title: Synergistic microbial consortium for bioenergy generation from complex natural energy sources.
abstract: Microbial species have evolved diverse mechanisms for utilization of complex carbon sources. Proper combination of targeted species can affect bioenergy production from natural waste products. Here, we established a stable microbial consortium with Escherichia coli and Shewanella oneidensis in microbial fuel cells (MFCs) to produce bioenergy from an abundant natural energy source, in the form of the sarcocarp harvested from coconuts. This component is mostly discarded as waste. However, through its usage as a feedstock for MFCs to produce useful energy in this study, the sarcocarp can be utilized meaningfully. The monospecies S. oneidensis system was able to generate bioenergy in a short experimental time frame while the monospecies E. coli system generated significantly less bioenergy. A combination of E. coli and S. oneidensis in the ratio of 1:9 (v:v) significantly enhanced the experimental time frame and magnitude of bioenergy generation. The synergistic effect is suggested to arise from E. coli and S. oneidensis utilizing different nutrients as electron donors and effect of flavins secreted by S. oneidensis. Confocal images confirmed the presence of biofilms and point towards their importance in generating bioenergy in MFCs.
authors.affiliation: Singapore Centre on Environmental Life Sciences Engineering (SCELSE), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637551 ; School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798.
authors.forename: Victor Bochuan
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-5557-9510
authors.initials: VB
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Singapore Centre on Environmental Life Sciences Engineering (SCELSE), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637551 ; Interdisciplinary Graduate School, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637551.
authors.forename: Joey Kuok Hoong
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Yam
authors.affiliation: Singapore Centre on Environmental Life Sciences Engineering (SCELSE), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637551 ; Graduate School of Integrative Sciences and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117543.
authors.forename: Song-Lin
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Chua
authors.affiliation: School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798.
authors.forename: Qichun
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Singapore Centre on Environmental Life Sciences Engineering (SCELSE), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637551 ; School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798.
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: Singapore Centre on Environmental Life Sciences Engineering (SCELSE), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637551 ; School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798.
authors.forename: Joachim Loo Say
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Chye
authors.affiliation: Singapore Centre on Environmental Life Sciences Engineering (SCELSE), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637551 ; School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637551.
authors.forename: Liang
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-2362-0128
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D001674:Bioelectric Energy Sources / Q000382:microbiology*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D007218:Industrial Microbiology / Q000379:methods; D059013:Microbial Consortia; D020592:Shewanella / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism
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