Effect of different substrates on the performance, bacterial diversity, and bacterial viability in microbial fuel cells.
Four microbial fuel cells (MFCs) were inoculated with anaerobic sludge and fed four different substrates for over one year. The Coulombic efficiency (CE) and power output varied with different substrates, while the bacterial viability was similar. Acetate fed-MFC showed the highest CE (72.3%), followed by butyrate (43.0%), propionate (36.0%) and glucose (15.0%). Glucose resulted in the lowest CE because of its fermentable nature implying its consumption by diverse non-electricity-generating bacteria. 16S rDNA sequencing results indicated phylogenetic diversity in the communities of all anode biofilms, and there was no single dominant bacterial species. A relative abundance of beta-Proteobacteria but an absence of gamma-Proteobacteria was observed in all MFCs except for propionate-fed system in which Firmicutes dominating. The glucose-fed-MFC showed the widest community diversity, resulting in the rapid generation of current without lag time when different substrates were suddenly fed. Geobacter-like species with the most representative Geobactersulfurreducens PCA(T) were integral members of the bacterial community in all MFCs except for the propionate-fed system.
Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, 1 Oryong-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju 500-712, South Korea.
Kyu-Jung
KJ
Chae
Mi-Jin
MJ
Choi
Jin-Wook
JW
Lee
Kyoung-Yeol
KY
Kim
In S
IS
Kim
D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001674:Bioelectric Energy Sources / Q000382:microbiology*; D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development; D018533:Biomass; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000379:methods; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D017753:Ecosystem; D004560:Electricity; D004563:Electrochemistry / Q000379:methods; D004566:Electrodes / Q000382:microbiology; D005285:Fermentation; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D010802:Phylogeny; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000737:chemistry
D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D005947:Glucose