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1 Introduction
Over the past years, there has been an increasing demand for alternative renewable
sources of energy, preferably sustainable ones, with very little environmental footprint. This
stems from the ever-going global issues related to energy production and consumption, such as
the emission of greenhouse gasses, depletion of fossil fuel reserves, different forms of pollution,
Biobatteries are defined as energy-storing devices that use biological matter as their
principal fuel for electrical energy production. On that note, biobatteries are cost-effective and
are ecologically sound alternative solutions to the demand for energy sources. According to
Janodi (2014), as cited by Hussain et al (2021), these biological batteries can be classified into
three. There are (1) batteries that use biochemical agents (or enzymes) to break down a substrate
during redox reactions, (2) batteries that operate by coupling oxidizable and reducible organic
compounds, and (3) batteries that utilize microorganisms to generate electric current. This study
will employ the third classification mentioned above, in the form of a biological photovoltaic
system (BPV).
sunlight into usable electrical energy. These systems work by means of the photovoltaic effect:
the generation of voltage and current in an apparatus upon its exposure to a light source (i.e., the
Sun). Biological photovoltaic systems work under the same principles as PVs, utilizing light to
energy from the light source is absorbed by the organisms. Said energy will stimulate the
oxidation of water, leading to the separation of hydrogen ions and oxygen molecules, and the
release of free electrons. Some of those electrons, that have made it out of the cells, would be the
evaluate the efficiency of the BPV cells under artificial and natural light.
powered under natural light and artificial light. Our study hypothesizes that an algae-based BPV
cell dependent on sunlight would show greater efficiency in terms of generating energy
The study utilizes algae as an energy provider for a biobattery through photosynthetic
activity. The energy is transferred to the biophotovoltaic device (BPV) and is measured by a
voltmeter lent by Caloocan National Science and Technology High School. It is accumulated
from the cathode and will serve as storage for later use.
The locale of this study will occur in one of the researcher’s premises. We will be
collecting data from the energy activity accumulated by the algae-based BPV as of early June.
The algae-based BPV cell will only power devices of small wattage. High-end equipment
required for a more structured experiment will not be accessible and economical for the study’s
benefit.
The focus of this research is to prove that sunlight is sufficient to power an algae-based
Furthermore, the results of the study will be significant for the following:
Students. The study's findings will be critical in raising students' understanding of the use of
organic materials that are easier to manufacture for the production of renewable energy sources.
Agriculturist. Algae producers will gain from farming several varieties of algae that provide
more energy. Utilizing algae to harness its photosynthetic power, which could be more cost-
People. The result of this study aims to produce an alternative source of energy for marginalized
Global Issues. The findings of this study will benefit the looming challenge of global warming.
Bio Batteries made of algae can offer energy without the adverse effects of burning fossil fuels.
Renewable energy is frequently at the top of the list of adjustments the world can make to
Future Researchers. Future researchers will benefit from the findings of this study since it will
serve as a guide for manipulating and adding more variables to future research. This could be a
useful source for them as they explore more about algae-based research.
Ammeter. An instrument for measuring either direct or alternating electric current, in amperes
Anaerobic. It means 'without air' and refers to the object producing energy without oxygen.
Anode. An electrode through which the conventional current enters into a polarized electrical
device.
oxidize the substrates through PEM. From: Refining Biomass Residues for Sustainable Energy
ATP. Adenosine triphosphate, also known as ATP, is a molecule that carries energy within cells.
It is the main energy currency of the cell, and it is an end product of the processes of
photophosphorylation (adding a phosphate group to a molecule using energy from light), cellular
Biochemical Reactions. The transformation of one molecule to a different molecule inside a cell
Bioethanol. A high octane biofuel which is produced from fermentation of corn, potatoes, grain
(wheat, barley and rye), sugar beet, sugar cane and vegetable residues.
Biofilm. A complex structure of microbiome having different bacterial colonies or single type of
cells in a group; adhere to the surface. These cells are embedded in extracellular polymeric
integrate microorganisms or enzymes with the electrochemical method to improve the reducing
or oxidizing metabolism.
photosynthetic material to capture solar energy and directly produce electrical power.
Biomethanol. It is considered an alternative energy source because of its high octane number.
Carbon Fixation. The process wherein photosynthetic organisms (such as plants) turn inorganic
Catalysis. The process of increasing the rate of a chemical reaction by adding a substance
known as a catalyst.
Cathode. A negative terminal or electrode through which electrons enter a direct current load,
such as an electrolytic cell or an electron tube, and the positive terminal of a battery or other
important reaction for the power generation in different types of fuel cells including MFC
Cathodic Chamber. Are placed adjutants to either side of each desalination chamber where
Cellular Respiration. A set of metabolic reactions and processes that take place in the cells of
organisms to convert chemical energy from oxygen molecules or nutrients into adenosine
Chlorophyll. The natural compound present in green plants, that gives them their color.
Current. The rate at which electrons flow past a point in a complete electrical circuit.
