Ela Eroglu

Photobiological hydrogen production: Recent advances and state of the art

Photobiological hydrogen production has advanced significantly in recent years, and on the way to becoming a mature technology. A variety of photosynthetic and non-photosynthetic microorganisms, including unicellular green algae, cyanobacteria, anoxygenic photosynthetic bacteria, obligate anaerobic, and nitrogen-fixing bacteria are endowed with genes and proteins for H2-production. Enzymes, mechanisms, and the underlying biochemistry may vary among these systems; however, they are all promising catalysts in hydrogen production. Integration of hydrogen production among these organisms and enzymatic systems is a recent concept and a rather interesting development in the field, as it may minimize feedstock utilization and lower the associated costs, while improving yields of hydrogen production. Photobioreactor development and genetic manipulation of the hydrogen-producing microorganisms is also outlined in this review, as these contribute to improvement in the yield of the respective processes.

Photobiological hydrogen production by using olive mill wastewater as a sole substrate source

Abstract In the present work olive mill wastewater (OMW) collected from West Anatolia—Turkey during 2001, containing 36.02 g carbon, 5.26 g hydrogen, and 0.96 g nitrogen in 100 g suspended solid was used as a sole substrate for the production of hydrogen gas by Rhodobacter sphaeroides O.U.001 in 400 ml glass, column-photobioreactors. Hydrogen production studies on diluted-OMW were investigated in the range of 20% (v/v) and 1% (v/v) OMW containing media. Below 5% OMW containing media, bacterial growth rate fitted well to the logistic model where hydrogen production was observed for the ones below 4% OMW. A maximum hydrogen production potential (HPP) of 13.9 l H 2 / l OMW was obtained at 2% OMW. During the biological hydrogen production process, chemical oxygen demand (COD) of the diluted wastewater decreased from 1100 to 720 mg / l ; biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) decreased from 475 to 200 mg / l , and the total recoverable phenol content (ortho- and meta-substitutions) decreased from 2.32 to 0.93 mg / l . In addition, valuable by-products such as carotenoid (40 mg / l OMW ) and polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) (60 mg / l OMW ) were obtained. According to these results, OMW was concluded to be a very promising substrate source for biohydrogen production process, with additional benefits of its utilization with regard to environmental and economical aspects.

Effect of clay pretreatment on photofermentative hydrogen production from olive mill wastewater

The aim of this paper was to gain further insight into the effect of the clay pretreatment process on photofermentative hydrogen production. This two-stage process involved a clay pretreatment step followed by photofermentation which was performed under anaerobic conditions with the illumination by Tungsten lamps. Rhodobacter sphaeroides O.U.001 was used for photofermentation. Higher amounts of color (65%), total phenol (81%) and chemical oxygen demand (31%) removal efficiencies were achieved after clay pretreatment process. During photofermentative hydrogen production with the effluent of clay pretreatment process, the main organic compounds resulting higher hydrogen production rates were found to be acetic, lactic, propionic, and butyric acids. Compared to photofermentation using raw olive mill wastewater ( 16LH2/LOMW), the amount of photofermentative hydrogen production was doubled by using the effluent of the clay pretreatment process (31.5LH2/LOMW). The reasons for the improvement of hydrogen production by clay treatment can be attributed to the high removal of the hardly biodegradable compounds such as phenols; minor removal of organic acids, sugars and amino acids that are known to enhance photofermentative hydrogen production; and the color depletion of raw OMW which might cause a shadowing effect on the photosynthetic bacteria.

Entrapment of Chlorella vulgaris cells within graphene oxide layers

Confinement of microalgae cells within layers of graphene oxide (GO) effectively reduces the rate of cell division, with the microalgal wrapping being more efficient in a vortex fluidic device than using mild sonication, as determined by the cell growth and the level of nitrate removal from the liquid effluent.

Vortex fluidic entrapment of functional microalgal cells in a magnetic polymer matrix

Composite materials based on superparamagnetic magnetite nanoparticles embedded in polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) are generated in a continuous flow vortex fluidic device (VFD). The same device is effective in entrapping microalgal cells within this material, such that the functional cells can be retrieved from aqueous dispersions using an external magnet.

Nitrate uptake by p-phosphonic acid calix[8]arene stabilized graphene

In situ sonic probe exfoliated graphene sheets in the presence of various concentrations of p-phosphonic acid calix[8]arene are effective in removing nitrate from aquatic effluents, with the efficiency increasing for higher ratios of calixarene to graphite. Mild sonication of the nitrate-adsorbed material releases some nitrate ions back to the effluent.

Biogenic production of palladium nanocrystals using microalgae and their immobilization on chitosan nanofibers for catalytic applications

Spherical palladium nanocrystals were generated from aqueous Na2[PdCl4] via photosynthetic reactions within green microalgae (Chlorella vulgaris). Electrospun chitosan mats were effective for immobilizing these biogenic nanocrystals, as a material for recycling as a catalyst for the Mizoroki–Heck cross-coupling reaction. This photosynthetically-driven metal transformation system can serve as a good candidate for an environmentally-friendly method for the synthesis of metal nanocatalysts.

Application of Various Immobilization Techniques for Algal Bioprocesses

Immobilized cells entrapped within a polymer matrix or attached onto the surface of a solid support have advantages over their free-cell counterpart, with easier harvesting of the biomass, enhanced wastewater treatment, and enriched bioproduct generation. Immobilized microalgae have been used for a diverse number of bioprocesses including gaining access to high-value products (biohydrogen, biodiesel, and photopigments), removal of nutrients (nitrate, phosphate, and ammonium ions), heavy metal ion removal, biosensors, and stock culture management. Wastewater treatment processes appear to be one of the most promising applications for immobilized microalgae, which mostly involve heavy metal and nutrient removal from liquid effluents. This chapter outlines the current applications of immobilized microalgae with an emphasis on alternative immobilization approaches. Advances in immobilization processes and possible research directions are also highlighted.

Superparamagnetic imposed diatom frustules for the effective removal of phosphates

Diatom frustules coated with magnetite nanoparticles 21 nm in size were synthesised without the requirement of stabilisers, or prior functionalisation of the frustule surface, with the resulting material exhibiting superparamagnetic behaviour, and with a high capacity for phosphate ion adsorption.

Microencapsulation of bacterial strains in graphene oxide nano-sheets using vortex fluidics

Wrapping bacterial cells with graphene oxide sheets using a vortex fluidic device (VFD) effectively limits cellular growth for a certain time period whilst sustaining biological activity. This simple and benign method in preparing such a composite material relies on the shear within the film in the device without compromising the cellular viability. In principle, the process is scalable for large volumes, for operating the VFD(s) under continuous flow mode. Moreover, acquiring SEM images was possible without pre-coating the composite material with a metallic film, with limited charging effects. This establishes the potential for interfacing material with graphene oxide, which could be extended to more conductive graphene layers, as an effective approach for simplifying characterization using SEM.