1
|
Khodaparastasgarabad N, Sonawane JM, Baghernavehsi H, Gong L, Liu L, Greener J. Microfluidic membraneless microbial fuel cells: new protocols for record power densities. LAB ON A CHIP 2023; 23:4201-4212. [PMID: 37702583 DOI: 10.1039/d3lc00387f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/14/2023]
Abstract
The main hurdle in leveraging microfluidic advantages in membraneless MFCs is their low electrode area-normalized power. For nearly a decade, maximum power densities have remained stagnant, while at the same time macrosystems continue to gather pace. To bridge this growing gap, we showcase a strategy that focuses on (i) technology improvements, (ii) establishment of record areal power densities, and (iii) presentation of different normalization methods that complement areal power densities and enable direct comparisons across all MFC scales. Using a pure-culture Geobacter sulfurreducens electroactive biofilm (EAB) in a new membraneless MFC that adheres to the strategy above, we observed optimal anode colonization, resulting in the highest recorded electrode areal power density for a microfluidic MFC of 3.88 W m-2 (24.37 kW m-3). We also consider new power normalization methods that may be more appropriate for comparison to other works. Normalized by the wetted cross-section area between electrodes accounts for constraints in electrode/electrolyte contact, resulting in power densities as high as 8.08 W m-2. Alternatively, we present a method to normalize by the flow rate to account for acetate supply, obtaining normalized energy recovery values of 0.025 kW h m-3. With these results, the performance gap between micro- and macroscale MFCs is closed, and a road map to move forward is presented.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Jayesh M Sonawane
- Département de Chimie, Faculté des sciences et de génie, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada.
| | - Haleh Baghernavehsi
- Département de Chimie, Faculté des sciences et de génie, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada.
| | - Lingling Gong
- Département de Chimie, Faculté des sciences et de génie, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada.
| | - Linlin Liu
- Département de Chimie, Faculté des sciences et de génie, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada.
| | - Jesse Greener
- Département de Chimie, Faculté des sciences et de génie, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada.
- CHU de Québec, Centre de recherche, Université Laval, 10 rue de l'Espinay, Québec, QC, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Ouyang T, Liu W, Shi X, Li Y, Hu X. Multi-criteria assessment and triple-objective optimization of a bio-anode microfluidic microbial fuel cell. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2023; 382:129193. [PMID: 37207698 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2023.129193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2023] [Revised: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Microfluidic microbial fuel cell has lower costs and greater potential than typical microbial fuel cell due to the elimination of proton exchange membrane. However, the development has mostly relied on experiments, and there has been little research on numerical simulations. Based on experimental validation, a reliable and universal model for microfluidic microbial fuel cell without quantifying the biomass concentration is proposed. Subsequently, the primary work is to study the output performance and energy efficiency of the microfluidic microbial fuel cell under different operating conditions and to comprehensively optimize the cell performance by employing the multi-objective particle swarm algorithm. Compared the optimal case with the base case, the increase ratios of maximum current density, power density, fuel utilization and exergy efficiency are 40.96%, 20.87%, 61.58% and 32.19%, respectively. On the basis of improving energy efficiency, the maximum power density and current density can reach 1.193 W/m2 and 3.51 A/m2.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tiancheng Ouyang
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, PR China; Guangxi Key Laboratory of Petrochemical Resource Processing and Process Intensification Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, PR China.
| | - Wenjun Liu
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, PR China
| | - Xiaomin Shi
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, PR China
| | - Yinxuan Li
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, PR China
| | - Xiaoyi Hu
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, PR China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Chang CC, Li SL, Wu ZX, Yu CP. Developing a novel computer numerical control-fabricated laminar-flow microfluidic microbial fuel cells as the bioelectrochemical sensor and power source: Enrichment, operation, and Cr(VI) detection. Biosens Bioelectron 2023; 226:115119. [PMID: 36764128 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2023.115119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
By introducing the computer numerical control (CNC) engraving technology, this study fabricated the reusable CNC-fabricated membrane-less laminar flow microfluidic MFC (LMMFC) to develop the bioelectrochemical sensor and power source simultaneously. To verify its applicability, optimization of electroactive bacteria (EAB) cultivation and laminar-flow formation, performance of power density and long-term operation, and detection of Cr(VI) were evaluated. Results of EAB optimization showed under lower external resistance, shorter start-up time of current production, larger oxidation current, denser microbial distribution, and a higher percentage of Geobacter spp. were observed. Results of the laminar-flow operation indicated that increasing the density difference between two solutions and raising the anode flow velocity can minimize the interference of the diffusion zone. The power output of LMMFC could reach 2085 mW m-2 and achieve long-term stability for current production (∼150 h). Regarding the detection of Cr(VI), low-concentration (0.1∼1 ppm) and high-concentration (1-10 ppm) ranges reached the linear coefficient of determination of 0.98 and 0.97, respectively. Overall, these results suggest that an LMMFC which can both act as the power source and biosensor was successfully developed, showing potential for future self-power application.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chao-Chin Chang
- Graduate Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Rd, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Shiue-Lin Li
- Environmental Science and Engineering, TungHai University, No. 1727, Sec. 4, Taiwan Boulevard, Xitun District, Taichung, 407224, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Zhong-Xian Wu
- Graduate Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Rd, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Chang-Ping Yu
