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Walter XA, Santoro C, Greenman J, Ieropoulos IA. Scalability and stacking of self-stratifying microbial fuel cells treating urine. Bioelectrochemistry 2020; 133:107491. [PMID: 32163891 PMCID: PMC7133052 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioelechem.2020.107491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2019] [Revised: 02/17/2020] [Accepted: 02/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The scalability of Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) is key to the development of stacks. A recent study has shown that self-stratifying membraneless MFCs (S-MFCs) could be scaled down to 2 cm without performance deterioration. However, the scaling-up limit of S-MFC is yet unknown. Here the study evaluates the scale-up height of S-MFCs treating urine, from 2 cm, 4 cm to 12 cm high electrodes. The electrochemical properties of the S-MFCs were investigated after steady-states were established, following a 70-days longevity study. The electrochemical properties of the 2 cm and 4 cm conditions were similar (5.45 ± 0.32 mW per cascade). Conversely, the 12 cm conditions had much lower power output (1.48 ± 0.15 mW). The biofilm on the 12 cm cathodes only developed on the upper 5-6 cm of the immersed part of the electrode suggesting that the cathodic reactions were the limiting factor. This hypothesis was confirmed by the cathode polarisations showing that the 12 cm S-MFC had low current density (1.64 ± 9.53 µA cm-2, at 0 mV) compared to the other two conditions taht had similar current densities (192.73 ± 20.35 µA cm-2, at 0 mV). These results indicate that S-MFC treating urine can only be scaled-up to an electrode height of around 5-6 cm before the performance is negatively affected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xavier Alexis Walter
- Bristol BioEnergy Centre, Bristol Robotics Laboratory, T-Block, Frenchay Campus, University of the West of England (UWE), Bristol BS16 1QY, United Kingdom.
| | - Carlo Santoro
- Bristol BioEnergy Centre, Bristol Robotics Laboratory, T-Block, Frenchay Campus, University of the West of England (UWE), Bristol BS16 1QY, United Kingdom.
| | - John Greenman
- Bristol BioEnergy Centre, Bristol Robotics Laboratory, T-Block, Frenchay Campus, University of the West of England (UWE), Bristol BS16 1QY, United Kingdom.
| | - Ioannis A Ieropoulos
- Bristol BioEnergy Centre, Bristol Robotics Laboratory, T-Block, Frenchay Campus, University of the West of England (UWE), Bristol BS16 1QY, United Kingdom.
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Exploration of Electrochemcially Active Bacterial Strains for Microbial Fuel Cells: An Innovation in Bioelectricity Generation. JOURNAL OF PURE AND APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.22207/jpam.14.1.12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
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3
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Jiang Z, Zhang Y, Liu Z, Ma Y, Kang J, Liu Y. Isolation and characterization of an exoelectrogenic strain CL-1 from soil and electron transfer mechanism by linking electrochemistry and spectroscopy. Electrochim Acta 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2018.09.153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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4
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Enhanced electricity generation and organic matter degradation during three-chamber bioelectrochemically assisted anaerobic composting of dewatered sludge. Biochem Eng J 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bej.2018.02.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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5
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Pasternak G, Greenman J, Ieropoulos I. Self-powered, autonomous Biological Oxygen Demand biosensor for online water quality monitoring. SENSORS AND ACTUATORS. B, CHEMICAL 2017; 244:815-822. [PMID: 28579695 PMCID: PMC5362149 DOI: 10.1016/j.snb.2017.01.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Standard Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) analysis requires 5 days to complete. To date, microbial fuel cell biosensors used as an alternative method for BOD assessment requires external apparatus, which limits their use for on-line monitoring in remote, off-grid locations. In this study, a self-powered, floating biosensor was developed for online water quality monitoring. This approach eliminated the need for external apparatus and maintenance that would otherwise be required by other techniques. The biosensor was able to detect urine in freshwater and turn ON a visual and sound cues (85 dB). The energy needed to operate the biosensor was produced by the system itself with the use of electroactive microorganisms, inside microbial fuel cells. The Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) was used as a fast method of biosensor validation. When urine concentration exceeded the lower threshold, corresponding to a COD concentration of 57.7 ± 4.8 mgO2 L-1, the biosensor turned the alarm ON. The shortest observed actuation time, required to switch ON the alarm was 61 min, when the urine concentration was 149.7 ± 1.7 mgO2 L-1. Once the sensor was switched ON, the signal was emitted until the urine organic load decreased to 15.3 ± 1.9 mgO2 L-1. When ON, the microbial fuel cell sensor produced a maximum power of 4.3 mW. When switched OFF, the biosensor produced 25.4 μW. The frequency of the signal was proportional to the concentration of urine. The observed frequencies varied between 0.01 and 0.59 Hz. This approach allowed to correlate and quantitatively detect the presence of water contamination, based on signal frequency. The sensor was operating autonomously for 5 months. This is the first report of a self-powered, autonomous device, developed for online water quality monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grzegorz Pasternak
- Bristol BioEnergy Centre, Bristol Robotics Laboratory, University of the West of England, BS16 1QY Bristol, UK
- Wroclaw University of Technology, 50-370 Wroclaw, Poland
- Corresponding author at: Bristol BioEnergy Centre, Bristol Robotics Laboratory, University of the West of England, BS16 1QY Bristol, UK.