Electrolytes. A medium containing ions that is electrically conducting through the movement of
Electronic Mediators. A confidential mediation is used for the purpose of resolving disputes
Environmental Footprint. These are quantitative measures showing the appropriation of natural
Enzymatic Bio Batteries. A sugar-digesting enzyme is immobilized on the anode, and oxygen-
Enzymes. Proteins that help speed up metabolism, or the chemical reactions in our bodies
Exogenous Artificial Electron Mediators. These are artificial carriers that facilitate the transport
occurring metal compounds and artificial electrodes, across the cell membrane (Lovley, 2008;
Kato, 2015).
Intracellular Reactions. Cellular reaction wherein biological processes occur inside the cell.
Light waves. An electromagnetic wave that travels through the vacuum of outer space.
Marginalized Communities. Those excluded from mainstream social, economic, educational,
Microbes. Organisms that are too small to be seen without using a microscope, so they include
things like bacteria, archaea, and single cell eukaryotes — cells that have a nucleus, like an
amoeba or a paramecium.
organisms, and provides the reducing power for anabolic reactions and redox balance.
Organic Compounds. These are generally any chemical compounds that contain carbon-
hydrogen bonds.
PETC. Converts free and abundant solar energy into reducing power and chemical energy for
producing biomass and biofuels through transferring electrons sequentially from H2O through
photosynthetic algae.
Photoautotrophs. Organisms that use light energy and inorganic carbon to produce organic
materials.
Reduction. Any process in which electrons are gained by an atom or an ion. Always occurs
other. Those are cathode, anode, and separator. The separator has an organic fluid known as
components. The energy flow starts from the anode where we put our principal fuel (algae).
Current will travel to the cathode until it releases its by-product, water, and oxygen. The
separator has electrolytes found in the middle of the two terminals that prevent any short circuit.
Common sources of energy for a biobattery to work are organic (sugar, starch) or inorganic
(metals). Bio-battery is not the same as a traditional battery. Anode and cathode catalysts are
biological enzymes in this case. On both the cathode and anode terminals, enzymes and
Biobatteries can be identified into three different types. They are classified with accords
to the nature of electrode and biochemical reactions (Janodi, 2014). (1) Enzymatic biobatteries
make use of redox reactions similar to the process of cellular respiration. Enzymes immobilized
on the anode break down sugar and release energy. The energy travels to the cathode with
biobatteries are batteries that utilize microbes such as cyanobacteria, Escherichia coli, etc. to
generate electrical power. Biocatalysts in the anode will break glucose down, releasing electrons
that will flow to the cathode. (3) Other forms of bio batteries integrate oxidizable and reducible
biomolecules or organic compounds to generate bioenergy similar to the processes that the
biomethanol (Najafi et al., 2011). It shows significant potential as a biofuel due to its rapid
growth rate and cultivation in non-arable areas, which helps it not compete for food production.
Oils that algae store as energy are extracted to fuel modern vehicles (cars, planes, trucks, etc.).
Algae biomass is anaerobically digested or burned like wood to yield heat and electricity (Wen et
conservation due to factors such as the harmful effects of fossil fuels, the instability of energy
Most algae are considered photoautotrophs, organisms that synthesize organic material
by using light energy. They do not greatly contrast plants despite their lack of a vascular system
for nutrient mobility, roots, stems, and leaves. Algae like cyanobacteria have chlorophyll A
responsible for photosynthesis, the natural method of converting light energy to chemical energy
in the form of sugars. Carbon dioxide (CO2) gains electrons (reduction) to transform into
glucose, while water (H2O) loses electrons (oxidation) and releases oxygen as a byproduct.
Relatively, marine algae produce 70% of oxygen in our atmosphere (Nelson, 2015).
Photosynthesis has two phases, the light-dependent or light reaction and the light-
independent or dark reaction. Under light reaction, chlorophyll absorbs light waves from any
light source—typically solar energy from sunlight—and converts them into chemical energy as
(glucose) are produced in the dark reaction using the energy stored as ATP and NADPH
molecules which serve as food. Underwater, where algae widely thrive, photosynthetic activity
can occur as long as enough light is available for the chlorophyll to absorb.
Algae-organisms are unicellular or simple multicellular body plants that can manufacture
their food material by photosynthesis. Algae can be cultivated under certain conditions of
temperature, light, and sufficient nutrients to produce biodiesel. Algae show higher efficiency in
converting solar energy to produce biodiesel than other crops. That's because algae need less area
for cultivation in the case of indoor or outdoor systems in comparison with crops. To produce a
certain amount of biodiesel in an indoor system algae needs 1000 times less water than crops.