- Graduate Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Rd, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan, ROC.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Cao TND, Chang CC, Mukhtar H, Sun Q, Li Y, Yu CP. Employment of osmotic pump as a novel feeding system to operate the laminar-flow microfluidic microbial fuel cell. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 215:114347. [PMID: 36116490 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.114347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2022] [Revised: 08/27/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Laminar-flow microfluidic microbial fuel cell (LMMFC) has attracted attention due to the advantage of the liquid-liquid interface between anolyte and catholyte without the use of membrane as a separator resulting in less fabrication cost. Unlike previous studies of LMMFC using syringe pumps, this study proposes the use of osmotic pumps to feed anolyte and catholyte in the microchannel without any additional power supply. The osmotic pump was constructed with two cylindrical chambers separated by a forward osmosis membrane, with the initial draw solution concentration of 90 g l-1 NaCl. We have, for the first time, demonstrated using the osmotic pumps to deliver both anolyte and catholyte and create co-laminar flow in LMMFC. Under the catholyte and anolyte flow rates of 18 ml/h and 40 ml/h respectively, LMMFC cultivated with Shewanella oneidensis produced the maximum power density of 87 mW m-2 and current density of 747 mA m-2 with the internal resistance of 1660 Ω. Further studies are warranted to develop osmotic pumps-fed LMMFC into a potential platform for portable biosensors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thanh Ngoc-Dan Cao
- Graduate Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan
| | - Chao-Chin Chang
- Graduate Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan
| | - Hussnain Mukhtar
- Departments of Bioenvironmental Systems Engineering, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan
| | - Qian Sun
- CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, 361021, China
| | - Yan Li
- School of Ecological Environment and Urban Construction, Fujian University of Technology, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350118, China
| | - Chang-Ping Yu
- Graduate Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Kuchenbuch A, Frank R, Ramos JV, Jahnke HG, Harnisch F. Electrochemical Microwell Plate to Study Electroactive Microorganisms in Parallel and Real-Time. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 9:821734. [PMID: 35242754 PMCID: PMC8887713 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.821734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Microbial resource mining of electroactive microorganism (EAM) is currently methodically hampered due to unavailable electrochemical screening tools. Here, we introduce an electrochemical microwell plate (ec-MP) composed of a 96 electrochemical deepwell plate and a recently developed 96-channel multipotentiostat. Using the ec-MP we investigated the electrochemical and metabolic properties of the EAM models Shewanella oneidensis and Geobacter sulfurreducens with acetate and lactate as electron donor combined with an individual genetic analysis of each well. Electrochemical cultivation of pure cultures achieved maximum current densities (j max) and coulombic efficiencies (CE) that were well in line with literature data. The co-cultivation of S. oneidensis and G. sulfurreducens led to an increased current density of j max of 88.57 ± 14.04 µA cm-2 (lactate) and j max of 99.36 ± 19.12 µA cm-2 (lactate and acetate). Further, a decreased time period of reaching j max and biphasic current production was revealed and the microbial electrochemical performance could be linked to the shift in the relative abundance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anne Kuchenbuch
- Department of Environmental Microbiology, UFZ—Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research GmbH, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ronny Frank
- Centre for Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Molecular Biological-Biochemical Processing Technology, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - José Vazquez Ramos
- Centre for Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Molecular Biological-Biochemical Processing Technology, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Heinz-Georg Jahnke
- Centre for Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Molecular Biological-Biochemical Processing Technology, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Falk Harnisch
- Department of Environmental Microbiology, UFZ—Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research GmbH, Leipzig, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Rewatkar P, Goel S. Shewanella putrefaciens powered microfluidic microbial fuel cell with printed circuit board electrodes and soft-lithographic microchannel. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 286:131855. [PMID: 34391115 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.131855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2021] [Revised: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 08/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Microfluidic microbial fuel cells (μ-MFCs) have received considerable attention due to their ability to generate green and qualitative self-sustainable energy. Several electrodes and device fabrication methodologies, and various electrochemically active bacteria (EABs), along with their effect on MFC performance with various operating parameters, have been well reported. However, shorter life, lower throughput, and high operating and maintenance overheads are major impediments to their development towards commercialization. In this context, simple and cost-effective bioelectrodes using printed circuit board (PCB) and a polymer based microchannel have been fabricated using modern photolithography and soft-lithography techniques respectively. Furthermore, the etched PCB electrodes were patterned with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT). Subsequently, these bioelectrodes were assembled over a Y-shaped microchannel and tested under a co-laminar microfluidic flow environment powered by Shewanella putrefaciens. Various volumetric bacterial experiments and flow rate studies have also been conducted to find the most appropriate optimum bacterial volume and power efficiency. Subsequently, extensive potentiometric electrochemical studies, such as Open Circuit Potential (OCP) and polarization analysis, were accomplished using electrochemical workstation. This well-developed handheld μ-MFCs yields a maximum open circuit potential 395 mV with maximum power density of 239.2 μW/cm2 (3.271 mA/cm2) at optimized parameters.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Prakash Rewatkar
- MEMS, Microfluidics and Nanoelectronics Lab, Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Hyderabad Campus, Hyderabad, India
| | - Sanket Goel
