A novel biosensor for p-nitrophenol based on an aerobic anode microbial fuel cell.
P-nitrophenol is one of the most common contaminants in chemical industrial wastewater, and in situ real-time monitoring of PNP cannot be achieved by conventional analytical techniques. Here, a two-chamber microbial fuel cell with an aerobic anode chamber was tested as a biosensor for in situ real-time monitoring of PNP. Pseudomonas monteilii LZU-3, which was used as the biological recognition element, can form a biofilm on the anode electrode using PNP as a sole substrate. The optimal operation parameters of the biosensor were as follows: external resistance 1000Ω, pH 7.8, temperature 30°C, and maximum PNP concentration 50mgL(-1). Under these conditions, the maximum voltages showed a linear relationship with PNP concentrations ranging from 15±5 to 44±4.5mgL(-1). Furthermore, we developed a novel portable device for in situ real-time monitoring of PNP. When the device was applied to measure PNP in wastewater containing various additional aromatic compounds and metal ions, the performance of the biosensor was not affected and the correlation between the maximum voltages and the PNP concentrations ranging from 9±4mgL(-1) to 36 ± 5mgL(-1) was conserved. The results demonstrated that the MFC biosensor provides a rapid and cost-efficient analytical method for real-time monitoring of toxic and recalcitrant pollutants in environmental samples.
MOE Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, Lanzhou University, 222 South Tianshui Rd., Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, PR China.
Zhengjun
Z
Chen
MOE Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, Lanzhou University, 222 South Tianshui Rd., Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, PR China.
Yongyan
Y
Niu
MOE Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, Lanzhou University, 222 South Tianshui Rd., Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, PR China.
Shuai
S
Zhao
MOE Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, Lanzhou University, 222 South Tianshui Rd., Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, PR China.
Aman
A
Khan
MOE Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, Lanzhou University, 222 South Tianshui Rd., Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, PR China.
Zhenmin
Z
Ling
MOE Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, Lanzhou University, 222 South Tianshui Rd., Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, PR China.
Yong
Y
Chen
MOE Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, Lanzhou University, 222 South Tianshui Rd., Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, PR China.
Pu
P
Liu
MOE Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, Lanzhou University, 222 South Tianshui Rd., Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, PR China. Electronic address: xkli@lzu.edu.cn.
Xiangkai
X
Li
D001674:Bioelectric Energy Sources / Q000191:economics / Q000382:microbiology*; D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development; D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004566:Electrodes / Q000191:economics / Q000382:microbiology; D004867:Equipment Design; D057230:Limit of Detection; D009596:Nitrophenols / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D011549:Pseudomonas / Q000502:physiology*; D062065:Wastewater / Q000032:analysis*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism
D009596:Nitrophenols; D062065:Wastewater; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C024836:4-nitrophenol
Biosensor; Microbial fuel cell; Wastewater; p-nitrophenol