Optimization of polyvinyl alcohol binder on PANI coated pencil graphite electrode in doubled chamber microbial fuel cell for glucose biosensor

Strategies in the optimization of DNA hybridization conditions and its role in electrochemical detection of dengue virus (DENV) using response surface methodology (RSM)

In recent years, limited research has been conducted on enhancing DNA hybridization-based biosensor approaches using statistical models. This study explores the application of response surface methodology (RSM) to improve the performance of a DNA hybridization biosensor for dengue virus (DENV) detection. The biosensor is based on silicon nanowires decorated with gold nanoparticles (SiNWs/AuNPs) and utilizes methylene blue as a redox indicator. The DNA hybridization process between the immobilized DNA probe and the target DENV gene was monitored using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) based on the reduction of methylene blue. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were employed to confirm successful DNA hybridization events on the modified screen-printed gold electrode (SPGE) surface. Several parameters, including pH buffer, NaCl concentration, temperature, and hybridization time, were simultaneously optimized, with NaCl concentration having the most significant impact on DNA hybridization events. This study enhances the understanding of the role of each parameter in influencing DNA hybridization detection in electrochemical biosensors. The optimized biosensor demonstrated the ability to detect complementary oligonucleotide and amplified DENV gene concentrations as low as 0.0891 ng µL^-1 (10 pM) and 2.8 ng µL^-1, respectively. The developed biosensor shows promise for rapid clinical diagnosis of dengue virus infection.

Electrochemical Removal of Nitrogen Compounds from a Simulated Saline Wastewater

In the last few years, many industrial sectors have generated and discharged large volumes of saline wastewater into the environment. In the present work, the electrochemical removal of nitrogen compounds from synthetic saline wastewater was investigated through a lab-scale experimental reactor. Experiments were carried out to examine the impacts of the operational parameters, such as electrolyte composition and concentration, applied current intensity, and initial ammoniacal nitrogen concentration, on the total nitrogen removal efficiency. Using NaCl as an electrolyte, the N_TOT removal was higher than Na₂SO₄ and NaClO₄; however, increasing the initial NaCl concentration over 250 mg·L^-1 resulted in no benefits for the N_TOT removal efficiency. A rise in the current intensity from 0.05 A to 0.15 A resulted in an improvement in N_TOT removal. Nevertheless, a further increase to 0.25 A led to basically no enhancement of the efficiency. A lower initial ammoniacal nitrogen concentration resulted in higher removal efficiency. The highest N_TOT removal (about 75%) was achieved after 90 min of treatment operating with a NaCl concentration of 250 mg·L^-1 at an applied current intensity of 0.15 A and with an initial ammoniacal nitrogen concentration of 13 mg·L^-1. The nitrogen degradation mechanism proposed assumes a series-parallel reaction system, with a first step in which NH₄⁺ is in equilibrium with NH₃. Moreover, the nitrogen molar balance showed that the main product of nitrogen oxidation was N₂, but NO₃^- was also detected. Collectively, electrochemical treatment is a promising approach for the removal of nitrogen compounds from impacted saline wastewater.

Study on the Changes in the Microcosmic Environment in Forward Osmosis Membranes to Reduce Membrane Resistance

Osmotic microbial fuel cells (OsMFCs) are an emerging wastewater treatment technology in bioelectricity generation, organic substrate removal, and wastewater reclamation. To address this issue, proton-conductive sites were strengthened after using the forward osmosis (FO) membrane by reducing the membrane resistance. The mechanism of improving electricity generation was attributed mainly to the unique characteristics of the membrane material and the water flux characteristics of the FO membrane. In particular, only when the concentration of catholyte was greater than 0.3 M was the membrane resistance the main contributor to the overall internal resistance. Meanwhile, through the simulation of the concentration inside the membrane, the changes in the membrane thickness direction and the phase transition of the internal structure of the membrane from the dry state (0% water content) to the expansion state (>50%water content) were analyzed, which were influenced by the water flux, further explaining the important role of the membrane’s microenvironment in reducing the membrane impedance. This further opens a novel avenue for the use of OsMFCs in practical engineering applications.

Advancements in Bioelectricity Generation Through Nanomaterial-Modified Anode Electrodes in Microbial Fuel Cells

The use of nanotechnology in bioelectrochemical systems to recover bioelectricity and metals from waste appears to be a potentially appealing alternative to existing established procedures. This trend exactly characterizes the current renewable energy production technology. Hence, this review focuses on the improvement of the anode electrode by using different functional metal oxide-conducting polymer nanocomposites to enhance microbial fuel cell (MFC) performance. Enhancement of interfacial bioelectrocatalysis between electroactive microorganisms and hierarchical porous nanocomposite materials could enhance cost-effective bioanode materials with superior bioelectrocatalytic activity for MFCs. In this review, improvement in efficiency of MFCs by using iron oxide- and manganese oxide-based polypyrrole hybrid composites as model anode modifiers was discussed. The review also extended to discussing and covering the principles, components, power density, current density, and removal efficiencies of biofuel cell systems. In addition, this research review demonstrates the application of MFCs for renewable energy generation, wastewater treatment, and metal recovery. This is due to having their own unique working principle under mild conditions and using renewable biodegradable organic matter as a direct fuel source.