- MEMS, Microfluidics and Nanoelectronics Lab, Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Hyderabad Campus, Hyderabad, India.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Zhou B, Hou P, Xiao Y, Song P, Xie E, Li Y. Visualizing, quantifying, and controlling local hydrodynamic effects on biofilm accumulation in complex flow paths. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2021; 416:125937. [PMID: 34492866 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.125937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2021] [Revised: 04/18/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Complex flow paths (CFPs) are commonly applied in precision equipment to accurately supply controllable fluids with designed structures. However, the presence of biofilms in CFPs causes quite a few unwanted issues, such as bio-erosion, clogging, or even health risks. To date, visualizing and quantifying the interaction between biofilm distribution and local hydrodynamics remains difficult, and the mechanism during the process is unclear. In this paper, the remodeling simulation method (3D industrial computed tomography scanning-inverse modeling-numerical simulation) and 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing were integrated. The results indicated that local hydrodynamic characteristics significantly affected biofilm thicknesses on CFP surfaces (relative differences of 41.3-71.2%), which inversely influenced the local turbulence intensity. The average biofilm thicknesses exhibited a significant quadratic correlation with the near-wall hydraulic shear forces (r > 0.72, p < 0.05), and the biofilm reached a maximum thickness at 0.36-0.45 Pa. On the other hand, the near-wall hydraulic shear forces not only affected microbial community characteristics of biofilms, but they also influenced the number of microorganisms involved, which determined the biofilm accumulation thereafter. The PHYLUM Firmicutes and Proteobacteria were the dominant bacteria during the process. The results obtained in this paper could provide practical conceptions for the targeted control of biofilms and put forward more efficient controlling methods in commonly applied CFP systems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bo Zhou
- College of Water Resources and Civil Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Peng Hou
- College of Water Resources and Civil Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Yang Xiao
- College of Water Resources and Civil Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Peng Song
- College of Water Resources and Civil Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - En Xie
- College of Water Resources and Civil Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Yunkai Li
- College of Water Resources and Civil Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Arun RK, Sikdar N, Roy D, Chaudhuri S, Chanda N. Bacteria‐driven Single‐inlet Microfluidic Fuel Cell with Spiral Channel Configuration. ChemistrySelect 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/slct.202102072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ravi Kumar Arun
- Department of Chemical Engineering Indian Institute of Technology Jammu 181221 India
| | - Nirupam Sikdar
- Department of Biotechnology National Institute of Technology Durgapur 713209 India
| | - Debolina Roy
- Material Processing and Microsystems Lab CSIR-Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute Durgapur 713209 India
| | - Surabhi Chaudhuri
- Department of Biotechnology National Institute of Technology Durgapur 713209 India
| | - Nripen Chanda
- Material Processing and Microsystems Lab CSIR-Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute Durgapur 713209 India
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Abstract
Membraneless microfluidic fuel cells (MMFCs) are being studied extensively as an alternative to batteries and conventional membrane fuel cells because of their simple functioning and lower manufacturing cost. MMFCs use the laminar flow of reactant species (fuel and oxidant) to eliminate the electrolyte membrane, which has conventionally been used to isolate anodic and cathodic half-cell reactions. This review article summarizes the MMFCs with six major categories of flow configurations that have been reported from 2002 to 2020. The discussion highlights the critical factors that affect and limit the performance of MMFCs. Since MMFCs are diffusion-limited, most of this review focuses on how different flow configurations act to reduce or modify diffusive mixing and depletion zones to enhance the power density output. Research opportunities are also pointed out, and the challenges in MMFCs are suggested to improve cell performance and make them practical in the near future.
Collapse
|
10
|
Pinck S, Ostormujof LM, Teychené S, Erable B. Microfluidic Microbial Bioelectrochemical Systems: An Integrated Investigation Platform for a More Fundamental Understanding of Electroactive Bacterial Biofilms. Microorganisms 2020; 8:E1841. [PMID: 33238493 PMCID: PMC7700166 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8111841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Revised: 11/18/2020] [Accepted: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
It is the ambition of many researchers to finally be able to close in on the fundamental, coupled phenomena that occur during the formation and expression of electrocatalytic activity in electroactive biofilms. It is because of this desire to understand that bioelectrochemical systems (BESs) have been miniaturized into microBES by taking advantage of the worldwide development of microfluidics. Microfluidics tools applied to bioelectrochemistry permit even more fundamental studies of interactions and coupled phenomena occurring at the microscale, thanks, in particular, to the concomitant combination of electroanalysis, spectroscopic analytical techniques and real-time microscopy that is now possible. The analytical microsystem is therefore much better suited to the monitoring, not only of electroactive biofilm formation but also of the expression and disentangling of extracellular electron transfer (EET) catalytic mechanisms. This article reviews the details of the configurations of microfluidic BESs designed for selected objectives and their microfabrication techniques. Because the aim is to manipulate microvolumes and due to the high modularity of the experimental systems, the interfacial conditions between electrodes and electrolytes are perfectly controlled in terms of physicochemistry (pH, nutrients, chemical effectors, etc.) and hydrodynamics (shear, material transport, etc.). Most of the theoretical advances have been obtained thanks to work carried out using models of electroactive bacteria monocultures, mainly to simplify biological investigation systems. However, a huge virgin field of investigation still remains to be explored by taking advantage of the capacities of microfluidic BESs regarding the complexity and interactions of mixed electroactive biofilms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Benjamin Erable
- Laboratoire de Génie Chimique, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, INPT, UPS, 31432 Toulouse, France; (S.P.); (L.M.O.); (S.T.)
