Microbial Energy Generation
Our study tackles the challenge of making biological hydrogen production, a clean and sustainable energy source, more efficient and commercially viable. The current roadblocks are the low efficiency of hydrogen generation and the constraints of the operating environment.
To improve this, our research focused on using a technique called 'entrapment,' where bacteria are enclosed within a polymer matrix. This method not only boosts hydrogen production efficiency but also facilitates its ongoing generation. In our study, we created a biofilm with a high concentration of bacteria immobilized in an alginate matrix, a natural polymer. We applied this matrix to an electrode alongside Rhodospirillum rubrum bacteria using a process known as electrophoretic deposition.
Through meticulous experimentation, we identified the perfect conditions for biofilm construction that result in high hydrogen production efficiency and sustainability. This was done by adjusting the mix of bacteria and alginate concentration and fine-tuning the characteristics of the electric field used during the electrophoresis process. The biofilm we developed was found to be particularly effective in immobilizing bacteria and maintaining their viability, allowing for stable and long-term hydrogen production, outperforming the control group that used free-floating bacteria.
Moreover, the hydrogen production efficiency was sustained over time by periodically replenishing the substrate, indicating that the bacteria remained active and productive within the biofilm. The electrophoretic deposition technique we employed is both cost-effective and rapid, capable of producing large-scale biofilms that are mechanically robust. These biofilms are able to withstand the limitations imposed by their environment.
Thus, the method we propose has the potential to fast-track the commercialization of biohydrogen production systems and broaden their application scope by enabling the mass production of biofilms that can consistently generate hydrogen.