Time-course correlation of biofilm properties and electrochemical performance in single-chamber microbial fuel cells.
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.
Ren
Zhiyong
Z
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
Ramasamy
Ramaraja P
RP
Cloud-Owen
Susan Red
SR
Yan
Hengjing
H
Mench
Matthew M
MM
Regan
John M
JM
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
D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S