title: Time-course correlation of biofilm properties and electrochemical performance in single-chamber microbial fuel cells.
abstract: The relationship between anode microbial characteristics and electrochemical parameters in microbial fuel cells (MFCs) was analyzed by time-course sampling of parallel single-bottle MFCs operated under identical conditions. While voltage stabilized within 4days, anode biofilms continued growing during the six-week operation. Viable cell density increased asymptotically, but membrane-compromised cells accumulated steadily from only 9% of total cells on day 3 to 52% at 6weeks. Electrochemical performance followed the viable cell trend, with a positive correlation for power density and an inverse correlation for anode charge transfer resistance. The biofilm architecture shifted from rod-shaped, dispersed cells to more filamentous structures, with the continuous detection of Geobacter sulfurreducens-like 16S rRNA fragments throughout operation and the emergence of a community member related to a known phenazine-producing Pseudomonas species. A drop in cathode open circuit potential between weeks two and three suggested that uncontrolled biofilm growth on the cathode deleteriously affects system performance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
authors.forename: Zhiyong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Ramaraja P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Ramasamy
authors.forename: Susan Red
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Cloud-Owen
authors.forename: Hengjing
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Matthew M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Mench
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Regan
mesh_terms: D001674:Bioelectric Energy Sources / Q000382:microbiology*; D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000502:physiology; D004560:Electricity; D004563:Electrochemistry; D004566:Electrodes; D004867:Equipment Design; D045302:Geobacter / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D007700:Kinetics; D011549:Pseudomonas / Q000378:metabolism; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S