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Yates MD, Bird LJ, Eddie BJ, Onderko EL, Voigt CA, Glaven SM. Nanoliter scale electrochemistry of natural and engineered electroactive bacteria. Bioelectrochemistry 2020; 137:107644. [PMID: 32971484 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioelechem.2020.107644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Revised: 08/21/2020] [Accepted: 08/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Bacterial extracellular electron transfer (EET) is envisioned for use in applied biotechnologies, necessitating electrochemical characterization of natural and engineered electroactive biofilms under conditions similar to the target application, including small-scale biosensing or biosynthesis platforms, which is often distinct from standard 100 mL-scale stirred-batch bioelectrochemical test platforms used in the laboratory. Here, we adapted an eight chamber, nanoliter volume (500 nL) electrochemical flow cell to grow biofilms of both natural (Biocathode MCL community, Marinobacter atlanticus, and Shewanella oneidensis MR1) or genetically modified (S. oneidensis ΔMtr and S. oneidensis ΔMtr + pLB2) electroactive bacteria on electrodes held at a constant potential. Maximum current density achieved by unmodified strains was similar between the nano- and milliliter-scale reactors. However, S. oneidensis biofilms engineered to activate EET upon exposure to 2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol (DAPG) produced current at wild-type levels in the stirred-batch reactor, but not in the nanoliter flow cell. We hypothesize this was due to differences in mass transport of DAPG, naturally-produced soluble redox mediators, and oxygen between the two reactor types. Results presented here demonstrate, for the first time, nanoliter scale chronoamperometry and cyclic voltammetry of a range of electroactive bacteria in a three-electrode reactor system towards development of miniaturized, and potentially high throughput, bioelectrochemical platforms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew D Yates
- Center for Bio/Molecular Science and Engineering, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, USA.
| | - Lina J Bird
- Center for Bio/Molecular Science and Engineering, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Brian J Eddie
- Center for Bio/Molecular Science and Engineering, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, USA
| | | | - Christopher A Voigt
- Department of Biological Engineering and the Synthetic Biology Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Sarah M Glaven
- Center for Bio/Molecular Science and Engineering, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Amirdehi MA, Khodaparastasgarabad N, Landari H, Zarabadi MP, Miled A, Greener J. A High‐Performance Membraneless Microfluidic Microbial Fuel Cell for Stable, Long‐Term Benchtop Operation Under Strong Flow. ChemElectroChem 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/celc.202000040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Hamza Landari
- Département de Génie électrique Université Laval 1065, avenue de la médecine Québec G1 V 0 A6 Canada
| | - Mir Pouyan Zarabadi
- Département de Chimie Université Laval 1045 avenue de la médecine Québec G1 V 0 A6 Canada
| | - Amine Miled
- Département de Génie électrique Université Laval 1065, avenue de la médecine Québec G1 V 0 A6 Canada
| | - Jesse Greener
- Département de Chimie Université Laval 1045 avenue de la médecine Québec G1 V 0 A6 Canada
- CHU de Québec, centre de recherche Université Laval 10 rue de l'Espinay Québec, QC G1 L 3 L5 Canada
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Song P, Zhou B, Feng G, Brooks JP, Zhou H, Zhao Z, Liu Y, Li Y. The influence of chlorination timing and concentration on microbial communities in labyrinth channels: implications for biofilm removal. BIOFOULING 2019; 35:401-415. [PMID: 31142151 DOI: 10.1080/08927014.2019.1600191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2019] [Revised: 03/18/2019] [Accepted: 03/22/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Chlorination is an effective method to control biofilm formation in enclosed pipelines. To date, very little is known about how to control biofilms at the mesoscale in complex pipelines through chlorination. In this study, the dynamic of microbial communities was examined under different residual chlorine concentrations on the biofilms attached to labyrinth channels for drip irrigation using reclaimed water. The results indicated that the microbial phospholipid fatty acids, extracellular polymeric substances, microbial dynamics, and the ace and Shannon microbial diversity indices showed a gradual decrease after chlorination. However, chlorination increased microbial activity by 0.5-19.2%. The increase in the relative abundances of chloride-resistant bacteria (Acinetobacter and Thermomonas) could lead to a potential risk of chlorine resistance. Thus, keeping a low chlorine concentration (0.83 mg l-1 for 3 h) is effective for controlling biofilm formation in the labyrinth channels.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Peng Song
- a College of Water Resources and Civil Engineering , China Agricultural University , Beijing , PR China
- b Genetics and Sustainable Agricultural Research Unit , United States Department of Agriculture , Starkville , MS , USA
| | - Bo Zhou
- a College of Water Resources and Civil Engineering , China Agricultural University , Beijing , PR China
- c College of Agricultural and Life Sciences , University of Wisconsin-Madison , Madison , WI , USA
| | - Gary Feng
- b Genetics and Sustainable Agricultural Research Unit , United States Department of Agriculture , Starkville , MS , USA
| | - John P Brooks
- b Genetics and Sustainable Agricultural Research Unit , United States Department of Agriculture , Starkville , MS , USA
| | - Hongxu Zhou
- a College of Water Resources and Civil Engineering , China Agricultural University , Beijing , PR China
| | - Zhirui Zhao
- d Research Center for Eco-environmental Sciences , Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing , PR China
| | - Yaoze Liu
- e Department of Environmental and Sustainable Engineering , University at Albany , Albany , NY , USA
| | - Yunkai Li
- a College of Water Resources and Civil Engineering , China Agricultural University , Beijing , PR China
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Luo X, Xie W, Wang R, Wu X, Yu L, Qiao Y. Fast Start-Up Microfluidic Microbial Fuel Cells With Serpentine Microchannel. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:2816. [PMID: 30515148 PMCID: PMC6256063 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.02816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2018] [Accepted: 11/02/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Microfluidic microbial fuel cells (MMFCs) are promising green power sources for future ultra-small electronic devices. The MMFCs with co-laminar microfluidic structure are superior to other MMFCs according to their low internal resistance and relative high power density. However, the area for interfacial electron transfer between the bacteria and the anode is quite limited in the typical Y-shaped device, which apparently restricts the current generation performance. In this study, we developed a membraneless MMFC with serpentine microchannel to enhance the interfacial electron transfer and promote the power generation of the device. Owing to the merit of laminar flow, the proposed MMFC was working well without any proton exchange membrane (PEM). At the same time, the serpentine microchannel greatly increased the power density. The S-MMFC catalyzed by Shewanella putrefaciens CN32 achieves a peak power density of 360 mW/m2 with the optimal channel configuration and the flow rate of 5 ml/h. Meanwhile, this device possesses much shorter start-up time and much longer duration time at high current plateau than the previous reported MMFCs. The presented MMFC appears promising for biochip technology and extends the scope of microfluidic energy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xian Luo
