Alteration of sediment organic matter in sediment microbial fuel cells.
The alteration of physico-chemical properties of sediment organic matter (SOM) incubated under current-harvesting conditions as well as no-current producing conditions over 120 days using sediment microbial fuel cell systems was examined. The SOM was microbially oxidized under anaerobic conditions with an electrode serving as a terminal electron acceptor. It was found that SOM around the electrochemically-active electrodes became more humified, aromatic, and polydispersed, and had a higher average molecular weight, along with its partial degradation and electricity generation compared to that for the original sediment. These changes in SOM properties were analogous to those commonly observed in the early stages of the SOM diagenetic process (i.e. humification). Such a humification-like process was evidently more stimulated when electrical current was produced than no-current condition. These new findings associated with microbially-catalyzed electricity generation may present a potential for the energy-efficient remediation, monitoring, and/or management of the geo-environment.
Hong
Seok Won
SW
Center for Environmental Technology Research, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 131, Cheongryang, Seoul 130-650, Republic of Korea.
Kim
Han S
HS
Chung
Tai Hak
TH
D000693:Anaerobiosis; D001674:Bioelectric Energy Sources; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000032:analysis*