The “Doctor Robik 109” complex biopreparation as a bioagent for utilizing aquatic plant phytomass in biofuel cells

Abstract

The paper demonstrates the possibility of using the “Doctor Robik 109” complex microbiological preparation (OOO VIPEKO, Russia), applied in cesspools and sewage caissons, for obtaining electric current in biofuel elements during the utilization of the Ulothrix sp., Spirogyra sp., Elodea canadensis aqueous plant phytomass. The kinetics of electrical parameters of the studied biofuel cells was characterized by a steady and prolonged growth – for at least 30 days. This may be associated with the slow transformation of the used substrate by microorganisms, which additionally ensures the long-term operation of biofuel cells on their basis. In Spirogira sp. biofuel cells, the biological preparation generated the voltage (broken circuit mode) and current strength (short circuit mode) equal up to 746mV and 1745 A, respectively. In Ulothrix sp. biofuel cells, these values comprised 360 mV and 1120 μA for a 25-day period, respectively. When using a E. canadensis substrate, the studied bioagent microorganisms generated the voltage and current of up to 643 mV and 568 μA during a 25-day period, respectively. An increase in the electrical parameters of biofuel cells, which were based on the studied biological preparation and the phytomass of higher aquatic plants and algae, was accompanied by an increase in the number of viable microorganism cells and a decrease in the plant biomass. Since phytomass growth is activated by the phytoremediation measures of additional wastewater treatment or during the eutrophication of water bodies, the proposed method for applying aquatic plants in biofuel cells represents a promising approach to utilizing excess phytomass.