Discover insights from thousands of peer-reviewed papers on microbial electrochemical systems
Shucheng Chen, Xianmao Lu
Smart Materials for Advanced Environmental Applications · 2016
With the growing global demand for fresh water for consumption, it is of great importance to find novel technologies to produce fresh water efficiently. In recent years, forward osmosis (FO) has emerged as a promising membrane technology for seawater desalination and wastewater treatment. A crucial requirement for an efficient FO process is to find a draw solute that is able to generate a high water flux and can be regenerated via facile recovery methods. Smart materials exhibit advantages as FO draw agents to lower the energy cost of regeneration as they can respond to stimuli to undergo physical or chemical changes that facilitate separation from solvents. Therefore, increasing research efforts have been devoted to the design of smart draw solutes. This chapter aims to review the recent development of various smart draw solutes. It begins with a general introduction to the FO process. Next, hydrophilic magnetic nanoparticles and stimuli-responsive magnetic nanoparticles are discussed, followed by the study of smart polyelectrolytes, solvents and hydrogels. The concluding remarks present future perspectives on using smart draw solutes for FO processes.
Henry Pupiales, Raúl Bahamonde Soria, Daniel Arboleda et al.
Preprints.org · 2025
Chitosan biopolymer membranes reinforced with channel-selective ZIF-8 nanofillers were developed and characterized for use as separators in bioelectrochemical systems. The study focused on the application of biopolymer chitosan in combination with ZIF-8 as nano reinforcement agents to improve membrane performance. Key properties such as water retention, chemical and thermal stability, surface resistance, antifouling ability, and ionic conductivity of the mixed matrix membranes (Composite ZIF-8/chitosan) were evaluated and compared with commercial Nafion-117 and nanofiltration (NF) membranes. The composite ZIF-8/chitosan membranes exhibited excellent water retention and structural stability under harsh conditions, while reducing surface resistance and effectively rejecting organic contaminants and salts (NaCl, Na₂SO₄). Impressively, the ionic conductivity reached 0.105 S/cm, which is similar to that of Nafion-117. These results suggest that biopolymer chitosan reinforced with ZIF-8 nanofillers offers a sustainable and cost-effective alternative for use as separators in bioelectrochemical systems applications.
Mohsen Shahinpoor
Fundamentals of Smart Materials · 2020
Chapter 19 reviews conductive polymers (CPs). There are currently a fairly large number of CPs or synthetic conductors that are being used industrially or medically. Some of the basic conducting polymers are polypyrrole, polyaniline, polythiophene, poly(phenyl vinylene), polyacetylene, etc., which can be manufactured via chemical or electrochemical oxidation and reduction (redox) procedures. CPs with the ability to conduct electrical charges in addition to being flexible, optically active and not difficult to synthesize present a tremendous opportunity for the industrial and medical applications of CPs. Pioneering work on CPs reported the observation that the conductivity of polyacetylene increases by millions of times when it is oxidized via “doping” with iodine vapor. CPs can conduct electrical charge because within their molecular network charges can jump between the molecular chains of the polymer. CP molecular structures possess both single and double chemical bonds, which enhance charge transfer.
S Venkata Raju, K Madhusudhana
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL ONLINE OF SCIENCE · 2016
Renewable energy is the energy created by sources, which are naturally replenished such as sunlight, rain, wind and tides. Although there is much debate about how to define and distinguish renewable energy from non-renewable, other energy types such as biomass, biofuel and anaerobic digestion are also widely considered as renewable energy. Microbial fuel cells(MFCs) that generate electricity by the break-down of organic matter(e.g. wastewater) have a great potential for the future energy and environmental challenges. MFCs are often compared with anaerobic digestion, which also uses microbial activity for breaking down organic matter in the absence of oxygen. Unlike anaerobic digestion, which is relatively well understood and already widely used in municipal wastewater treatment plants, MFCs have received far less attention and funding, hence the technology is still at laboratory level in its development.
Erin M. Gaffney, Shelley D. Minteer
Science · 2021
Silver nanoparticles in Shewanella membranes boost electron transfer to graphene electrodes
Işılay BİLGİÇ
Turkish Journal of Water Science and Management · 2022
Günümüzün en önemli sorunları arasında artan enerji ihtiyacını karşılamak ve fosil kaynakların enerji üretimi için kullanımından kaynaklanan çevre kirliliğinin önlenmesi yer almaktadır. Ayrıca, dünyadaki kullanılabilir sudaki azalma insan sağlığı ve nüfusu için bir tehdit haline gelmiştir. Mikrobiyolojik yakıt hücreleri (MYH) bu üç önemli sorunu çözme potansiyeli sebebiyle son yıllarda daha ilgi çekici bir konu haline gelmiştir. Atık sulardaki organik ve inorganik içerikler potansiyel bir enerji kaynağı olarak görülebilir. MYH'ler, atık suyun organik ve inorganik içeriğindeki kimyasal enerjiyi elektriğe dönüştürebilen tek sistemdir. Bu dönüşüm gerçekleştirilirken, atık suyun temizlenmesi işlemi yapılabilir. Bu sistemlerin maliyetlerini azaltmak, sistemin kullanımını hızlandırmak için en önemli parametredir. Son zamanlarda özellikle, oksijen indirgeme reaksiyonunun gerçekleştiği katot bölmesinde kullanılan katalizörlerin maliyetinin düşürülmesi ve verimliliğinin arttırılması üzerine yapılan araştırmalar hız kazanmıştır. Bu çalışmada, MYH 'lerde kullanılan katot malzemeleri incelenecek ve alternatif malzemeler tartışılacaktır.
Barbara Bielec
Proceedings of the Wisconsin Space Conference · 2015
The BioPharmaceutical Technology Center Institute (BTC Institute) is a non-profit educational organization founded in 1993; located in Fitchburg, WI. During the summers of 2013 and 2014, the BTC Institute offered teacher training in biotechnology through two graduate education courses, Biotechnology: The Basics (2013 & 2014) and Biotechnology: Beyond the Basics (2013). Teachers of a wide variety of subjects with varied levels of teaching experience were active participants in this lab-based learning that provided teachers with training, background and curriculum materials including information about NASA and biotechnology. In addition to the teacher courses, the BTC Institute in partnership with the African American Ethnic Academy, Inc. (AAEA), a Madison non- profit organization, also offered "A Celebration of Life!, a science program for upper elementary and middle school students. The focus of the 2013 program was Energy and the focus of the 2014 program was Flight.
Nebiyu Wolde Girgibo
Climate · 2022
This review paper describes seaside renewable energy resources. The motivation and need behind this work are to give background literature on the use of climate change effects as a resource support for shallow geothermal-energy (seaside energy solutions) production. This leads to combating and mitigating climate change by using its effect to our advantage. As a part of my literature review as a report series, this report gives some background about seaside energy solutions relating to water quality and climate change. This review paper addresses all aspects of renewable energy. The methodology implemented in this review paper and other series was a systematic literature review process. After searching and collecting articles from three databases, they were evaluated by title, abstract and whole article then synthesized into the literature review. The key conclusion is that seaside renewable energy is mainly shallow geothermal-energy and most of the methods use climate change effects to their advantage such as sediment heat energy production. The main recommendation is to use the effects of climate change to combat and mitigate its causes and further consequences. The overall conclusions are built on the relationships between different aspects of the topics. The paper contributes a precise current review of renewable energy. It is the last part of a series of four review papers on climate change, land uplift, water resources, and these seaside energy solutions.
D. D. Pham, Sumiko Kurashima, N. Kaku et al.
Water Supply · 2018
A bench-scale experiment to cultivate rice for animal feeding with continuous irrigation of treated municipal wastewater (TWW) in six different conditions was carried out to examine nitrogen removal from TWW, yield and quality of harvested rice, and accumulation of heavy metals in soil and rice grains. A microbial fuel cell (MFC) system comprising graphite felt electrodes was also installed to generate electricity in the paddy field. The highest rice yield (9.0 ton/ha), dry mass (12.4 ton/ha), and protein content (13.1%), an important nutrient in animal feed, were obtained when a bottom-to-top irrigation (TWW was supplied to the underdrain pipe) was applied at the highest flow rate. The bottom-to-top irrigation achieved 79 to 91% removal of nitrogen in TWW, which was much higher than the top-to-top irrigation (58%). No accumulation of heavy metals was found in the experimental soils, and heavy metal concentrations in brown rice were lower than the allowable levels of current standards. The electric output from the MFC system was much lower than that reported in normal paddy fields, probably due to the poor connection between cables and electrodes. Further study is necessary to improve the electricity generation and to continuously monitor heavy metals in brown rice and the soil.
Practice, Progress, and Proficiency in Sustainability · 2020
Membrane technologies play a very important role in water and wastewater treatments. These membrane processes provide key advantages over the conventional processes, such as lower energy requirement, lower footprint, easier to operate, and more effective contaminants removal. This chapter introduces different membrane processes: (1) pressure-driven membrane processes which are the most widely used in water and wastewater treatments, and (2) several advanced membrane processes. These processes perform physical or physicochemical separations. Most of the separations occur between liquid-liquid phases, but liquid-gas and gas-gas separation phases are also performed in the latest membrane development. The contemporary membrane bioreactor is the heart of membrane technologies that are used in various applications. However, fouling is a common phenomenon that reduces the efficiency of the membrane operation. Thus, the concept of critical flux and introduction of some control and preventive mechanism could prevent or reduce the fouling in membrane bioreactors.
Practice, Progress, and Proficiency in Sustainability · 2020
The application of microalgae-based wastewater treatment was first introduced in the 1940s to treat municipal wastewater. Microalgae have been studied for its various potentials such as for nutrients removal, carbon dioxide (CO2) removal, biofuel production from biomass, etc. This chapter focuses on the potential of microalgae membrane bioreactors for wastewater treatment, microalgae cultivation, and harvesting. Furthermore, the selection of microalgae species is covered by comparison of nitrogen, phosphorus, COD, and BOD removal from various studies. Microalgae membrane bioreactors combine the biological treatment of microalgae with the conventional membrane bioreactor. Still, membrane fouling phenomenon is a challenge in microalgae membrane technology. Thus, several other technologies of immobilized microalgae are introduced which can potentially reduce the membrane fouling occurrence and concurrently remove the need for microalgae harvesting process.
Practice, Progress, and Proficiency in Sustainability · 2020
Conventional wastewater treatment consists of chemical, biological, physicochemical, and mechanical processes to remove organic loading, solids, and nutrient contents from wastewater. Biological processes are more commonly used in wastewater treatment as secondary or tertiary treatments, as it is more effective and more economical than chemical and mechanical processes. In this chapter, several types of wastewaters generated from municipal or industrial activities are discussed. Wastewater has different pollutant contents depending on the point of generation which consequently requires different ways of treatment. Some commonly used conventional wastewater treatment technologies are introduced. A particular focus is given to both aerobic and anaerobic treatments.
Lina María Agudelo-Escobar, Santiago Erazo Cabrera
Environmental Sciences · 2024
Water resource sustainability is a critical global concern, leading to extensive scientific research. Proposed alternatives for wastewater effluent use include the promising Bioelectrochemical Systems (BES) that not only treat wastewater effectively but also generate electricity, produce biofuels, and synthesize valuable compounds through integrated microbial and electrochemical processes. BES research aims to enhance device design and develop superior electrochemical materials for optimal performance. The efficiency of treatment and energy co-generation depends on the metabolic characteristics of microbial communities responsible for oxidation-reduction processes in wastewater. The diversity of these communities, along with electron transport mechanisms and metabolic pathways, significantly impacts BES functionality and effectiveness. This study focuses on microorganisms in various BES setups, presenting their electrochemical performance. It compiles data on microbial ecology, emphasizing controlled communities and model microorganisms from wastewater treatment systems. The study highlights the scarce research on native microbial communities for agroindustrial wastewater. Its main goal is to consolidate information on microorganisms with electrogenic capacity, demonstrating their potential in different bioelectrochemical systems. These applications can transform wastewater bioremediation and enable the production of green energy, biofuels, and high-value compounds.
Sayali Udakwar, Dilip Sarode
Bhartiya Krishi Anusandhan Patrika · 2023
Background: Agricultural residues are a significant part of the waste generated in India. It is challenging for farmers to manage surplus crop residue sustainably because of large production and limited options. Ultimately, most farmers burn crop residue without giving it a second thought. Besides affecting the environment, burning crop residues also reduces soil fertility, soil nutrient content and soil organic humus levels by releasing greenhouse gases. Methods: This study was conducted to identify surplus crop residues available and their current uses. Vidarbha region in Maharashtra was selected for the study and cotton, tur and soybean crops were selected since these are the most commonly grown crops there. A man-to-man survey was conducted to determine the type and amount of crop residue available and how it is currently being used. Three farmlands in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra were selected for the study. Four different varieties of cotton, tur and soybean were grown on three farms. The yield and crop residue generated were measured per unit area. Analysis of crop residue availability was conducted using statistical methods. Result: Based on the study, it can be concluded that biomass waste is abundantly available and there is potential to generate bioenergy by utilizing agricultural waste effectively. Furthermore, the regression study shows that crop output is a major predictor of crop residue generated.
Gopal Sonkar
Journal of Global Resources · 2022
This paper deals with three issues related to surplus residues biomass energy: 1. the concept of surplus crop residues biomass energy, 2. institutional setup for residues biomass energy policy and planning, and 3. Its achievement at the national level. The choice of surplus crop residues biomass energy is dependent on the institutional framework that shaped its existence in the renewable energy sector. The current study is shaped by various alternative learning-based approaches used by academics and practitioners in the field of renewable energy. The approaches show similarities with Clean Development Management (CDM) goals and reflect the alternative and sustainable development context within which they were framed toward ecological-based energy capacity building. The institutional framework can encourage surplus crop residual biomass energy, and it is one of the few alternative energy resources in which individuals appear eager to invest. However, the surplus crop residues biomass energy initiative is slowly spreading across the country, wait and watch if the surplus crop residues biomass energy approach can prove its merits.
Erica Cruz
Global Scientific Research in Environmental Science · 2025
The growing environmental concerns have intensified interest in renewable sources, promoting the use of agro-industrial residues as alternative substrates for the production of materials, chemicals, and bioenergy. Among these residues, cheese whey stands out due to its high content of lactose, proteins, and minerals, and is widely used in microbial fermentations to produce industrially relevant compounds such as enzymes. Likewise, lignocellulosic wastes like sugarcane bagasse have proven effective as carbon sources for cellulase production, while corn steep liquor has been employed as an inexpensive nitrogen source. Studies involving Bacillus licheniformis SMIA-2 have demonstrated its potential to produce enzymes such as proteases, avicelase, and carboxymethyl cellulase (CMCase) using agro-industrial residues, including passion fruit peel flour, cheese whey, and sugarcane bagasse supplemented with corn steep liquor. Replacing conventional inputs with industrial by-products not only reduces enzyme production costs but also contributes to minimizing the environmental impact caused by residue disposal. This review highlights the importance of agro-industrial residue valorization as a sustainable and economically feasible strategy for microbial enzyme production.
Eti Best Herbert
Journal of Sustainable Development Law and Policy (The) · 2022
Most Nigerian living in the rural areas lack access to electricity due to lack of connectivity to the national grid network. The national grid expansion strategy to rural areas has not yielded much result due to financing and centralised approach. Off-grid electricity is considered more suitable for rapid electrification of rural areas. This paper examined the American and Indian approach to rural electrification and derived suitable lessons for Nigeria. While America ensured a robust national grid network to service rural areas, India adopted the renewable energy based off-grid options, thereby becoming the fastest developing country in rural electrification. Keywords: Rural Electrification; Off-grid, National Grid; Renewable Energy; Financing; Decentralisation
International Journal of Recent Technology and Engineering · 2019
Renewable energy finds major application in electrification of remote areas where the access to electrical energy from grid is not possible.Renewable energy resources also act as the most important source for electrical energy production to overcome the energy crisis due to lapse of conventional sources and expected to meet the large demand in power all over the world especially in developing country like India. Among the renewable resources, wind & solar are the most popular ones because of their abundance, ease of accessibility and which can be easily converted to the electricity. This paper presents the design and analysis of a hybrid solar-wind system for domestic purpose in the remote areas of the country where continuous power supply from central grid is a problem
Momina Sirguroh
Ecology, Environment and Conservation · 2024
The diverse landscapes, climates and social structures across India’s numerous regions, encompassing approximately 0.586 million villages present a spectrum of economic prospects rooted in leveraging local resources carefully. Sustainable development relies on the prudent utilization of these resources. Among various resources energy stands out as a very crucial for the sustainable development of rural areas. Rural electrification plays a pivotal role in fostering sustainable development in India by facilitating economic growth and social progress. Despite efforts, only 44% of rural households have access to electricity. The Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY), a national renewable energy scheme, aims to address this gap outlined in the National Common Minimum Programme (NCMP). While significant investments have been made in physical infrastructure, the focus has been on development rather than effective management. Ensuring reliable 24/7 power supply to essential facilities is crucial. The success of initiative like RGGVY hinges on empowering State Electricity Boards (SEBs) to enforce regulations and ensure reliable service delivery, especially during peak demand hours in rural areas. This paper delves into the significance and challenges of rural electrification, exploring technical solutions and viable strategies to empower policymakers in utilizing electrical energy effectively.
Chris Bell, Ayoolu Olukemi, Abram Gracias
Preprints.org · 2024
The transition to renewable energy sources is critical for sustainable development, particularly in rural regions with limited access to electricity. Solar-powered microgrids offer a promising solution for rural electrification by providing reliable, clean energy that can enhance economic opportunities and improve quality of life. This paper presents a techno-economic analysis of solar-powered microgrids for rural areas, evaluating their feasibility, costs, and benefits. The analysis encompasses technological aspects, such as solar panel efficiency, battery storage, and grid management, alongside economic factors including initial investment, maintenance costs, and potential returns. Additionally, the study assesses the social impact of solar-powered microgrids, exploring their effects on local communities, including improvements in education, health, and economic activities. The findings indicate that solar microgrids can be a viable and impactful solution for rural electrification, with significant long-term benefits for both economic development and social well-being.
Evaristo Haulle, Gabriel Kanuti Ndimbo
International Journal of Development Issues · 2024
Purpose Tanzania is rich in small hydropower (SHP) potentials. However, many of these potentials have yet to be fully used, and more than two-thirds of its rural population lacks access to electricity. The purpose of this paper is to explore the role of SHP stations in improving rural welfare in the southern highlands of Tanzania. It further explores the history, cost-effective analysis and threats to the sustainability of SHP as one of the renewable energy sources. Design/methodology/approach The study uses a qualitative research design to explore respondents’ views on the role of SHP stations in facilitating rural electrification and welfare improvement. Primary data were gathered using semi-structured interviews with the 27 key informants and beneficiaries of SHP stations from the Southern Highlands of Tanzania. In addition, the study used documentary research to complement the information from the field survey. Findings The findings found that SHP stations enhance rural electrification and welfare by providing electricity in remote areas with sparse populations. They operate as standalone off-grids, often by church communities and individuals. However, the sustainability of SHP stations is hampered by challenges such as climate change impacts, high capital investment costs, heavy siltation of small reservoirs, skilled manpower shortages, limited local manufacturing capabilities and infrastructural issues. Originality/value The study contributes to the ongoing debate on renewable energy supply and uses, focusing on how SHP stations could contribute to sustainable rural electrification and achieve the 2030 United Nations agenda for sustainable development, which, among other things, aims to safeguard access to sustainable and modern energy and alleviate energy poverty.
S. Rojas-Flores
Green Energy and Environmental Technology · 2022
The great contamination caused by organic waste in the process of sale and production has generated great governmental problems; mainly due to the lack of an adequate system for collecting waste. This research reveals the great potential of organic waste, mainly fruit waste, as fuel for the generation of electrical energy through the use of microbial fuel cell technology, due to the high content of chemical substances for chemical oxidation-reduction reactions. This research reveals the reason and the fundamental role for microorganisms in the process of generating electricity; as well as the advances revealed by researchers on the use of certain waste as fuel.
Barbara Mecheri
Encyclopedia of Electrochemistry · 2021
Abstract Promoting the transition toward a circular economy and sustainable development through scientific and technological innovation is the only viable strategy for leading to energy‐saving solutions, waste valorization, and efficient integration of renewable resources. Thanks to its dual function of harvesting energy from waste and cleaning up waste from organic pollutants, microbial fuel cells (MFCs) can be considered as a revolutionary tool for addressing the global environmental challenges. Here, several aspects of MFC technology are considered: basic principles and operational conditions, the role of materials efficiency for enhancing MFC performance, bacterial extracellular electron transfer mechanisms, the effect of different substrates used, and perspectives for technology scaling up. Special emphasis will be given to the development of low‐cost and effective catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction at the cathode side, as a key aspect for reducing the high cost of current electrode materials which limits the implementation of larger‐scale MFC systems. The application of MFCs in environmental monitoring and bioremediation is also reviewed, highlighting still existing limitations and potential future research for promoting the combination of MFCs with well‐established technologies.
Apriansa Apriansa, Irdawati Irdawati
Jurnal Biologi Tropis · 2025
Significant economic and population growth around the world has led to various problems, especially fossil fuel scarcity, energy production, as well as an increase in the volume of organic waste (agricultural, municipal, and industrial waste). As an alternative energy source, Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) was chosen due to its promising prospects. The use of thermophilic bacteria and consortiums were chosen for their potential advantages in MFC systems. This study aims to explore the potential of thermophilic bioelectrogenous bacterial isolates of Sungai Sapan Aro (SSA) consortium 14&16 in producing bioenergy using various agricultural waste substrates (corn cob, rice straw, rice husk, and glucose as control). The results showed no significant difference in the use of agricultural waste substrates in the MFC system. Quantitatively, corn cobs produced voltages almost equivalent to glucose (control), while rice straw and rice husk produced lower voltages. The resulting voltages were glucose (0.59467 V), corn cob (0.57633 V), rice straw (0.43300 V), and rice husk (0.40400 V). The results of this study show better performance compared to previous studies in the field of electricity generation through MFCs.
G. Pîrcălăbioru, M. Chifiriuc
Future Microbiology · 2020
Biofilms are highly tolerant to antimicrobial agents and adverse environmental conditions being important reservoirs for chronic and hard-to-treat infections. Nanomaterials exhibit microbiostatic/microbicidal/antipathogenic properties and can be also used for the delivery of antibiofilm agents. However, few of the many promising leads offered by nanotechnology reach clinical studies and eventually, become available to clinicians. The aim of this paper was to review the progress and challenges in the development of nanotechnology-based antibiofilm drug-delivery systems. The main identified challenges are: most papers report only in vitro studies of the activity of different nanoformulations; lack of standardization in the methodological approaches; insufficient collaboration between material science specialists and clinicians; paucity of in vivo studies to test efficiency and safety.
Abhijeet P. Borole
ECS Meeting Abstracts · 2016
Production of renewable electricity and hydrogen in biorefinery can add a significant value towards development of a sustainable bioeconomy for the 21 st century. Here, we investigate bioelectrochemical systems for conversion of biomass and waste using biological fuel cells and electrolysis cells. The ability to extract electrons from biomass components efficiently can lead to novel pathways for production of energy, fuels and chemicals. Understanding the electron transfer and charge transfer issues is critical in developing functional bioelectrochemical cells. Current production from two biomass-derived streams was investigated determining Coulombic efficiency, cathode efficiency and electrical efficiency. The effect of substrate concentration and loading on performance was studied to understand kinetic vs. mass transfer issues. In addition to the electrochemical aspects, bioconversion aspects become critically important for valorizing complex streams such as bio-derived liquids. In addition to sugars, transformation of furanic and phenolic compounds derived from lignin and hemicellulose is important, since they are rich source of electrons. Removal of furfural, HMF, phenolic acids and acetic acid was demonstrated and conversion efficiencies were calculated. Improvements in current density and coulombic efficiency of the bioanode were studied by varying multiple operational parameters. The electron transfer process was measured against the proton and charge transfer steps to identify mechanistic factors controlling the conversion of the complex substrates to electricity and hydrogen.
M. Isabel San-Martín, Francisco Javier Carmona, Pedro Prádanos et al.
Preprints.org · 2019
Bioelectrochemical systems (BES) encompass a group of biobased technologies capable of directly converting organic matter into electricity. In these systems, which are derived from conventional electrochemical systems, the ion exchange membrane represents a key element because of its influence on the economic feasibility and on the performance of BES. This study examines the impact of long-term operation of a BES on the mechanical, chemical and electrochemical properties of five different kind of cation exchange membranes (Nafion-117, CMI-7001, Zirfon UTP 500, FKE and FKB) through several techniques: (i) scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) to assess the changes on the membranes surface, (ii) thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) to evaluate the structural stability of the membranes, and (iii) ion exchange capacity (IEC) to monitor any change in their electrochemical properties. Results confirmed that there is not an ideal membrane for BES. While Nafion and CMI-7000 exhibited the strongest chemical structure, they also underwent the highest fouling as revealed by a fast increase in surface roughness.
Max Hackbarth, Johannes Gescher, Harald Horn et al.
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) · 2022
Abstract This study discusses the construction and operation of a membrane-less bioelectrochemical reactor that employs rotating working electrodes with a surface area of up to 1 m 2 . As a proof-of-principle for an aerobic microbial electrosynthesis process, Kyrpidia spormannii was cultivated in the reactor. Optical coherence tomography was used to examine the spatial distribution of the cathodic biofilm. After 24 days 87% of the cathode surface was covered with biofilm that was characterized by a radial increase in its biovolume towards the circumcenter of the electrodes reaching up to 92.13 μm 3 μm -2 . To demonstrate the versatility of the system, we further operated the reactor as a microbial electrolysis cell employing a co-culture of Shewanella oneidensis and Geobacter sulfurreducens . Anodic current densities of up to 130 μA cm -2 were measured during these batch experiments. This resulted in a maximum production rate of 0.43 liters of pure hydrogen per liter reactor volume and day. Graphical Abstract Highlights Construction of a 10 L membrane-less, pressurizable bioelectrochemical reactor Rotating working electrodes with up to 1 m 2 electrode surface Electroautotrophic cultivation and quantification of K. spormannii biofilms Initial cell density crucial for successful K. spormannii biofilm formation Anodic operation as MEC with Shewanella / Geobacter coculture
Krisha Dhall, Krismaa Rajasuresh
Undergraduate Research in Natural and Clinical Science and Technology (URNCST) Journal · 2021
Introduction: The WHO has stated that about 50% of the world lacks access to secure and continuous supply of electricity, heavily impacting the healthcare industry in these countries. Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs) can be a low cost-efficient energy source capable of powering medical devices in low-income countries. Due to the components and impurities found in saliva, this biofluid can behave like an electrolyte and a viable fuel source to power the MFC. With this capability, saliva has the potential to power micro-gadgets with microbial fuel cells capable of degrading the components of saliva. Thus, this study explores saliva’s potential to act as a fuel source to power microbial fuel cells within medical diagnosis devices. Methods: A systematic review was conducted through primary and secondary research articles exploring and comparing the use of saliva as an energy source compared to other biofluids. Key terms focused for meta-analyses include: ‘semiconductors’, ‘saliva’, ‘microbial fuel cells’, ‘point-of-care’. Results: Previous research has discovered that lysozyme enzymes present in saliva can create an electrical charge that can successively power biomedical devices. Researchers have also created paper-based batteries containing frozen exoelectrogenic cells, powered by the bacterial degradation of human spit. Saliva has been demonstrated to contain similar biomarkers to urine, a successful diagnostic biofluid, and can therefore be used as a diagnostic biofluid as well. Discussion: Given saliva’s capabilities, a hypothetical diagnostic device powered using saliva as the biofluid, was designed. Bacteria break down the saliva, allowing protons to travel from the anode to the cathode resulting in electricity. It was determined that graphite would be the most cost-efficient and energy producing electrode material for the device. In addition, this electricity that is produced will power the diagnostic device attached. Conclusion: Saliva can act as a fuel source, capable of powering diagnostic devices using microbial fuel cells with saliva. These properties can be beneficial to many people who do not have access to preliminary diagnosis. This can result in immediate treatment and help prevent further spread of diseases, vital for those in low-income countries. Broad scale applications of using saliva can be directed towards exterior lighting systems and powering larger medical devices.
Elena Emelyanova
Micromachines · 2023
Express assessment of the biochemical activity of microorganisms is important in both applied and fundamental research. A laboratory model of a microbial electrochemical sensor formed on the basis of the culture of interest is a device that provides rapidly information about the culture and is cost effective, simple to fabricate and easy to use. This paper describes the application of laboratory models of microbial sensors in which the Clark-type oxygen electrode was used as a transducer. The formation of the models of the reactor microbial sensor (RMS) and the membrane microbial sensor (MMS) and the formation of the response of biosensors are compared. RMS and MMS are based on intact or immobilized microbial cells, respectively. For MMS, the response of biosensor is caused both by the process of transport of substrate into microbial cells and by the process of the initial metabolism of substrate; and only initial substrate metabolism triggers the RMS response. The details of the application of biosensors for the study of allosteric enzymes and inhibition by substrate are discussed. For inducible enzymes, special attention is paid to the induction of microbial cells. This article addresses current problems related to implementation of the biosensor approach and discusses the ways how to overcome these problems.
V. Gupta, S. Zeilinger-Migsich, E. X. F. Filho et al.
· 2016
Microbial applications encompass areas including biotechnology, chemical engineering, and alternative fuel development. Research on their technological developments cover many aspects of work using microbes as cell factories. The fields of biotechnology, chemical engineering, pharmaceuticals, diagnostics and medical device development also employ these microbial products. There is an urgent need to integrate all these disciplines that caters to the need of all those who are interested to work in the area of microbial technologies. This book is a step forward to integrate the aforesaid frontline branches into an interdisciplinary research work quenching the academic as well as research thirst of all those concerned about microbes in the respective area of biotechnology, chemical engineering, and pharmaceuticals. All the chapters in this book are related to important research on microbial applications, written by international specialists for researchers and academics in the concerned disciplines. This publication aims to provide a detailed compendium of experimental work and information used to investigate different aspects of microbial technologies, their products as well as interdisciplinary interactions including biochemistry of metabolites, in a manner that reflects the recent developments of relevance to researchers/scientists investigating microbes.
Vânia B. Oliveira
Energies · 2023
The Future of Energy is focused on the consolidation of new energy technologies. Among them, Fuel Cells (FCs) are on the Energy Agenda due to their potential to reduce the demand for fossil fuel and greenhouse gas emissions, their higher efficiency (as fuel cells do not use combustion, their efficiency is not linked to their maximum operating temperature) and simplicity and absence of moving parts. Additionally, low-power FCs have been identified as the target technology to replace conventional batteries in portable applications, which can have recreational, professional, and military purposes. More recently, low-power FCs have also been identified as an alternative to conventional batteries for medical devices and have been used in the medical field both in implantable devices and as micro-power sources. The most used power supply for implantable medical devices (IMD) is lithium batteries. However, despite its higher lifetime, this is far from enough to meet the patient’s needs since these batteries are replaced through surgeries. Based on the close synergetic connection between humans and microorganisms, microbial fuel cells (MFCs) were targeted as the replacement technology for batteries in IMD since they can convert the chemical energy from molecules presented in a living organism into electrical energy. Therefore, MFCs offer the following advantages over lithium batteries: they do not need to be replaced, avoiding subjecting IMD users to different surgeries and decreasing medical costs; they do not need external recharging as they operate as long as the fuel is supplied, by the body fluids; they are a more environmentally friendly technology, decreasing the carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases emissions resulting from the utilization of fossil fuels and the dependency on fossil fuels and common batteries. However, they are complex systems involving electrochemical reactions, mass and charge transfer, and microorganisms, which affect their power outputs. Additionally, to achieve the desired levels of energy density needed for real applications, an MFC system must overcome some challenges, such as high costs and low power outputs and lifetime.
KRUTI DAVE, Parth Darji, Fenie Gandhi et al.
Research Square (Research Square) · 2020
Abstract With the expanding population, there is increase in an energy demand, which leads to the depletion of non-sustainable energy sources, for example; fossils. As the current situation speaks, the oil deposits are left for mere 53 years, likely with gas i.e. 52 years and with coal 150 years. So, there is an urgent need to find a sustainable source which is cheap and environment friendly, owing to the fact of current energy consumption level is left for merely 230 years. As committed by green alternative, for the future enhancement of the planet, the fossil fuel abandonment is required, and instigation of renewable resources such as Microbial Fuel Cell [MFCs] and Plant Microbial Fuel Cell [PMFCs] should be implemented. MFC is a visionary technique, as it converts wastage into the energy, whereas, PMFC is a new-fangled technique devoid of any climatic conditions and also it requires less investment. By scrutinizing this technique, Bacillus megaterium and sewage material is used in MFCs whereas Azolla and Trigonella foenum is used in PMFCs, which converts chemical energy into electrical energy with the help of electrons flowing from anode to cathode via circuit. The individual setup of each MFCs and PMFCs are examined diurnally for voltage and current gain proceeded by connection of both [MFC and PMFC] in series with LED in between thus gaining the luminance in LED. So assurance is gained by this technique of MFC and PMFC as distinctive energy harvesting technology equipped with; consistency, maintenance and free power for distant future.
akihiro okamoto, Kohei Shimokawa, Duyen Minh Pham et al.
Research Square · 2024
Abstract The escalating demand for large-scale rechargeable batteries to achieve sustainability goals underscores the urgent need to secure Li metal from diverse sources 1-3 . Intercalation materials offer promise for selective and efficient electrochemical recovery from various sources, but the requirement of electrodes in driving intercalation reactions presents challenges for scale-up 4-6 . Herein, we introduce a biologically driven method for electrochemical Li recovery, utilizing a combination of intercalation nanomaterials and dissimilatory metal-reducing bacteria, specifically Shewanella oneidensis MR-1. This method couples bacterial metabolic hydrocarbon oxidation with Li intercalation into λ-MnO₂, achieving rates and selectivity comparable to electrode-based methods across different Li concentrations. Over 95% of Li was recovered from seawater within hours, with less than 1% co-intercalation of other metal ions. The efficacy of this reaction is maintained across scales by the autonomous formation of microbe/λ-MnO₂ agglomerates, in which extracellular and cell-surface cytochromes facilitate efficient electron transfer. Comprehensive techno-economic and life-cycle analyses for Li₂CO₃ production indicate that our method outperforms conventional evaporative processes, reducing on-site Li source water loss by two orders of magnitude without increasing costs. Our scalable bioelectrochemical approach could enable efficient Li recovery and offer great potential for sustainable resource management and recycling for both research and industrial applications.
David N. Breslauer
Advanced Functional Materials · 2024
Over the past two decades, significant advancements have been made in the scalable production and commercialization of microbially‐produced recombinant protein polymers. This perspective presents the evolution from early research efforts to the development of market‐ready products, with a focus on recombinant silk‐like proteins. Initial attempts to synthesize spider silk proteins in microbial hosts faced challenges with solubility, stability, and yield. Recent advancements in synthetic biology, protein engineering, and bioprocess development have enabled the substantial progress on these challenges. