Gaining electricity from in situ oxidation of hydrogen produced by fermentative cellulose degradation.
OBJECTIVE
To exploit the fermentative hydrogen generation and direct hydrogen oxidation for the generation of electric current from the degradation of cellulose.


RESULTS
Utilizing the metabolic activity of the mesophilic anaerobe Clostridium cellulolyticum and the thermophilic Clostridium thermocellum we show that electricity generation is possible from cellulose fermentation. The current generation is based on an in situ oxidation of microbially synthesized hydrogen at platinum-poly(tetrafluoroaniline) (Pt-PTFA) composite electrodes. Current densities of 130 mA l(-1) (with 3 g cellulose per litre medium) were achieved in poised potential experiments under batch and semi-batch conditions.


CONCLUSIONS
The presented results show that electricity generation is possible by the in situ oxidation of hydrogen, product of the anaerobic degradation of cellulose by cellulolytic bacteria.


CONCLUSIONS
For the first time, it is shown that an insoluble complex carbohydrate like cellulose can be used for electricity generation in a microbial fuel cell. The concept represents a first step to the utilization of macromolecular biomass components for microbial electricity generation.
Niessen
J
J
Institut für Chemie und Biochemie, Universität Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
Schröder
U
U
Harnisch
F
F
Scholz
F
F
D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D002482:Cellulose / Q000378:metabolism*; D046973:Ruminiclostridium cellulolyticum / Q000378:metabolism*; D048013:Acetivibrio thermocellus / Q000378:metabolism*; D004560:Electricity; D005285:Fermentation; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction
D006859:Hydrogen; D002482:Cellulose