excellent condition for the growth of C. Vulgaris under red LED illumination. It was revealed
that the intensity of light influences algae development and the type of light source has a
significant impact on algae growth. They also discovered that algae cultivated under LED light
had a different development rate than algae cultivated under fluorescent light. Growing
microalgae under red wavelengths have a higher growth rate than growing microalgae under
white, yellow, purple, blue, and green wavelengths, according to a prior study. C. Vulgaris grows
that can directly convert light into electrical energy. This type of system employs the concept of
the photovoltaic effect, which is defined as the generation of electric current and potential
green algae), to convert light into electricity (Zhu et al., 2019), rather than the toxic and barely
photosynthesis, hence the name. In an article by Howe & Bombelli (2020), they explained how
electricity is produced during intracellular processes of the said type of organisms. During
photosynthesis, energy from the sun (or other light sources) is absorbed by photosynthetic
organisms. Within the cell, the light stimulates the oxidation of water, resulting in the release of
hydrogen ions (H+), oxygen molecules (O2), and electrons (e-). Some of those electrons would
make it out of the cell through a process called extracellular electron transport (EET), and would
then be attracted to an anode (positively charged electrode). Those electrons would then flow
from the anode, through an external circuit, and towards the cathode (negatively charged
electrode). Meanwhile, other electrons would follow the photosynthetic electron transport chain
(PETC). They are needed to produce NADPH and ATP, which are, in turn, crucial for the
process of carbon fixation or the process where inorganic carbons are converted into organic
It is important to note that BPV systems produce energy with zero net carbon dioxide
emission. Rather, carbon dioxide from the environment is converted into oxygen and biomass
during the process of photosynthesis. Zhu et al (2019) also emphasized in their study that BPV
systems can potentially continuously supply electricity throughout the day and night, even in
absence of light. This is a significant advantage over PVs and possibly other forms of bio
batteries. Howe & Bombelli (2020) explained that this electric current produced in the absence
of a light source is a result of the metabolism of organic compounds that are produced and stored
microorganism biofilm is immobilized on the anodes for a direct EET (Tschortner et al., 2019).
Or, exogenous artificial electron mediators that can penetrate cell walls and/or membranes (e.g.,
(Saper, et al., 2018). However, according to Zhu et al. (2019), the weak EET function of
cyanobacteria – which are widely used in BPV systems – may hinder the exchange of electrons
3 Methodology
This study aims to identify the more efficient source of light for an algae-based biobattery
—artificial or natural. The researchers will consider the time exposure, volume of water, and
amount of energy source (algae) to produce an objective result. These variables will be utilized
in conducting an experiment and creating an algal-based biobattery wherein two certain sets of
algae are involved. One is subjected to a natural source of light or sunlight and the other one is
The researchers will conduct the study using a quantitative design to find answers to the
preceding problem, meet the research objectives, and produce a logical and compelling
conclusion concerning the hypothesis. Quantitative research, according to R. Watson (2014), can
be seen as a way of making sense of the world. This particular research design covers and
Because of its unique feature, the capacity to test theories explicitly by developing
hypotheses and conducting statistical analysis, a quantitative research approach was chosen. The
researchers will also use an experimental quantitative research approach to compare, contrast,
and determine the most efficient light source for an algal-based biological photovoltaic cell.
Algae chosen as subjects must have the ability to perform a photosynthetic activity.
Gathered samples are expected to show signs of growth inside small containers with adequate
moisture. Important factors to consider are the accessibility, survivability, and growth speed of
the specimen.
ionic bridges, LED lights, and water sources are the materials and components needed to
assemble a prototype of the biological photovoltaic (BPV) and to set up the experiment. The
inside of the transparent container, which will act as the main body of the BPV, will be separated
into two parts: the anodic and cathodic chamber. The algae specimens will be suspended inside
the anodic chamber, which is filled with water that contains optimal amounts of nutrients needed
by the microorganism to thrive. The cathodic chamber, on the other hand, will be filled with
uncontaminated water (H2O). Both chambers would be connected by an ionic bridge, to allow
being the exposure of the BPV under natural light, and the other being under artificial light –
each consisting of two phases. During the first phase of each experiment, the BPV would be
subjected to the light source for 7 hours. And in the second phase, the BPV would be deprived of
light. Other conditions, such as the volume of water in the two chambers and the number of algae
placed, will be kept constant in both sets of experiments and will therefore be labeled as the
Data gathering. To measure the electrical output of the two BPVs when subjected to the
light of different types, the researchers would use an instrument called a voltmeter. The
voltmeter will be used to measure the voltage (V) or the potential difference between the anode
and cathode of the BPV. The measurement shall be recorded every passing hour of phase I
(while the BPV is still exposed to the light source). And if the availability of resources permits,
an ammeter will be connected to the external circuit to measure the electron flow or current (I)
generated.
Moreover, given the capacity of BPVs to generate electrical activity even in the absence of a
light source as a result of a process called cellular respiration, the electrical output will also be
measured during the phase II of the experiments. However, this time, we will be monitoring how
long the generation of electricity lasts when there is a lack of light sources.
Numerous methods shall be used to measure the power supply and voltage output of an
algae-based biophotovoltaic (BPV) cell under exposure to natural and artificial lighting. This
study would employ the following criteria to analyze and compare the data (electrical output):
Voltage output. The intensity of the potential difference will be used to indicate how high or low
the energy is generated from the light source. The voltage output of the BPV will be recorded
and observed every hour for seven hours. The results will help reflect the most efficient light
Electrical Sustainability. During the second phase of the experiment, the BPV will no longer be
exposed to a light source. It will be set-up to power and sustain a 3-watt light bulb. The time it
takes for the lightbulb to dim will be observed as an indicator of the energy stored in the
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