Abstract
This study is focused on electrical energy generation in a double-compartment microbial fuel cell. Carbon felt impregnated with multi-walled carbon nanotubes was used as an anode, which contained gold nanoparticles and Shewanella spp. grown under aerobic conditions was used as a biocatalyst. The electrodes, used before and after biofilm growth, were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and cyclic voltammetry. The results revealed the formation of Shewanella spp. colonies on the electrode surface and electrochemical activity under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. During biofilm growth in Luria Bertani medium, a stabilized average power density of 281 mW m− 2 was recorded. Subsequently, the cell reached a maximum current density of 0.11 mA cm− 2 after 72 h of operation and a coulombic efficiency of 65% under anaerobic conditions.
Highlights
In recent years, many researches have been focused on the study of microbial fuel cells (MFC) for conversion of chemical energy to electrical energy [1, 2]
The published results of a S. putrefaciens strain ATCC 8071 were compared to the biochemical test results obtained from the isolated strains
It was noted the formation of a biofilm that extends over the fibers in the felt immersed in Luria Bertani (LB) (Fig. 4c). This characteristic should be considered in the evaluation of the electrode efficiency. These results show the biocompatibility of the materials used and the morphological modification, which occurs during the biofilm formation and growth on the surfaces of carbon felts (CF) modified with MWNCT-AuNPs
Summary
Many researches have been focused on the study of microbial fuel cells (MFC) for conversion of chemical energy to electrical energy [1, 2]. MFCs generate energy through electron transfer from the microbial cell to the fuel cell anode. The ability of microorganisms to generate an electrochemical potential is naturally occurring in several microbial species such as the Gram-negative Shewanellaceae and Geobacteracea, which are called exoelectrogenic bacteria as they tend to produce electrochemically active biofilms on the electrodes (in particular the anodes) [2,3,4]. Shewanella spp., are Gram negative bacilli which have bacillary mobility with a single polar scourge, an important phenotypic feature is the production of hydrogen sulfide [7]. The biofilm-forming ability has been described in detail for Shewanella oneidensis and Shewanella putrefaciens [9]
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