| | - John Greenman
- Bristol BioEnergy Centre, Bristol Robotics Laboratory, University of the West of England, BS16 1QY Bristol, UK
| | - Ioannis Ieropoulos
- Bristol BioEnergy Centre, Bristol Robotics Laboratory, University of the West of England, BS16 1QY Bristol, UK
- Corresponding author.
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Sharma SCD, Feng C, Li J, Hu A, Wang H, Qin D, Yu CP. Electrochemical Characterization of a Novel Exoelectrogenic Bacterium Strain SCS5, Isolated from a Mediator-Less Microbial Fuel Cell and Phylogenetically Related to Aeromonas jandaei. Microbes Environ 2016; 31:213-25. [PMID: 27396922 PMCID: PMC5017797 DOI: 10.1264/jsme2.me15185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
A facultative anaerobic bacterium, designated as strain SCS5, was isolated from the anodic biofilm of a mediator-less microbial fuel cell using acetate as the electron donor and α-FeOOH as the electron acceptor. The isolate was Gram-negative, motile, and shaped as short rods (0.9-1.3 μm in length and 0.4-0.5 μm in width). A phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA, gyrB, and rpoD genes suggested that strain SCS5 belonged to the Aeromonas genus in the Aeromonadaceae family and exhibited the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity (99.45%) with Aeromonas jandaei ATCC 49568. However, phenotypic, cellular fatty acid profile, and DNA G+C content analyses revealed that there were some distinctions between strain SCS5 and the type strain A. jandaei ATCC 49568. The optimum growth temperature, pH, and NaCl (%) for strain SCS5 were 35°C, 7.0, and 0.5% respectively. The DNA G+C content of strain SCS5 was 59.18%. The isolate SCS5 was capable of reducing insoluble iron oxide (α-FeOOH) and transferring electrons to extracellular material (the carbon electrode). The electrochemical activity of strain SCS5 was corroborated by cyclic voltammetry and a Raman spectroscopic analysis. The cyclic voltammogram of strain SCS5 revealed two pairs of oxidation-reduction peaks under anaerobic and aerobic conditions. In contrast, no redox pair was observed for A. jandaei ATCC 49568. Thus, isolated strain SCS5 is a novel exoelectrogenic bacterium phylogenetically related to A. jandaei, but shows distinct electrochemical activity from its close relative A. jandaei ATCC 49568.