- Faculty of Materials and Energy, Institute for Clean Energy and Advanced Materials, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.,Chongqing Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Technologies of Clean Energies, Chongqing, China.,Chongqing Engineering Research Center for Rapid Diagnosis of Dread Disease, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Wenyue Xie
- Faculty of Materials and Energy, Institute for Clean Energy and Advanced Materials, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.,Chongqing Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Technologies of Clean Energies, Chongqing, China.,Chongqing Engineering Research Center for Rapid Diagnosis of Dread Disease, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Ruijie Wang
- Faculty of Materials and Energy, Institute for Clean Energy and Advanced Materials, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.,Chongqing Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Technologies of Clean Energies, Chongqing, China.,Chongqing Engineering Research Center for Rapid Diagnosis of Dread Disease, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiaoshuai Wu
- Faculty of Materials and Energy, Institute for Clean Energy and Advanced Materials, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.,Chongqing Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Technologies of Clean Energies, Chongqing, China.,Chongqing Engineering Research Center for Rapid Diagnosis of Dread Disease, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Ling Yu
- Faculty of Materials and Energy, Institute for Clean Energy and Advanced Materials, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.,Chongqing Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Technologies of Clean Energies, Chongqing, China.,Chongqing Engineering Research Center for Rapid Diagnosis of Dread Disease, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yan Qiao
- Faculty of Materials and Energy, Institute for Clean Energy and Advanced Materials, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.,Chongqing Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Technologies of Clean Energies, Chongqing, China.,Chongqing Engineering Research Center for Rapid Diagnosis of Dread Disease, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Ye D, Zhang P, Zhu X, Yang Y, Li J, Fu Q, Chen R, Liao Q, Zhang B. Electricity generation of a laminar-flow microbial fuel cell without any additional power supply. RSC Adv 2018; 8:33637-33641. [PMID: 35548815 PMCID: PMC9086568 DOI: 10.1039/c8ra07340f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2018] [Accepted: 09/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Laminar-flow microbial fuel cells (LFMFCs) utilize the co-laminar flow feature in the microchannel as a virtual barrier to separate the anolyte and catholyte. However, for LFMFCs reported before, syringe pumps were always used to drive the fluid and form the co-laminar flow of anolyte and catholyte in the microchannel, reducing the net power output and the efficiency of the whole system. In this study, a laminar-flow microbial fuel cell (LFMFC) without any additional power supply is proposed. The LFMFC is successfully started-up after inoculation for 90 h. The anode biofilm distribution becomes sparser along the flow direction due to the thicker boundary layer and unfavorable crossover from the catholyte downstream. Moreover, the LFMFC delivers a maximum volumetric power density of 3200 W m−3, which is higher than that of previous LFMFCs without membranes. Considering the practical application of LFMFC as a power source, the cell voltage responses to different conditions are further investigated. When the external resistance is switched between 1000 Ω and 4000 Ω, it takes the LFMFC 10 minutes to reach a stable voltage output. However, the voltage response to the intermittent supply takes 1 h to reach a stable value. Additionally, short-term cold storage has little effect on bacterial metabolic activity and cell voltage. A novel laminar-flow microbial fuel cell without any additional power supply is proposed.![]()
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dingding Ye
- Key Laboratory of Low-grade Energy Utilization Technologies and Systems (Chongqing University), Ministry of Education Chongqing 400030 China .,Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, Chongqing University Chongqing 400030 China
| | - Pengqing Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Low-grade Energy Utilization Technologies and Systems (Chongqing University), Ministry of Education Chongqing 400030 China .,Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, Chongqing University Chongqing 400030 China
| | - Xun Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Low-grade Energy Utilization Technologies and Systems (Chongqing University), Ministry of Education Chongqing 400030 China .,Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, Chongqing University Chongqing 400030 China
| | - Yang Yang
- Key Laboratory of Low-grade Energy Utilization Technologies and Systems (Chongqing University), Ministry of Education Chongqing 400030 China .,Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, Chongqing University Chongqing 400030 China
| | - Jun Li
- Key Laboratory of Low-grade Energy Utilization Technologies and Systems (Chongqing University), Ministry of Education Chongqing 400030 China .,Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, Chongqing University Chongqing 400030 China
| | - Qian Fu
- Key Laboratory of Low-grade Energy Utilization Technologies and Systems (Chongqing University), Ministry of Education Chongqing 400030 China .,Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, Chongqing University Chongqing 400030 China
| | - Rong Chen
- Key Laboratory of Low-grade Energy Utilization Technologies and Systems (Chongqing University), Ministry of Education Chongqing 400030 China .,Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, Chongqing University Chongqing 400030 China
| | - Qiang Liao
- Key Laboratory of Low-grade Energy Utilization Technologies and Systems (Chongqing University), Ministry of Education Chongqing 400030 China .,Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, Chongqing University Chongqing 400030 China
| | - Biao Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Low-grade Energy Utilization Technologies and Systems (Chongqing University), Ministry of Education Chongqing 400030 China .,Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, Chongqing University Chongqing 400030 China
