protein⁻¹ h⁻¹. The optimum conditions for methane production by immobilized whole cells were 52–55°C and pH 7.0–8.0. The immobilized cells retained 80% of the initial activity after exposure to air. The immobilized thermophilic bacteria produced methane continuously over 10 days at 52°C.     

Biohydrogen production in a continuous stirred tank bioreactor from synthesis gas by anaerobic photosynthetic bacterium: Rhodopirillum rubrum

Hydrogen may be considered a potential fuel for the future since it is carbon-free and oxidized to water as a combustion product. Bioconversion of synthesis gas (syngas) to hydrogen was demonstrated in continuous stirred tank bioreactor (CSTBR) utilizing acetate as a carbon source. An anaerobic photosynthetic bacterium, Rhodospirillum rubrum catalyzed water-gas shift reaction which was applied for the bioconversion of syngas to hydrogen. The continuous fermentation of syngas in the bioreactor was continuously operated at various gas flow rates and agitation speeds, for the period of two months. The gas flow rates were varied from 5 to 14 ml/min. The agitation speeds were increasingly altered in the range of 150-500 rpm. The pH and temperature of the bioreactor was set at 6.5 and 30 degrees C. The liquid flow rate was kept constant at 0.65 ml/min for the duration of 60 days. The inlet acetate concentration was fed at 4 g/l into the bioreactor. The hydrogen production rate and yield were 16+/-1.1 mmol g(-1)cell h(-1) and 87+/-2.4% at fixed agitation speed of 500 rpm and syngas flow rate of 14 ml/min, respectively. The mass transfer coefficient (KLa) at this condition was approximately 72.8h(-1). This new approach, using a biocatalyst was considered as an alternative method of conventional Fischer-Tropsch synthetic reactions, which were able to convert syngas into hydrogen.     

Electricity Generation in Microbial Fuel Cells Using Neutral Red as an Electronophore

Neutral red (NR) was utilized as an electron mediator in microbial fuel cells consuming glucose to study both its efficiency during electricity generation and its role in altering anaerobic growth and metabolism of Escherichia coli and Actinobacillus succinogenes. A study of chemical fuel cells in which NADH, NR, and ferricyanide were the electron donor, the electronophore, and the electron acceptor, respectively, showed that electrical current produced from NADH was proportional to the concentration of NADH. Fourfold more current was produced from NADH in chemical fuel cells when NR was the electron mediator than when thionin was the electron mediator. In microbial fuel cells in which E. coli resting cells were used the amount of current produced from glucose when NR was the electron mediator (3.5 mA) was 10-fold more than the amount produced when thionin was the electron mediator (0.4 mA). The amount of electrical energy generated (expressed in joules per mole of substrate) and the amount of current produced from glucose (expressed in milliamperes) in NR-mediated microbial fuel cells containing either E. coli or A. succinogenes were about 10- and 2-fold greater, respectively, when resting cells were used than when growing cells were used. Cell growth was inhibited substantially when these microbial fuel cells were making current, and more oxidized end products were formed under these conditions. When sewage sludge (i.e., a mixed culture of anaerobic bacteria) was used in the fuel cell, stable (for 120 h) and equivalent levels of current were obtained with glucose, as observed in the pure-culture experiments. These results suggest that NR is better than other electron mediators used in microbial fuel cells and that sludge production can be decreased while electricity is produced in fuel cells. Our results are discussed in relation to factors that may improve the relatively low electrical efficiencies (1.2 kJ/mol) obtained with microbial fuel cells.     

Electricity production by Geobacter sulfurreducens attached to electrodes

Previous studies have suggested that members of the Geobacteraceae can use electrodes as electron acceptors for anaerobic respiration. In order to better understand this electron transfer process for energy production, Geobacter sulfurreducens was inoculated into chambers in which a graphite electrode served as the sole electron acceptor and acetate or hydrogen was the electron donor. The electron-accepting electrodes were maintained at oxidizing potentials by connecting them to similar electrodes in oxygenated medium (fuel cells) or to potentiostats that poised electrodes at +0.2 V versus an Ag/AgCl reference electrode (poised potential). When a small inoculum of G. sulfurreducens was introduced into electrode-containing chambers, electrical current production was dependent upon oxidation of acetate to carbon dioxide and increased exponentially, indicating for the first time that electrode reduction supported the growth of this organism. When the medium was replaced with an anaerobic buffer lacking nutrients required for growth, acetate-dependent electrical current production was unaffected and cells attached to these electrodes continued to generate electrical current for weeks. This represents the first report of microbial electricity production solely by cells attached to an electrode. Electrode-attached cells completely oxidized acetate to levels below detection (<10 micro M), and hydrogen was metabolized to a threshold of 3 Pa. The rates of electron transfer to electrodes (0.21 to 1.2 micro mol of electrons/mg of protein/min) were similar to those observed for respiration with Fe(III) citrate as the electron acceptor (E(o)' =+0.37 V). The production of current in microbial fuel cell (65 mA/m(2) of electrode surface) or poised-potential (163 to 1,143 mA/m(2)) mode was greater than what has been reported for other microbial systems, even those that employed higher cell densities and electron-shuttling compounds. Since acetate was completely oxidized, the efficiency of conversion of organic electron donor to electricity was significantly higher than in previously described microbial fuel cells. These results suggest that the effectiveness of microbial fuel cells can be increased with organisms such as G. sulfurreducens that can attach to electrodes and remain viable for long periods of time while completely oxidizing organic substrates with quantitative transfer of electrons to an electrode.     