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Affiliation(s)
- Subed Chandra Dev Sharma
- Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences
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Yu H, Jiang J, Zhao Q, Wang K, Zhang Y, Zheng Z, Hao X. Bioelectrochemically-assisted anaerobic composting process enhancing compost maturity of dewatered sludge with synchronous electricity generation. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2015; 193:1-7. [PMID: 26115526 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2015.06.057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2015] [Revised: 06/10/2015] [Accepted: 06/12/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Bioelectrochemically-assisted anaerobic composting process (AnCBE) with dewatered sludge as the anode fuel was constructed to accelerate composting of dewatered sludge, which could increase the quality of the compost and harvest electric energy in comparison with the traditional anaerobic composting (AnC). Results revealed that the AnCBE yielded a voltage of 0.60 ± 0.02 V, and total COD (TCOD) removal reached 19.8 ± 0.2% at the end of 35 d. The maximum power density was 5.6 W/m(3). At the end of composting, organic matter content (OM) reduction rate increased to 19.5 ± 0.2% in AnCBE and to 12.9 ± 0.1% in AnC. The fuzzy comprehensive assessment (FCA) result indicated that the membership degree of class I of AnCBE compost (0.64) was higher than that of AnC compost (0.44). It was demonstrated that electrogenesis in the AnCBE could improve the sludge stabilization degree, accelerate anaerobic composting process and enhance composting maturity with bioelectricity generation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hang Yu
- School of Municipal and Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Junqiu Jiang
- School of Municipal and Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Qingliang Zhao
- School of Municipal and Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China; State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resources and Environments (SKLURE), Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China.
| | - Kun Wang
- School of Municipal and Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China; State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resources and Environments (SKLURE), Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Yunshu Zhang
- School of Municipal and Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Zhen Zheng
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China
| | - Xiaodi Hao
- School of Environment and Energy Engineering (The R & D Centre for Sustainable Environmental Biotechnology), Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Beijing 100044, China
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8
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Walter X, Greenman J, Taylor B, Ieropoulos I. Microbial fuel cells continuously fuelled by untreated fresh algal biomass. ALGAL RES 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.algal.2015.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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9
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Kumar GG, Hashmi S, Karthikeyan C, GhavamiNejad A, Vatankhah-Varnoosfaderani M, Stadler FJ. Graphene oxide/carbon nanotube composite hydrogels-versatile materials for microbial fuel cell applications. Macromol Rapid Commun 2014; 35:1861-5. [PMID: 25228415 DOI: 10.1002/marc.201400332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2014] [Revised: 07/31/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Carbonaceous nanocomposite hydrogels are prepared with an aid of a suspension polymerization method and are used as anodes in microbial fuel cells (MFCs). (Poly N-Isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) hydrogels filled with electrically conductive carbonaceous nanomaterials exhibit significantly higher MFC efficiencies than the unfilled hydrogel. The observed morphological images clearly show the homogeneous dispersion of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene oxide (GO) in the PNIPAM matrix. The complex formation of CNTs and GO with NIPAM is evidenced from the structural characterizations. The effectual MFC performances are influenced by combining the materials of interest (GO and CNTs) and are attributed to the high surface area, number of active sites, and improved electron-transfer processes. The obtained higher MFC efficiencies associated with an excellent durability of the prepared hydrogels open up new possibilities for MFC anode applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Gnana Kumar
- Department of Physical Chemistry, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai, 625 021, Tamilnadu, India
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10
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Abrevaya XC, Sacco NJ, Bonetto MC, Hilding-Ohlsson A, Cortón E. Analytical applications of microbial fuel cells. Part I: Biochemical oxygen demand. Biosens Bioelectron 2014; 63:580-590. [PMID: 24856922 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2014.04.