Conjugated oligoelectrolyte represses hydrogen oxidation by Geobacter sulfurreducens in microbial electrolysis cells.
A conjugated oligoelectrolyte (COE), which spontaneously aligns within cell membranes, was shown to completely inhibit H2 uptake by Geobacter sulfurreducens in microbial electrolysis cells. Coulombic efficiencies that were 490±95%, due to H2 recycling between the cathode and microorganisms on the anode, were reduced to 86±2% with COE addition. The use of the COE resulted in a 67-fold increase in H2 gas recovery, and a 4.4-fold increase in acetate removal. Current generation, H2 recovery and COD removals by Geobacter metallireducens, which cannot use H2, were unaffected by COE addition. These results show that this COE is an effective H2 uptake inhibitor, and that it can enable improved and sustained H2 gas recovery in this bioelectrochemical system.
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16801, United States.
Jia
J
Liu
School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China. Electronic address: houhuijie@hust.edu.cn.
Huijie
H
Hou
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California at Santa Barbara, CA 93106, United States.
Xiaofen
X
Chen
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California at Santa Barbara, CA 93106, United States.
Guillermo C
GC
Bazan
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16801, United States.
Hiroyuki
H
Kashima
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16801, United States. Electronic address: blogan@psu.edu.
Bruce E
BE
Logan
D000085:Acetates / Q000378:metabolism; D001674:Bioelectric Energy Sources; D004572:Electrolysis; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000737:chemistry*; D004867:Equipment Design; D045302:Geobacter / Q000378:metabolism*; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D013267:Stilbenes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology
D000085:Acetates; D004573:Electrolytes; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; D013267:Stilbenes; D006859:Hydrogen
Conjugated oligoelectrolyte; Energy recovery; Geobacter sulfurreducens; H(2) uptake inhibition; Microbial electrolysis cells