Title: Hydrogen production by Spirulina maxima 2342 under different light intensities and quantification employing a fuel cell

Authors: A.U. Juantorena; O. Lastres; G. Hernández; A. Bustos; D. Eapen; P.J. Sebastian

Addresses: Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Av. Universidad 1001, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México ' Instituto de Estudios de la Energía, UNISTMO, Ciudad Universitaria, Tehuantepec, 70760, Oaxaca, México ' Centro de Cambio Global y la Sustentabilidad en el Sureste, Villahermosa, Tabasco, México ' Instituto de Ciencias Físicas, UNAM, Av. Universidad 1001, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México ' Instituto de Biotecnología, UNAM, Av. Universidad 1001, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México ' Instituto de Energías Renovables, UNAM, 62580, Temixco, Morelos, México

Abstract: In this work the photosynthetic hydrogen production employing Spirulina maxima 2342 microorganisms was determined under different experimental conditions, for the same biomass property (concentration) and three different light intensities (150, 112 and 75 µE/m².s). The hydrogen production was quantified employing a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) which produces electricity using the hydrogen produced in this experiment. The highest faradaic efficiency and hydrogen flow rate into the PEMFC (1.54 × 10^-8 kg/h) was obtained for a light intensity of 150 µE/m².s.

Keywords: hydrogen production; photosynthetic microorganisms; Spirulina maxima 2342; proton exchange membrane fuel cells; PEMFC; biomass; light intensity; faradaic efficiency; flow rate.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGW.2015.071579

International Journal of Global Warming, 2015 Vol.8 No.1, pp.86 - 101

Received: 29 Oct 2013
Accepted: 10 Mar 2014
Published online: 02 Sep 2015 *

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