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2014] [Revised: 04/04/2014] [Accepted: 04/17/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are bio-electrochemical devices, where usually the anode (but sometimes the cathode, or both) contains microorganisms able to generate and sustain an electrochemical gradient which is used typically to generate electrical power. In the more studied set-up, the anode contains heterotrophic bacteria in anaerobic conditions, capable to oxidize organic molecules releasing protons and electrons, as well as other by-products. Released protons could reach the cathode (through a membrane or not) whereas electrons travel across an external circuit originating an easily measurable direct current flow. MFCs have been proposed fundamentally as electric power producing devices or more recently as hydrogen producing devices. Here we will review the still incipient development of analytical uses of MFCs or related devices or set-ups, in the light of a non-restrictive MFC definition, as promising tools to asset water quality or other measurable parameters. An introduction to biological based analytical methods, including bioassays and biosensors, as well as MFCs design and operating principles, will also be included. Besides, the use of MFCs as biochemical oxygen demand sensors (perhaps the main analytical application of MFCs) is discussed. In a companion review (Part 2), other new analytical applications are reviewed used for toxicity sensors, metabolic sensors, life detectors, and other proposed applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ximena C Abrevaya
- Instituto de Astronomía y Física del Espacio (IAFE), UBA-CONICET, Ciudad Universitaria, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Natalia J Sacco
- Laboratory of Biosensors and Bioanalysis (LABB), Departamento de Química Biológica e IQUIBICEN-CONICET, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Pabellón 2, Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires 1428, Argentina
| | - Maria C Bonetto
- Laboratory of Biosensors and Bioanalysis (LABB), Departamento de Química Biológica e IQUIBICEN-CONICET, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Pabellón 2, Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires 1428, Argentina
| | - Astrid Hilding-Ohlsson
- Laboratory of Biosensors and Bioanalysis (LABB), Departamento de Química Biológica e IQUIBICEN-CONICET, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Pabellón 2, Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires 1428, Argentina
| | - Eduardo Cortón
- Laboratory of Biosensors and Bioanalysis (LABB), Departamento de Química Biológica e IQUIBICEN-CONICET, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Pabellón 2, Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires 1428, Argentina.
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11
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kumar GG, Sarathi VS, Nahm KS. Recent advances and challenges in the anode architecture and their modifications for the applications of microbial fuel cells. Biosens Bioelectron 2013; 43:461-75. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2012.12.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 205] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2012] [Revised: 12/17/2012] [Accepted: 12/20/2012] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
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12
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Thionine increases electricity generation from microbial fuel cell using Saccharomyces cerevisiae and exoelectrogenic mixed culture. J Microbiol 2012; 50:575-80. [DOI: 10.1007/s12275-012-2135-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2012] [Accepted: 06/13/2012] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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13
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Xia J, Song LX, Dang Z. Low-Temperature Carbonization and More Effective Degradation of Carbohydrates Induced by Ferric Trichloride. J Phys Chem B 2012; 116:7635-43. [DOI: 10.1021/jp303041v] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Juan Xia
- Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, People's
Republic of China
| | - Le Xin Song
- Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, People's
Republic of China
- State
Key Laboratory of Coordination
Chemistry, Nanjing University, Nanjing
210093, People's Republic of China
| | - Zheng Dang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, People's
Republic of China
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14
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Yuan Y, Ahmed J, Zhou L, Zhao B, Kim S. Carbon nanoparticles-assisted mediator-less microbial fuel cells using Proteus vulgaris. Biosens Bioelectron 2011; 27:106-12. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2011.06.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2011] [Revised: 05/26/2011] [Accepted: 06/21/2011] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Watanabe K. Recent developments in microbial fuel cell technologies for sustainable bioenergy. J Biosci Bioeng 2009; 106:528-36. [PMID: 19134546 DOI: 10.1263/jbb.106.528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 165] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2008] [Accepted: 09/26/2008] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are devices that exploit microbial catabolic activities to generate electricity from a variety of materials, including complex organic waste and renewable biomass. These sources provide MFCs with a great advantage over chemical fuel cells that can utilize only purified reactive fuels (e.g., hydrogen). A developing primary application of MFCs is its use in the production of sustainable bioenergy, e.g., organic waste treatment coupled with electricity generation, although further technical developments are necessary for its practical use. In this article, recent advances in MFC technologies that can become fundamentals for future practical MFC developments are summarized. Results of recent studies suggest that MFCs will be of practical use in the near future and will become a preferred option among sustainable bioenergy processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuya Watanabe
- Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-8904, Japan.
