Effects of inoculation strategy and cultivation approach on the performance of microbial fuel cell using marine sediment as bio-matrix.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of inoculation strategy and cultivation approach on the performance of microbial fuel cell (MFC).


RESULTS
A dual-chamber sediment fuel cell was set up fed with glucose under batch condition. At day 30, the supernatant consortium was partly transferred and used as inoculum for the evaluation of cultivation approach. Power output gradually increased to 9.9 mW m(-2) over 180 days, corresponding to coulombic efficiency (CE) of 29.6%. Separated biofilms attached anode enabled power output and CE dramatically up to 100.9 mW m(-2) and over 50%, respectively, whereas the residual sediment catalysed MFC gave a poor performance. MFC catalysed by in situ supernatant consortium demonstrated more than twice higher power than MFC catalysed by the supernatant consortium after Fe(OH)(3) cultivation. However, the re-generation of biofilms from the latter largely enhanced the cell performance.


CONCLUSIONS
MFC exhibited a more efficient inducement of electroactive consortium than Fe(OH)(3) cultivation. MFC performance varied depending on different inoculation strategies.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first time to study cultivation approach affecting electricity generation. In addition, anodic limitations of mass and electron transfer were discussed through MFC catalysed by sediment-based bio-matrix.
Liu
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Department of Biotechnology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden. zhidan.liu@biotek.lu.se
Li
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Liu
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Su
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D018407:Bacterial Physiological Phenomena; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation; D001674:Bioelectric Energy Sources / Q000382:microbiology*; D018441:Biofilms; D003470:Culture Media; D004566:Electrodes; D019015:Geologic Sediments; D006108:Graphite; D007218:Industrial Microbiology; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
D003470:Culture Media; D006108:Graphite