Abstract
Transportation relies on liquid fuels derived from fossils fuel with many associated environmental impact. Therefore, people are placing their hopes on the future of fuel cells to replace today's batteries. However fuel cells are composed of separator (metal as Fe), electrolyte (made of polymeric materials), electrode (carbon), catalyst (metals as Co, Ni). Leaching of Co, Ni, and other catalystic heavy metals from waste fuel cell poses possible environment risk when dumping. This study will be used for making decisions on which fuel cell should be used in the engineering of environmentally friendly battery. The individual Co and Ni toxicity to the Daphnia magna (D. magna) and green alga Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata (P. subcapitata) were investigated. Acute 48h immobilization assays with juvenile D. magna (<24h old) were performed according to OECD guideline 202. Acute 72h inhibited growth assays with P. subcapitata were performed according to OECD guideline 201. Supernatant from leaching a 1:10 catalyst and crushed battery in water for 48h immobilization of Daphnia magna (D. magna). Co and Ni toxicity were also observed with D. magna and P. subcapitata. Our result indicates that the tested fuel cell catalyst was of no toxicity to the D. magna used in our assay.