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18
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Powell EE, Mapiour ML, Evitts RW, Hill GA. Growth kinetics of Chlorella vulgaris and its use as a cathodic half cell. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2009; 100:269-274. [PMID: 18614353 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2008.05.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2007] [Revised: 04/29/2008] [Accepted: 05/01/2008] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
The kinetics of growth of the algal species Chlorella vulgaris has been investigated using CO(2) as the growth substrate. The growth rate was found to increase as the dissolved CO(2) increased to 150 mg/L, but fell dramatically at higher concentrations. Increasing the radiant flux also increased growth rate. With a radiant flux of 32.3 mW falling directly on the 500 mL culture media, the growth rate reached up to 3.6 mg of cells/L-h. Both pH variation (5.5-7.0) and mass transfer rate of CO(2) (K(L)a between 6h(-1) and 17 h(-1)) had little effect on growth rate. Growing on glucose, the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae produced a stable 160 mV potential difference when acting as a microbial fuel cell anode with ferricyanide reduction at the cathode. The algal culture was observed to be a workable electron acceptor in a cathodic half cell. Using an optimum methylene blue mediator concentration, a net potential difference of 70 mV could be achieved between the growing C. vulgaris culture acting as a cathode and a 0.02 M potassium ferrocyanide anodic half cell. Surge current and power levels of 1.0 microA/mg of cell dry weight and 2.7 mW/m(2) of cathode surface area were measured between these two half cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin E Powell
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
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Abstract
It is well established that some reduced fermentation products or microbially reduced artificial mediators can abiotically react with electrodes to yield a small electrical current. This type of metabolism does not typically result in an efficient conversion of organic compounds to electricity because only some metabolic end products will react with electrodes, and the microorganisms only incompletely oxidize their organic fuels. A new form of microbial respiration has recently been discovered in which microorganisms conserve energy to support growth by oxidizing organic compounds to carbon dioxide with direct quantitative electron transfer to electrodes. These organisms, termed electricigens, offer the possibility of efficiently converting organic compounds into electricity in self-sustaining systems with long-term stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derek R Lovley
- Department of Microbiology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, USA.
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21
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Davis F, Higson SPJ. Biofuel cells--recent advances and applications. Biosens Bioelectron 2006; 22:1224-35. [PMID: 16781864 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2006.04.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 253] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2005] [Revised: 04/19/2006] [Accepted: 04/25/2006] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
In 2006, the journal Biosensors and Bioelectronics published a special issue devoted exclusively to biofuel cells, including several research papers and an extensive review of the field [Bullen, R.A., Arnot, T.C., Lakeman, J.B., Walsh, F.C., 2006. Biosens. Bioelectron.]. Within this review a brief description will firstly be given of the history of biofuel cells together with coverage of some of the major historical advances. The review is intended, however, to largely concentrate on and give an overview of the advances made in recent years in this area together with a discussion surrounding the practical application of biofuel cells. There are several classes of biofuel cells: we shall firstly discuss the recent advances in biofuel cells that convert chemical fuels to produce electrical power by use of catalytic enzymes. This will be followed by a section on similar cells where micro-organisms rather than enzymes are used to convert the fuel to energy. Thirdly we shall consider hybrid biofuel cells that combine the utilisation of photochemical chemistries and biological systems for the generation of electricity. Finally we will discuss some of the proposed uses of biofuel cells together with a short consideration of future research possibilities and applications of these systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank Davis
- Cranfield Health, Cranfield University, Silsoe, Bedfordshire MK45 4DT, UK
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Ieropoulos IA, Greenman J, Melhuish C, Hart J. Comparative study of three types of microbial fuel cell. Enzyme Microb Technol 2005. [DOI: 10.1016/j.enzmictec.2005.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 183] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Park DH, Zeikus JG. Improved fuel cell and electrode designs for producing electricity from microbial degradation. Biotechnol Bioeng 2003; 81:348-55. [PMID: 12474258 DOI: 10.1002/bit.10501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 232] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
