title: Effects of atmospheric air plasma treatment of graphite and carbon felt electrodes on the anodic current from Shewanella attached cells.
abstract: The attachment of electrochemically active microorganisms (EAM) on an electrode is determined by both the chemistry and topography of the electrode surface. Pre-treatment of the electrode surface by atmospheric air plasma introduces hydrophilic functional groups, thereby increasing cell attachment and electroactivity in short-term experiments. In this study, we use graphite and carbon felt electrodes to grow the model EAM Shewanella loihica PV-4 at oxidative potential (0.2 V vs. Ag/AgCl). Cell attachment and electroactivity are measured through electrodynamic methods. Atmospheric air plasma pre-treatment increases cell attachment and current output at graphite electrodes by 25%, while it improves the electroactivity of the carbon felt electrodes by 450%. Air plasma pre-treatment decreased the coulombic efficiency on both carbon felt and graphite electrodes by 60% and 80%, respectively. Microbially produced flavins adsorb preferentially at the graphite electrode, and air plasma pre-treatment results in lower flavin adsorption at both graphite and carbon felt electrodes. Results show that air plasma pre-treatment is a feasible option to increase current output in bioelectrochemical systems.
authors: School of Biotechnology, Dublin City University, Collins Avenue, Dublin, Ireland.
authors: Monica
authors: M
authors: Epifanio
authors: School of Physical Sciences and National Centre for Plasma Science and Technology, Dublin City University, Collins Avenue, Dublin, Ireland.
authors: Saikumar
authors: S
authors: Inguva
authors: School of Biotechnology, Dublin City University, Collins Avenue, Dublin, Ireland.
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Kitching
authors: School of Physical Sciences and National Centre for Plasma Science and Technology, Dublin City University, Collins Avenue, Dublin, Ireland.
authors: Jean-Paul
authors: JP
authors: Mosnier
authors: School of Biotechnology, Dublin City University, Collins Avenue, Dublin, Ireland; National Centre for Sensor Research, Dublin City University, Collins Avenue, Dublin, Ireland; Singapore Centre on Environmental Life Sciences Engineering (SCELSE), Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, SBS-01N-27, Singapore, 637551.
authors: Enrico
authors: E
authors: Marsili
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D000388:Air; D001674:Bioelectric Energy Sources / Q000382:microbiology*; D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D000077482:Carbon Fiber; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D004566:Electrodes; D005415:Flavins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D006108:Graphite / Q000737:chemistry*; D058626:Plasma Gases / Q000737:chemistry*; D020592:Shewanella / Q000378:metabolism*; D012995:Solubility
chemical_list: D000077482:Carbon Fiber; D005415:Flavins; D058626:Plasma Gases; D002244:Carbon; D006108:Graphite
keywords: Atmospheric air plasma; Electroactivity; Shewanella loihica PV-4