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Cheng WL, Erbay C, Sadr R, Han A. Dynamic Flow Characteristics and Design Principles of Laminar Flow Microbial Fuel Cells. MICROMACHINES 2018; 9:mi9100479. [PMID: 30424412 PMCID: PMC6215165 DOI: 10.3390/mi9100479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2018] [Revised: 09/16/2018] [Accepted: 09/17/2018] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Laminar flow microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are used to understand the role of microorganisms, and their interactions with electrodes in microbial bioelectrochemical systems. In this study, we reported the flow characteristics of laminar flow in a typical MFC configuration in a non-dimensional form, which can serve as a guideline in the design of such microfluidic systems. Computational fluid dynamics simulations were performed to examine the effects of channel geometries, surface characteristics, and fluid velocity on the mixing dynamics in microchannels with a rectangular cross-section. The results showed that decreasing the fluid velocity enhances mixing but changing the angle between the inlet channels, only had strong effects when the angle was larger than 135°. Furthermore, different mixing behaviors were observed depending on the angle of the channels, when the microchannel aspect ratio was reduced. Asymmetric growth of microbial biofilm on the anode side skewed the mixing zone and wall roughness due to the bacterial attachment, which accelerated the mixing process and reduced the efficiency of the laminar flow MFC. Finally, the magnitude of mass diffusivity had a substantial effect on mixing behavior. The results shown here provided both design guidelines, as well as better understandings of the MFCs due to microbial growth.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Way Lee Cheng
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Texas A&M University at Qatar, Doha, Qatar.
| | - Celal Erbay
- TUBITAK-Informatics and Information Security Research Center, Kocaeli 41470, Turkey.
| | - Reza Sadr
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA.
| | - Arum Han
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Fan A, Tofangchi A, De Venecia M, Saif T. A simple microfluidic platform for the partial treatment of insuspendable tissue samples with orientation control. LAB ON A CHIP 2018; 18:735-742. [PMID: 29362759 DOI: 10.1039/c7lc00984d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Microfluidic devices have extensively been applied to study biological samples, including single cells. Exploiting laminar flows on a small scale, microfluidics allow for the selective and partial exposure of samples to various chemical treatments. Traditionally, suspendable samples are first flowed into formed microchannels and are allowed to adhere to the channel floor randomly with no control over sample placement or orientation, before being subjected to partial treatment. This severely limits the choice of samples and the extent of sample preparations. Here, we overcame this limit by reversing the sequence. We prepared the samples first on glass substrates. A patterned silicone slab was then placed on the substrate to form channels at an appropriate orientation with respect to the sample. We used liquid silicone rubber (LSR) as the base material. Its compliance (low elastic modulus) and its adhesion to glass offer the necessary seal to form the microchannels naturally. The applicability of the device was demonstrated by testing single axons of embryonic Drosophila motor neurons in vivo. A segment of the axons was subjected to drugs that inhibit myosin activities or block voltage-gated sodium ion channels. In response, the axons reduced the clustering of neuro-transmitter vesicles at the presynaptic terminal of neuromuscular junctions, or increased the calcium intake and underwent membrane hyperpolarization, respectively. Such fundamental studies cannot be carried out using conventional microfluidics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anthony Fan
- Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1206 W Green St, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
18
|
Yang Y, Liu T, Tao K, Chang H. Generating Electricity on Chips: Microfluidic Biofuel Cells in Perspective. Ind Eng Chem Res 2018. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.iecr.8b00037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Tianyu Liu
- Department
of Chemistry, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States of America
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
19
|
Aggarwal V, Lele TP. Intracellular Concentration Gradients That Mirror External Gradients in Microfluidic Flows: A Computational Analysis. Cell Mol Bioeng 2016; 10:198-207. [PMID: 31719860 DOI: 10.1007/s12195-016-0474-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2016] [Accepted: 11/29/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The generation of stable intracellular concentration gradients is a useful method for local control of cell function, selective manipulation of cellular structures and testing hypotheses related to dynamical intracellular processes. Cell culture in a microfluidic device allows the presentation of a stable gradient of small molecules across a single cell. This method has been used to selectively label mitochondria in portions of the cell, trypsinize specific cellular domains, and trigger receptor-mediated endocytosis in specific portions of the cell. Given the small length scales of a typical cell (~30 μm) and short cytoplasmic diffusive time scales of small molecules, it is surprising that cells can be labeled locally with this method. Here we developed models to explore the parametric space over which stable intracellular concentration gradients can be maintained in a microfluidic device. We show that gradients can develop and be maintained indefinitely for high rates of mass transfer across the membrane compared with diffusion, that is, for Sherwood number greater than 1. We show how these gradients can result in gradients in ligand-receptor binding and enzyme substrate binding. This analysis can help interpret and design microfluidic experiments for cytoplasmic partitioning.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Varun Aggarwal
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611 USA
| | - Tanmay P Lele
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611 USA
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
