title: Using sediment microbial fuel cells (SMFCs) for bioremediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).
abstract: In this study, a sediment microbial fuel cell (SMFC) was explored to bioremediate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in water originated from soil. The results showed consistent power generations of 6.02±0.34 and 3.63±0.37 mW/m(2) under an external resistance of 1500 Ω by the aerobic and anaerobic SMFC, respectively. Although the power generations were low, they had relatively low internal resistances (i.e., 436.6±69.4 and 522.1±1.8 Ω for the aerobic and anaerobic SMFC, respectively) in comparison with the literature. Nevertheless, the significant benefit of this system was its bioremediation capabilities, achieving 41.7%, 31.4% and 36.2% removal of naphthalene, acenaphthene and phenanthrene, respectively, in the aerobic environment and 76.9%, 52.5% and 36.8%, respectively, in the anaerobic environment. These results demonstrated the ability of SMFCs in stimulating microorganisms for bioremediation of complex and recalcitrant PAHs.
authors.affiliation: Center for Water Research, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National University of Singapore, Block E1A #07-03, 1 Engineering Drive 2, Singapore 117576, Singapore.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sherafatmand
authors.affiliation: Center for Water Research, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National University of Singapore, Block E1A #07-03, 1 Engineering Drive 2, Singapore 117576, Singapore. Electronic address: howyongng@nus.edu.sg.
authors.forename: How Yong
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Ng
mesh_terms: D000332:Aerobiosis; D000693:Anaerobiosis; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D001674:Bioelectric Energy Sources / Q000382:microbiology*; D019149:Bioreactors / Q000382:microbiology; D002244:Carbon / Q000032:analysis; D004560:Electricity; D055664:Electrochemical Techniques; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000382:microbiology*; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D002244:Carbon
keywords: Bioremediation; Contaminated soil; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs); Power generation; Sediment microbial fuel cell (SMFC)