Microbial Fuel Cell Experiments Research Articles

R-based method for quantitative analysis of biofilm thickness by using confocal laser scanning microscopy.

Microscopy is mostly the method of choice to analyse biofilms. Due to the high local heterogeneity of biofilms, single and punctual analyses only give an incomplete insight into the local distribution of biofilms. In order to retrieve statistically significant results a quantitative method for biofilm thickness measurements was developed based on confocal laser scanning microscopy and the programming language R. The R‐script allows the analysis of large image volumes with little hands‐on work and outputs statistical information on homogeneity of surface coverage and overall biofilm thickness. The applicability of the script was shown in microbial fuel cell experiments. It was found that Geobacter sulfurreducens responds differently to poised anodes of different material so that the optimum potential for MFC on poised ITO anodes had to be identified with respect to maximum current density, biofilm thickness and MFC start‐up time. Thereby, a positive correlation between current density and biofilm thickness was found, but with no direct link to the applied potential. The optimum potential turned out to be +0.1 V versus SHE. The script proved to be a valuable stand‐alone tool to quantify biofilm thickness in a statistically valid manner, which is required in many studies.

Conductive Geopolymers as Low-Cost Electrode Materials for Microbial Fuel Cells.

Geopolymer (GP) inorganic binders have a superior acid resistance compared to conventional cement (e.g., Portland cement, PC) binders, have better microbial compatibility, and are suitable for introducing electrically conductive additives to improve electron and ion transfer properties. In this study, GP–graphite (GPG) composites and PC–graphite (PCG) composites with a graphite content of 1–10 vol % were prepared and characterized. The electrical conductivity percolation threshold of the GPG and PCG composites was around 7 and 8 vol %, respectively. GPG and PCG composites with a graphite content of 8 to 10 vol % were selected as anode electrodes for the electrochemical analysis in two-chamber polarized microbial fuel cells (MFCs). Graphite electrodes were used as the positive control reference material. Geobacter sulfurreducens was used as a biofilm-forming and electroactive model organism for MFC experiments. Compared to the conventional graphite anodes, the anode-respiring biofilms resulted in equal current production on GPG composite anodes, whereas the PCG composites showed a very poor performance. The largest mean value of the measured current densities of a GPG composite used as anodes in MFCs was 380.4 μA cm–2 with a standard deviation of 129.5 μA cm–2. Overall, the best results were obtained with electrodes having a relatively low Ohmic resistance, that is, GPG composites and graphite. The very first approach employing sustainable GPs as a low-cost electrode binder material in an MFC showed promising results with the potential to greatly reduce the production costs of MFCs, which would also increase the feasibility of MFC large-scale applications.

The performance of a cyanobacterial biomass-based microbial fuel cell (MFC) inoculated with Shewanella oneidensis MR-1

Cyanobacterial biomass is a rich renewable resource for direct bioelectricity generation in biomass-based microbial fuel cells (MFCs). In this study, the performance of a double chamber MFC with Anabaena vaginicola cyanobacterial biomass as the anodic substrate was investigated. The anode chamber was inoculated with a pure culture of Shewanella oneidensis MR-1, and different MFC experiments using pretreated and untreated cyanobacterial biomass substrate with 5 or 20 mg/L riboflavin were conducted. Pretreatment of the biomass and addition of 20 mg/L riboflavin led to the highest current density (366 mA/m3), maximum power density (144 mW/m3), chemical oxygen demand removal efficiency (65%), and coulombic efficiency (5.7%). Increasing the concentration of riboflavin improved bioelectricity generation (1.4–1.7-fold increase in maximum power density), confirming its effectiveness as a redox mediator, and its role in the extracellular electron transfer process of the S. oneidensis MR-1 biofilm. Moreover, pretreating the biomass also enhanced the conversion efficiency of biomass to bioelectricity. This indicated that pretreatment of the biomass influenced the utilization of biomass by S. oneidensis MR-1 cells. These findings can help increasing the potential of using renewable substrates for more efficient bioenergy generation in pure culture MFCs.

The effect of calcium palmitate on bacteria associated with infant gut microbiota.

Gut microbiota development in formula‐fed and breast‐fed infants is known to differ. This could relate to the usage of unmodified vegetable oil instead of mammalian fat in infant formula (IF), causing the enhanced formation of the poorly soluble soap calcium palmitate (CP) in the infant's gut. Here we investigate in vitro the possible influence of CP on the infant gut bacteria. The growth of several bacterial species dominant in the infant's gut was analyzed by culturing in media with CP. Faecalibacterium prausnitzii as a sensitive representative was analyzed in detail by scanning transmission electron microscopy, membrane staining, gas chromatography, and microbial fuel cell experiments. Of all bacteria tested, the growth of several bifidobacteria and F. prausnitzii was reduced at 0.01 mg/ml CP, Bifidobacterium infantis stopped growing completely. CP reduced the cell envelope thickness of F. prausnitzii, disturbed the cell membrane fatty acids and function of membrane proteins involved in electron transport. CP inhibited the growth of bifidobacteria and faecalibacteria. This suggests that modification of fat in IF may benefit the development of the gut microbiota in formula‐fed infants by supporting the colonization of important beneficial bacteria in early life. Future clinical studies are needed to confirm this.

Studies on development of microbial fuel cell for waste water treatment using bakers yeast

Eco machine is deteriorating each day because of Industrial effluents. The effluents are containing poisonous chemical compounds which can be in turn polluting ground drinking water and developing new diseases. Treatment strategies for those Industrial effluents have become extra costly. The Present observation is aimed and concentrated at lowering the toxicity of Industrial waters and the goal is Reduction, Recycle and Reuse (RRR) with the usage of Microbial Fuel Cell. Microbial Fuel Cell experiments have been finished in batch operations for waste waters, the usage of microorganism in an effort to boom oxygen tiers and reduce toxicity. The parameters studied are layout of MFC, NaCl concentration, Agar concentration, glucose dosage, pH, Chemical Oxygen Demand, Biological Oxygen Demand, Dissolved Oxygen, Total Suspended Solids, Total Dissolved Solids, Sulphates, Chlorides. The consequences produced that excessive oxygen tiers and discount in pH tiers is appreciable. COD and BOD have reduced while DO has increased.

Characterization of a new electrochemically active bacterium phylogenetically related to Alicyclobacillus hesperidum and its electrochemical performance in microbial fuel cell

Extremophilic microorganisms in microbial electrochemical systems have opened new possibilities for waste treatment. Here, a phenomenon of electricity generation under acidophilic condition was found in organic acid fermentation wastewater treatment using microbial fuel cell (MFC). The anodic microbial community analysis showed that the percentage of Firmicutes was 99.03%, which accounted for the vast majority of the microbial community at the late discharge stage with pH 3.0. As the dominant bacterium of Firmicutes, Alicyclobacillus hesperidum EG was isolated and identified. MFC experiments confirmed that Alicyclobacillus hesperidum EG exhibited good electricity generating capability with a maximum power density of 188.1 mW m−2 at 50 °C and low pH. It is the first time that Alicyclobacillus hesperidum EG was discovered as a newly electrochemically active bacterium. Additionally, the morphological analysis combined with electrochemical experiments demonstrated that no nanowires were found in the anodic biofilm of Alicyclobacillus hesperidum EG, and Alicyclobacillus hesperidum EG may produce soluble redox-active small molecules as electron shuttles to facilitate extracellular electron transfer. Based on unique characteristics such as good acid resistance, high temperature resistance, and high electricity generation ability, Alicyclobacillus hesperidum EG exhibited great potential in wastewater treatment and energy recovery.

3D biofilm visualization and quantification on granular bioanodes with magnetic resonance imaging

The use of microbial fuel cells (MFCs) for wastewater treatment fits in a circular economy context, as they can produce electricity by the removal of organic matter in the wastewater. Activated carbon (AC) granules are an attractive electrode material for bioanodes in MFCs, as they are cheap and provide electroactive bacteria with a large surface area for attachment. The characterization of biofilm growth on AC granules, however, is challenging due to their high roughness and three-dimensional structure. In this research, we show that 3D magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be used to visualize biofilm distribution and determine its volume on irregular-shaped single AC granules in a non-destructive way, while being combined with electrochemical and biomass analyses. Ten AC granules with electroactive biofilm (i.e. granular bioanodes) were collected at different growth stages (3 to 21 days after microbial inoculation) from a multi-anode MFC and T1-weighted 3D-MRI experiments were performed for three-dimensional biofilm visualization. With time, a more homogeneous biofilm distribution and an increased biofilm thickness could be observed in the 3D-MRI images. Biofilm volumes varied from 0.4 μL (day 4) to 2 μL (day 21) and were linearly correlated (R2 = 0.9) to the total produced electric charge and total nitrogen content of the granular bioanodes, with values of 66.4 C μL−1 and 17 μg N μL−1, respectively. In future, in situ MRI measurements could be used to monitor biofilm growth and distribution on AC granules.

Meta-analysis of Microbial Fuel Cells Using Waste Substrates.

Microbial fuel cell experimentation using waste streams is an increasingly popular field of study. One obstacle to comparing studies has been the lack of consistent conventions for reporting results such that meta-analysis can be used for large groups of experiments. Here, 134 unique microbial fuel cell experiments using waste substrates were compiled for analysis. Findings include that coulombic efficiency correlates positively with volumetric power density (p<0.001), negatively with working volume (p<0.05), and positively with percentage removal of chemical oxygen demand (p<0.005). Power density in mW/m2 correlates positively with chemical oxygen demand loading (p<0.005), and positively with maximum open-circuit voltage (p<0.05). Finally, single-chamber versus double-chamber reactor configurations differ significantly in maximum open-circuit voltage (p<0.005). Multiple linear regression to predict either power density or maximum open-circuit voltage produced no significant models due to the amount of multicollinearity between predictor variables. Results indicate that statistically relevant conclusions can be drawn from large microbial fuel cell datasets. Recommendations for future consistency in reporting results following a MIAMFCE convention (Minimum Information About a Microbial Fuel Cell Experiment) are included.

A comprehensive overview on electro-active biofilms, role of exo-electrogens and their microbial niches in microbial fuel cells (MFCs)

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are biocatalyzed systems which can drive electrical energy by directly converting chemical energy using microbial biocatalyst and are considered as one of the important propitious technologies for sustainable energy production. Much research on MFCs experiments is under way with great potential to become an alternative to produce clean energy from renewable waste. MFCs have been one of the most promising technologies for generating clean energy industry in the future. This article summarizes the important findings in electro-active biofilm formation and the role of exo-electrogens in electron transfer in MFCs. This study provides and brings special attention on the effects of various operating and biological parameters on the biofilm formation in MFCs. In addition, it also highlights the significance of different molecular techniques used in the microbial community analysis of electro-active biofilm. It reviews the challenges as well as the emerging opportunities required to develop MFCs at commercial level, electro-active biofilms and to understand potential application of microbiological niches are also depicted. Thus, this review is believed to widen the efforts towards the development of electro-active biofilm and will provide the research directions to overcome energy and environmental challenges.

Microbial electricity generation in rice paddy fields: recent advances and perspectives in rhizosphere microbial fuel cells.

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are devices that use living microbes for the conversion of organic matter into electricity. MFC systems can be applied to the generation of electricity at water/sediment interfaces in the environment, such as bay areas, wetlands, and rice paddy fields. Using these systems, electricity generation in paddy fields as high as ∼80 mW m(-2) (based on the projected anode area) has been demonstrated, and evidence suggests that rhizosphere microbes preferentially utilize organic exudates from rice roots for generating electricity. Phylogenetic and metagenomic analyses have been conducted to identify the microbial species and catabolic pathways that are involved in the conversion of root exudates into electricity, suggesting the importance of syntrophic interactions. In parallel, pot cultures of rice and other aquatic plants have been used for rhizosphere MFC experiments under controlled laboratory conditions. The findings from these studies have demonstrated the potential of electricity generation for mitigating methane emission from the rhizosphere. Notably, however, the presence of large amounts of organics in the rhizosphere drastically reduces the effect of electricity generation on methane production. Further studies are necessary to evaluate the potential of these systems for mitigating methane emission from rice paddy fields. We suggest that paddy-field MFCs represent a promising approach for harvesting latent energy of the natural world.

A review of cellulosic microbial fuel cells: Performance and challenges

Cellulosic biomass, in the form of lignocellulosic materials, is a renewable and readily accessible source of organic substrate for microbial fuel cells (MFCs). The performances of cellulosic MFCs were compared on a common basis and with respect to the properties of the different cellulosic substrate each utilized. Moreover, the different experimental design approaches employed to overcome performance limitations of cellulosic MFCs were evaluated. Comparison of the mean peak currents and mean peak power densities revealed that MFCs run on cellulose were electrically outperformed by those run on starch but not those run on chitin. It was further observed that coulombic efficiency, the measure of effective substrate utilization for current generation, was greatest for soluble polysaccharide substrates, whether starch or cellulose. For insoluble polysaccharide substrates, coulombic efficiency decreased as the degree of polymerization increased. These and other conclusions indicate that both substrate accessibility and effective substrate utilization are important factors for electrical performance of cellulosic MFCs. The evaluation exposes the need for more thorough and systematic design and analysis of MFC experiments employing cellulose and other polysaccharides as substrates.

Ultrasonic pretreatment of palm oil mill effluent: Impact on biohydrogen production, bioelectricity generation, and underlying microbial communities

Substrate bioavailabity is one of the critical factors that determine the relative biohydrogen (bioH2) yield in fermentative hydrogen production and bioelectricity output in a microbial fuel cell (MFC). In the present undertaking, batch bioH2 production and MFC-based biolectricity generation from ultrasonically pretreated palm oil mill effluent (POME) were investigated using heat-pretreated anaerobic sludge as seed inoculum. Maximum bioH2 production (0.7mmolH2/gCOD) and COD removal (65%) was achieved at pH 7, for POME which was ultrasonically pretreated at a dose of 195J/mL. Maximum value for bioH2 productivity and COD removal at this sonication dose was higher by 38% and 20%, respectively, than unsonicated treatments. In batch MFC experiments, the same ultrasound dose led to reduced lag-time in bioelectricity generation with concomitant 25% increase in bioelectricity output (18.3W/m3) and an increase of COD removal from 30% to 54%, as compared to controls. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) tests on sludge samples from batch bioH2 production reflected an abundance of gene fragments coding for both clostridial and thermoanaerobacterial [FeFe]-hydrogenase. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) tests on sludge from MFC experiments showed Clostridium spp. and Thermoanaerobacterium spp. as the dominant microflora. Results suggest the potential of ultrasonicated POME as sustainable feedstock for dark fermentation-based bioH2 production and MFC-based bioelectricity generation.

The gut anaerobe Faecalibacterium prausnitzii uses an extracellular electron shuttle to grow at oxic–anoxic interphases

Faecalibacterium prausnitzii is one of the most abundant bacteria in the human gut ecosystem and it is an important supplier of butyrate to the colonic epithelium. Low numbers of faecalibacteria have been associated with inflammatory bowel disease. Despite being extremely oxygen sensitive, F. prausnitzii is found adherent to the gut mucosa where oxygen diffuses from epithelial cells. This paradox is now explained on the basis of gas tube experiments, flavin-dependent reduction of 5,5'-dithiobis-2-nitrobenzoate and microbial fuel cell experiments. The results show that F. prausnitzii employs an extracellular electron shuttle of flavins and thiols to transfer electrons to oxygen. Both compounds are present in the healthy human gut. Our observations may have important implications for the treatment of patients with Crohn's disease, for example, with flavin- or antioxidant rich diets, and they provide a novel key insight in host-microbe interactions at the gut barrier.

A novel sediment microbial fuel cell with a biocathode in the rice rhizosphere

Wetland plants possess the unique ability to release oxygen as well as organic matter into the rhizosphere. It is understood that microbial fuel cells (MFCs) can use organic matter from plants as key electron donors, but the effect of root excreted oxygen on MFCs is presently unknown. In this study, a novel biocathode was buried in the rice rhizosphere and found to be capable of delivering electrons to root excreted oxygen for oxygen reduction reactions. The voltages between electrodes in the rhizosphere and bulk soil were found to increase initially, but dissipate after approximately 1month. Results from the MFC and oxygen microelectrode experiments indicated that the oxygen efflux rate from rice roots was dependent on the root maturity. Furthermore, the excreted oxygen from wetland plant roots could be used for the construction of highly efficient biocathodes.

Polyaniline/carbon black composite-supported iron phthalocyanine as an oxygen reduction catalyst for microbial fuel cells

Polyaniline/carbon black (PANI/C) composite-supported iron phthalocyanine (FePc) (PANI/C/FePc) has been investigated as a catalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in an air–cathode microbial fuel cell (MFC). The electrocatalytic activity of the PANI/C/FePc toward the ORR is evaluated using cyclic voltammogram and linear scan voltammogram methods. In comparison with that of carbon-supported FePc electrode, the peak potential of the ORR at the PANI/C/FePc electrode shifts toward positive potential, and the peak current is greatly increased, suggesting the enhanced activity of FePc absorbed onto PANI/C. Additionally, the results of the MFC experiments show that PANI/C/FePc is well suitable to be the cathode material for MFCs. The maximum power density of 630.5 mW m −2 with the PANI/C/FePc cathode is higher than that of 336.6 mW m −2 with the C/FePc cathode, and even higher that that of 575.6 mW m −2 with a Pt cathode. Meanwhile, the power per cost of the PANI/C/FePc cathode is 7.5 times greater than that of the Pt cathode. Thus, the PANI/C/FePc can be a potential alternative to Pt in MFCs.

Aerated Shewanella oneidensis in continuously fed bioelectrochemical systems for power and hydrogen production

We studied the effects of aeration of Shewanella oneidensis on potentiostatic current production, hydrogen production in a microbial electrolysis cell, and electric power generation in a microbial fuel cell (MFC). The potentiostatic performance of aerated S. oneidensis was considerably enhanced to a maximum current density of 0.45 A/m(2) or 80.3 A/m(3) (mean: 0.34 A/m(2), 57.2 A/m(3)) compared to anaerobically grown cultures. Biocatalyzed hydrogen production rates with aerated S. oneidensis were studied within the applied potential range of 0.3-0.9 V and were highest at 0.9 V with 0.3 m(3) H(2)/m(3) day, which has been reported for mixed cultures, but is approximately 10 times higher than reported for an anaerobic culture of S. oneidensis. Aerated MFC experiments produced a maximum power density of 3.56 W/m(3) at a 200-Omega external resistor. The main reasons for enhanced electrochemical performance are higher levels of active biomass and more efficient substrate utilization under aerobic conditions. Coulombic efficiencies, however, were greatly reduced due to losses of reducing equivalents to aerobic respiration in the anode chamber. The next challenge will be to optimize the aeration rate of the bacterial culture to balance between maximization of bacterial activation and minimization of aerobic respiration in the culture.

Polypyrrole/carbon black composite as a novel oxygen reduction catalyst for microbial fuel cells

A polypyrrole/carbon black (Ppy/C) composite has been employed as an electrocatalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in an air-cathode microbial fuel cell (MFC). The electrocatalytic activity of the Ppy/C is evaluated toward the oxygen reduction using cyclic voltammogram and linear sweep voltammogram methods. In comparison with that at the carbon black electrode, the peak potential of the ORR at the Pp/C electrode shifts by approximate 260 mV towards positive potential, demonstrating the electrocatalytic activity of Ppy toward ORR. Additionally, the results of the MFC experiments show that the Ppy/C is well suitable to fully substitute the traditional cathode materials in MFCs. The maximum power density of 401.8 mW m −2 obtained from the MFC with a Ppy/C cathode is higher than that of 90.9 mW m −2 with a carbon black cathode and 336.6 mW m −2 with a non-pyrolysed FePc cathode. Although the power output with a Ppy/C cathode is lower than that with a commercial Pt cathode, the power per cost of a Ppy/C cathode is 15 times greater than that of a Pt cathode. Thus, the Ppy/C can be a good alternative to Pt in MFCs due to the economic advantage.

Simultaneous analysis of physiological and electrical output changes in an operating microbial fuel cell with Shewanella oneidensis

Changes in metabolism and cellular physiology of facultative anaerobes during oxygen exposure can be substantial, but little is known about how these changes connect with electrical current output from an operating microbial fuel cell (MFC). A high-throughput voltage based screening assay (VBSA) was used to correlate current output from a MFC containing Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 to carbon source (glucose or lactate) utilization, culture conditions, and biofilm coverage over 250 h. Lactate induced an immediate current response from S. oneidensis MR-1, with both air-exposed and anaerobic anodes throughout the duration of the experiments. Glucose was initially utilized for current output by MR-1 when cultured and maintained in the presence of air. However, after repeated additions of glucose, the current output from the MFC decreased substantially while viable planktonic cell counts and biofilm coverage remained constant suggesting that extracellular electron transfer pathways were being inhibited. Shewanella maintained under an anaerobic atmosphere did not utilize glucose consistent with literature precedents. Operation of the VBSA permitted data collection from nine simultaneous S. oneidensis MR-1 MFC experiments in which each experiment was able to demonstrate organic carbon source utilization and oxygen dependent biofilm formation on a carbon electrode. These data provide the first direct evidence of complex cellular responses to electron donor and oxygen tension by Shewanella in an operating MFC at select time points.

Application of pyrolysed iron(II) phthalocyanine and CoTMPP based oxygen reduction catalysts as cathode materials in microbial fuel cells

The performance of iron(II) phthalocyanine (FePc) and cobalt tetramethoxyphenylporphyrin (CoTMPP) based oxygen reduction catalysts was studied in view of the application as cathode materials in microbial fuel cells. Galvanostatic and potentiostatic experiments were performed in order to compare the proposed materials to platinum and hexacyanoferrate(III) based systems. Additionally, two-chamber microbial fuel cell experiments were carried out to demonstrate that the transition metal based materials are well suitable to fully substitute the traditional cathode materials in microbial fuel cells.