(142b) Novel Photobioreactor for Biodiesel and Electricity

The development of new technologies to protect the environment and provide renewable fuel is of growing interest in North America. High greenhouse gas discharges, primarily due to carbon dioxide formed by burning fossil fuels, and dwindling supplies of petroleum are two motivating factors that make these technology developments imperative. In this work, we report on the design and utilization of a novel photobioreactor that can enhance the growth of algae such as Chlorella vulgaris. We achieved an increase in productivity for producing biodiesel by capturing carbon dioxide faster than in traditional bioreactors or open ponds, and we also efficiently produce electricity when utilizing this photobioreactor as a microbial cathode. By coupling the photobioreactor to an existing bioethanol fermentor, a complete microbial fuel cell is achieved that acts as a living battery, and a net sink of carbon dioxide occurs due to the complete utilization of carbon dioxide by the algae. Biodiesel and electricity production rates as well as the economics of the incorporation of photobioreactors into an existing starch-based bioethanol facility will be presented.