A new one-compartment fuel cell was composed of a rubber bunged bottle with a center-inserted anode and a window-mounted cathode containing an internal, proton-permeable porcelain layer. This fuel cell design was less expensive and more practical than the conventional two-compartment system, which requires aeration and a ferricyanide solution in the cathode compartment. Three new electrodes containing bound electron mediators including a Mn(4+)-graphite anode, a neutral red (NR) covalently linked woven graphite anode, and an Fe(3+)-graphite cathode were developed that greatly enhanced electrical energy production (i.e., microbial electron transfer) over conventional graphite electrodes. The potentials of these electrodes measured by cyclic voltametry at pH 7.0 were (in volts): +0.493 (Fe(3+)-graphite); +0.15 (Mn(4+)-graphite); and -0.53 (NR-woven graphite). The maximal electrical productivities obtained with sewage sludge as the biocatalyst and using a Mn(4+)-graphite anode and a Fe(3+)-graphite cathode were 14 mA current, 0.45 V potential, 1,750 mA/m(2) current density, and 788 mW/m(2) of power density. With Escherichia coli as the biocatalyst and using a Mn(4+)-graphite anode and a Fe(3+)-graphite cathode, the maximal electrical productivities obtained were 2.6 mA current, 0.28 V potential, 325 mA/m(2) current density, and 91 mW/m(2) of power density. These results show that the amount of electrical energy produced by microbial fuel cells can be increased 1,000-fold by incorporating electron mediators into graphite electrodes. These results also imply that sewage sludge may contain unique electrophilic microbes that transfer electrons more readily than E. coli and that microbial fuel cells using the new Mn(4+)-graphite anode and Fe(3+)-graphite cathode may have commercial utility for producing low amounts of electrical power needed in remote locations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Doo Hyun Park
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA
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Park DH, Zeikus JG. Electricity generation in microbial fuel cells using neutral red as an electronophore. Appl Environ Microbiol 2000; 66:1292-7. [PMID: 10742202 PMCID: PMC91983 DOI: 10.1128/aem.66.4.1292-1297.2000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 256] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Neutral red (NR) was utilized as an electron mediator in microbial fuel cells consuming glucose to study both its efficiency during electricity generation and its role in altering anaerobic growth and metabolism of Escherichia coli and Actinobacillus succinogenes. A study of chemical fuel cells in which NADH, NR, and ferricyanide were the electron donor, the electronophore, and the electron acceptor, respectively, showed that electrical current produced from NADH was proportional to the concentration of NADH. Fourfold more current was produced from NADH in chemical fuel cells when NR was the electron mediator than when thionin was the electron mediator. In microbial fuel cells in which E. coli resting cells were used the amount of current produced from glucose when NR was the electron mediator (3.5 mA) was 10-fold more than the amount produced when thionin was the electron mediator (0.4 mA). The amount of electrical energy generated (expressed in joules per mole of substrate) and the amount of current produced from glucose (expressed in milliamperes) in NR-mediated microbial fuel cells containing either E. coli or A. succinogenes were about 10- and 2-fold greater, respectively, when resting cells were used than when growing cells were used. Cell growth was inhibited substantially when these microbial fuel cells were making current, and more oxidized end products were formed under these conditions. When sewage sludge (i.e., a mixed culture of anaerobic bacteria) was used in the fuel cell, stable (for 120 h) and equivalent levels of current were obtained with glucose, as observed in the pure-culture experiments. These results suggest that NR is better than other electron mediators used in microbial fuel cells and that sludge production can be decreased while electricity is produced in fuel cells. Our results are discussed in relation to factors that may improve the relatively low electrical efficiencies (1.2 kJ/mol) obtained with microbial fuel cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- D H Park
- Departments of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA
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A non-compartmentalized glucose∣O2 biofuel cell by bioengineered electrode surfaces. J Electroanal Chem (Lausanne) 1999. [DOI: 10.1016/s0022-0728(99)00425-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 289] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Palmore GR, Bertschy H, Bergens SH, Whitesides GM. A methanol/dioxygen biofuel cell that uses NAD+-dependent dehydrogenases as catalysts: application of an electro-enzymatic method to regenerate nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide at low overpotentials. J Electroanal Chem (Lausanne) 1998. [DOI: 10.1016/s0022-0728(97)00393-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 257] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Willner I, Arad G, Katz E. A biofuel cell based on pyrroloquinoline quinone and microperoxidase-11 monolayer-functionalized electrodes. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 1998. [DOI: 10.1016/s0302-4598(97)00091-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 126] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Akiba T, Bennetto HP, Stirling JL, Tanaka K. Electricity production from alkalophilic organisms. Biotechnol Lett 1987. [DOI: 10.1007/bf01033196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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