NADPH production from NADP+ with a glucose dehydrogenase system involving whole cells and immobilized cells of Gluconobacter suboxydans

Summary A convenient and efficient method of NADPH production from NADP⁺ has been established using a glucose dehydrogenase system involving whole cells and immobilized cells of Gluconobacter suboxydans IFO 3172. Using airdried cells of the bacterium, the optimum conditions for NADPH production were examined, including the cell and glucose concentrations, NADP⁺ concentration, pH, buffer and reaction temperature. Under suitable conditions, the conversion ratio and the amount of NADPH accumulated reached about 100% and 73 mg/ml of the reaction mixture, respectively, after 1-h reaction. Intact cells of the bacterium also showed high NADPH production even in the reaction mixture without a surfactant. The addition of Triton X-100 to the reaction mixture and freeze-thawing treatment of intact cells enhanced the production. The NADPH production method was further improved by using cells of the bacterium immobilized by entrapment in a -carrageenan gel lattice. The immobilized cells had almost the same enzymatic properties as the air-dried cells. The conditions for the continuous production of NADPH with an immobilized cell column were also investigated. NADPH was produced in a good yield (about 95%) with this continuous process.     

Production of cryptotanshinone and ferruginol by immobilized cultured cells of Salvia miltiorrhiza

The production of the diterpenes cryptotanshinone and ferruginol by immobilized cultured cells of Salvia miltiorrhiza was examined. Cryptotanshinone and ferruginol were produced continuously by the immobilized cells. Much of the cryptotanshinone was released into the medium, while most of the ferruginol was retained in the cells. The production of cryptotanshinone and ferruginol by the immobilized cells was about 39% and 61% of those by cell suspensions. Re-use of the immobilized cells for the production of these compounds was also examined.     

Hydrogen production from glucose by immobilized growing cells ofClostridium butyricum

Summary Clostridium butyricum was immobilized in a porous carrier (acetylcellulose filter) with agar. Addition of peptone to the reaction mixture increased the hydrogen productivity from glucose. The number of cells in the agaracetylcellulose increased during incubation in the medium containing glucose and peptone, and the immobilized growing cells converted 45% of the glucose to hydrogen. Riboflavin enhanced the hydrogen productivity and the lactate produced by the native cells decreased remarkably. Therefore, the immobilized whole cells incubated with riboflavin were employed for repeated hydrogen production in the medium containing glucose and peptone. The hydrogen productivity of the immobilized cells increased markedly after repeated use, and the immobilized cells produced hydrogen in stoichiometric amounts from glucose.     

Renewable sustainable biocatalyzed electricity production in a photosynthetic algal microbial fuel cell (PAMFC)

Electricity production via solar energy capturing by living higher plants and microalgae in combination with microbial fuel cells are attractive because these systems promise to generate useful energy in a renewable, sustainable, and efficient manner. This study describes the proof of principle of a photosynthetic algal microbial fuel cell (PAMFC) based on naturally selected algae and electrochemically active microorganisms in an open system and without addition of instable or toxic mediators. The developed solar-powered PAMFC produced continuously over 100 days renewable biocatalyzed electricity. The sustainable performance of the PAMFC resulted in a maximum current density of 539 mA/m² projected anode surface area and a maximum power production of 110 mW/m² surface area photobioreactor. The energy recovery of the PAMFC can be increased by optimization of the photobioreactor, by reducing the competition from non-electrochemically active microorganisms, by increasing the electrode surface and establishment of a further-enriched biofilm. Since the objective is to produce net renewable energy with algae, future research should also focus on the development of low energy input PAMFCs. This is because current algae production systems have energy inputs similar to the energy present in the outcoming valuable products.