Evaluation of Photochemical Activity of Algae and Grass-Chloroplasts when Encapsulated into Hierarchical Silica- Monoliths

The photosynthetic activity of plants and microalgae can be widely exploited to produce biomaterials with varied properties such as the absorption of CO₂and the removal of metals such as Cu and Ni in wastewater. In this study, microalgae species Chlorella Vulgaris and chloroplasts extracted from Pennisetum Clandestinum turfgrass residues were immobilized into silica monoliths with hierarchical porosity by the high internal phase emulsion (HIPE) method. Optical and fluorescence microscopy as well as UV-Vis, diffuse reflectance and fluorescence spectroscopy were used to monitor the preservation of photosynthetic activity in the monoliths. The results demonstrate that the monoliths synthesized are capable of maintaining their photosynthetic activity and producing O₂ even after 90 days of encapsulation.