title: Maximizing power generation from dark fermentation effluents in microbial fuel cell by selective enrichment of exoelectrogens and optimization of anodic operational parameters.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To selectively enrich an electrogenic mixed consortium capable of utilizing dark fermentative effluents as substrates in microbial fuel cells and to further enhance the power outputs by optimization of influential anodic operational parameters.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A maximum power density of 1.4 W/m3was obtained by an enriched mixed electrogenic consortium in microbial fuel cells using acetate as substrate. This was further increased to 5.43 W/m3by optimization of influential anodic parameters. By utilizing dark fermentative effluents as substrates, the maximum power densities ranged from 5.2 to 6.2 W/m3with an average COD removal efficiency of 75% and a columbic efficiency of 10.6%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A simple strategy is provided for selective enrichment of electrogenic bacteria that can be used in microbial fuel cells for generating power from various dark fermentative effluents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, 721302, India.
authors.forename: Jhansi L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Varanasi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, 721302, India.
authors.forename: Pallavi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sinha
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, 721302, India. ddas.iitkgp@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Debabrata
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Das
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics; D001674:Bioelectric Energy Sources; D018441:Biofilms; D019149:Bioreactors / Q000382:microbiology*; D017097:Electric Impedance; D004566:Electrodes; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D005285:Fermentation / Q000502:physiology*; D010802:Phylogeny
chemical_list: D005227:Fatty Acids
keywords: Anode; Dark fermentation effluents; Energy efficiency; Exo-electrogens, Microbial fuel cell; Volatile fatty acids