Enhanced Extracellular Polysaccharide Production and Self-Sustainable Electricity Generation for PAMFCs by <i>Scenedesmus</i> sp. SB1

In this study, a freshwater microalga, <i>Scenedesmus</i> sp. SB1, was isolated, purified, and identified by its internal transcribed spacer region (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2). Media optimization through the Plackett–Burman Design and response surface methodology (RSM) showed a maximum exopolysaccharide (EPS) production of 48 mg/L (1.8-fold higher than that for unoptimized media). Characterization using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, Fourier transform infrared, X-ray diffraction, and thermogravimetric analysis reveals that the EPS is a sulfated pectin polysaccharide with a crystallinity index of 15.2% and prompt thermal stability. Furthermore, the photoelectrogenic activity of <i>Scenedesmus</i> sp. SB1 inoculated in BG-11 and RSM-optimized BG-11 (ROBG-11) media was tested by cyclic voltammogram studies, revealing the potential of the inoculated strain in ROBG-11 toward photosynthetic algal microbial fuel cells over normal BG-11. To the best of our knowledge, functional group characterization, physical and thermal property and media optimization for EPS production by RSM and electrogenic activity studies are reported for the first time in <i>Scenedesmus</i> sp. SB1