DeBenedictis EP, Liu J, Keten S. Adhesion mechanisms of curli subunit CsgA to abiotic surfaces. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2016; 2:e1600998. [PMID: 28138525 PMCID: PMC5262458 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.1600998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2016] [Accepted: 10/13/2016] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Curli fibers are functional amyloids that play a key role in biofilm structure and adhesion to various surfaces. Strong bioinspired adhesives comprising curli fibers have recently been created; however, the mechanisms curli uses to attach onto abiotic surfaces are still uncharacterized. Toward a materials-by-design approach for curli-based adhesives and multifunctional materials, we examine curli subunit adsorption onto graphene and silica surfaces through atomistic simulation. We find that both structural features and sequence influence adhesive strength, enabling the CsgA subunit to adhere strongly to both polar and nonpolar surfaces. Specifically, flexible regions facilitate adhesion to both surfaces, charged and polar residues (Arg, Lys, and Gln) enable strong interactions with silica, and six-carbon aromatic rings (Tyr and Phe) adsorb strongly to graphene. We find that adsorption not only lowers molecular mobility but also leads to loss of secondary structure, factors that must be well balanced for effective surface attachment. Both events appear to propagate through the CsgA structure as correlated motion between clusters of residues, often H-bonded between rows on adjacent β strands. To quantify this, we present a correlation analysis approach to detecting collective motion between residue groups. We find that certain clusters of residues have a higher impact on the stability of the rest of the protein structure, often polar and bulky groups within the helix core. These findings lend insight into bacterial adhesion mechanisms and reveal strategies for theory-driven design of engineered curli fibers that harness point mutations and conjugates for stronger adhesion.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth P. DeBenedictis
- Departments of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Mechanical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
| | - Jenny Liu
- Northwestern University Medical Scientist Training Program, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
| | - Sinan Keten
- Departments of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Mechanical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Yazdi AA, D'Angelo L, Omer N, Windiasti G, Lu X, Xu J. Carbon nanotube modification of microbial fuel cell electrodes. Biosens Bioelectron 2016; 85:536-552. [PMID: 27213269 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2016.05.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2016] [Revised: 04/21/2016] [Accepted: 05/08/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The use of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) for energy harvesting devices is preferable due to their unique mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties. On the other hand, microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are promising devices to recover carbon-neutral energy from the organic matters, and have been hindered with major setbacks towards commercialization. Nanoengineered CNT-based materials show remarkable electrochemical properties, and therefore have provided routes towards highly effective modification of MFC compartments to ultimately reach the theoretical limits of biomass energy recovery, low-cost power production, and thus the commercialization of MFCs. Moreover, these CNT-based composites offer significant flexibility in the design of MFCs that enable their use for a broad spectrum of applications ranging from scaled-up power generation to medically related devices. This article reviews the recent advances in the modification of MFCs using CNTs and CNT-based composites, and the extent to which each modification route impacts MFC power and current generation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alireza Ahmadian Yazdi
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Lorenzo D'Angelo
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Nada Omer
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Gracia Windiasti
- Faculty of Land and Food Systems, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Xiaonan Lu
- Faculty of Land and Food Systems, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Jie Xu
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Enhanced biofilm distribution and cell performance of microfluidic microbial fuel cells with multiple anolyte inlets. Biosens Bioelectron 2016; 79:406-10. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2015.12.067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2015] [Revised: 12/03/2015] [Accepted: 12/20/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
|
23
|
Screen-Printed Electrodes: New Tools for Developing Microbial Electrochemistry at Microscale Level. ENERGIES 2015. [DOI: 10.3390/en81112366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
|
24
|
Vigolo D, Al-Housseiny TT, Shen Y, Akinlawon FO, Al-Housseiny ST, Hobson RK, Sahu A, Bedkowski KI, DiChristina TJ, Stone HA. Flow dependent performance of microfluidic microbial fuel cells. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2015; 16:12535-43. [PMID: 24832908 DOI: 10.1039/c4cp01086h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The integration of Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs) in a microfluidic geometry can significantly enhance the power density of these cells, which would have more active bacteria per unit volume. Moreover, microfluidic MFCs can be operated in a continuous mode as opposed to the traditional batch-fed mode. Here we investigate the effect of fluid flow on the performance of microfluidic MFCs. The growth and the structure of the bacterial biofilm depend to a large extent on the shear stress of the flow. We report the existence of a range of flow rates for which MFCs can achieve maximum voltage output. When operated under these optimal conditions, the power density of our microfluidic MFC is about 15 times that of a similar-size batch MFC. Furthermore, this optimum suggests a correlation between the behaviour of bacteria and fluid flow.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniele Vigolo
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
25
|
Microscale microbial fuel cells: Advances and challenges. Biosens Bioelectron 2015; 69:8-25. [PMID: 25703724 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2015.02.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2014] [Revised: 02/10/2015] [Accepted: 02/12/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The next generation of sustainable energy could come from microorganisms; evidence that it can be seen with the given rise of Electromicrobiology, the study of microorganisms' electrical properties. Many recent advances in electromicrobiology stem from studying microbial fuel cells (MFCs), which are gaining acceptance as a future alternative "green" energy technology and energy-efficient wastewater treatment method. MFCs are powered by living microorganisms with clean and sustainable features; they efficiently catalyse the degradation of a broad range of organic substrates under natural conditions. There is also increasing interest in photosynthetic MFCs designed to harness Earth's most abundant and promising energy source (solar irradiation). Despite their vast potential and promise, however, MFCs and photosynthetic MFCs have not yet successfully translated into commercial applications because they demonstrate persistent performance limitations and bottlenecks associated with scaling up. Instead, microscale MFCs have received increasing attention as a unique platform for various applications such as powering small portable electronic elements in remote locations, performing fundamental studies of microorganisms, screening bacterial strains, and toxicity detection in water. Furthermore, the stacking of miniaturized MFCs has been demonstrated to offer larger power densities than a single macroscale MFC in terms of scaling up. In this overview, we discuss recent achievements in microscale MFCs as well as their potential applications. Further scientific and technological challenges are also reviewed.
Collapse
|
26
|
Karimi A, Karig D, Kumar A, Ardekani AM. Interplay of physical mechanisms and biofilm processes: review of microfluidic methods. LAB ON A CHIP 2015; 15:23-42. [PMID: 25385289 PMCID: PMC4261921 DOI: 10.1039/c4lc01095g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Bacteria in natural and artificial environments often reside in self-organized, integrated communities known as biofilms. Biofilms are highly structured entities consisting of bacterial cells embedded in a matrix of self-produced extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). The EPS matrix acts like a biological 'glue' enabling microbes to adhere to and colonize a wide range of surfaces. Once integrated into biofilms, bacterial cells can withstand various forms of stress such as antibiotics, hydrodynamic shear and other environmental challenges. Because of this, biofilms of pathogenic bacteria can be a significant health hazard often leading to recurrent infections. Biofilms can also lead to clogging and material degradation; on the other hand they are an integral part of various environmental processes such as carbon sequestration and nitrogen cycles. There are several determinants of biofilm morphology and dynamics, including the genotypic and phenotypic states of constituent cells and various environmental conditions. Here, we present an overview of the role of relevant physical processes in biofilm formation, including propulsion mechanisms, hydrodynamic effects, and transport of quorum sensing signals. We also provide a survey of microfluidic techniques utilized to unravel the associated physical mechanisms. Further, we discuss the future research areas for exploring new ways to extend the scope of the microfluidic approach in biofilm studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A. Karimi
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115
- Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | - D. Karig
- Research and Exploratory Development Department, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD 20723
| | - A. Kumar
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada AB T6G 2G8
| | - A. M. Ardekani
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907
- Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Murali Mohan A, Hartsock A, Hammack RW, Vidic RD, Gregory KB. Microbial communities in flowback water impoundments from hydraulic fracturing for recovery of shale gas. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2013; 86:567-80. [DOI: 10.1111/1574-6941.12183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2013] [Revised: 07/02/2013] [Accepted: 07/16/2013] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Arvind Murali Mohan
- National Energy Technology Laboratory; Pittsburgh PA USA
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering; Carnegie Mellon University; Pittsburgh PA USA
| | | | | | - Radisav D. Vidic
- National Energy Technology Laboratory; Pittsburgh PA USA
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering; University of Pittsburgh; Pittsburgh PA USA
| | - Kelvin B. Gregory
- National Energy Technology Laboratory; Pittsburgh PA USA
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering; Carnegie Mellon University; Pittsburgh PA USA
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Elmekawy A, Hegab HM, Dominguez-Benetton X, Pant D. Internal resistance of microfluidic microbial fuel cell: challenges and potential opportunities. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2013; 142:672-82. [PMID: 23747174 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2013.05.061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2013] [Revised: 05/15/2013] [Accepted: 05/16/2013] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
The efficiency of microbial fuel cells (MFCs) is affected by several factors such as activation overpotentials, ohmic losses and concentration polarization. These factors are handled in micro-sized MFCs using special electrodes with physically or chemically modified surfaces constructed with specified materials. Most of the existing μLscale MFCs show great potential in rapid screening of electrochemically-active microbes and electrode performance; although they generate significantly lower volumetric power density compared with their mL counterparts because of their high internal resistance. This review presents the development of microfluidic MFCs, with summarization of their advantages and challenges, and focuses on the efforts done to minimize the adverse effects of internal resistance (ohmic and non-ohmic) on their performance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed Elmekawy
- Separation and Conversion Technologies, VITO-Flemish Institute for Technological Research, Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, Belgium.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
29
|
Microfabricated devices in microbial bioenergy sciences. Trends Biotechnol 2013; 31:225-32. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2012.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2012] [Revised: 12/01/2012] [Accepted: 12/11/2012] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
|
30
|
Yang J, Ghobadian S, Goodrich PJ, Montazami R, Hashemi N. Miniaturized biological and electrochemical fuel cells: challenges and applications. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2013; 15:14147-61. [DOI: 10.1039/c3cp50804h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
|
31
|
Tan C, Lo SJ, LeDuc PR, Cheng CM. Frontiers of optofluidics in synthetic biology. LAB ON A CHIP 2012; 12:3654-3665. [PMID: 22895798 DOI: 10.1039/c2lc40828g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
The development of optofluidic-based technology has ushered in a new era of lab-on-a-chip functionality, including miniaturization of biomedical devices, enhanced sensitivity for molecular detection, and multiplexing of optical measurements. While having great potential, optofluidic devices have only begun to be exploited in many biotechnological applications. Here, we highlight the potential of integrating optofluidic devices with synthetic biological systems, which is a field focusing on creating novel cellular systems by engineering synthetic gene and protein networks. First, we review the development of synthetic biology at different length scales, ranging from single-molecule, single-cell, to cellular population. We emphasize light-sensitive synthetic biological systems that would be relevant for the integration with optofluidic devices. Next, we propose several areas for potential applications of optofluidics in synthetic biology. The integration of optofluidics and synthetic biology would have a broad impact on point-of-care diagnostics and biotechnology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cheemeng Tan
- Lane Center for Computational Biology, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
32
|
Kim Y, Messner WC, LeDuc PR. Disruptive Microfluidics: From Life Sciences to World Health to Energy. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012. [DOI: 10.1089/dst.2012.0003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
|