title: Improvement of a microbial fuel cell performance as a BOD sensor using respiratory inhibitors.
abstract: Studies were made to improve the performance of a microbial fuel cell (MFC) as a biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) sensor. The signal from MFCs decreased in the presence of electron acceptors of higher redox potential such as nitrate and oxygen. The addition of azide and cyanide did not change the signal in the absence of the electron acceptors. The respiratory inhibitors eliminated the inhibitory effects of the electron acceptors on the current generation from MFCs. Similar results were obtained using oligotrophic MFCs fed with an environmental sample that contained nitrate. The use of the respiratory inhibitors is therefore recommended for the accurate BOD measurement of environmental samples containing nitrate and/or oxygen with an MFC-type BOD sensor.
authors.affiliation: Bioelectrochemistry Laboratory, Water Environment and Remediation Research Centre, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, 39-1, Hawolgok-dong, Sungpook-ku, Seoul 136-791, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: In Seop
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Hyunsoo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: Jae Kyung
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Byung Hong
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D004736:Energy-Generating Resources; D010100:Oxygen / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D014871:Water Microbiology; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D010100:Oxygen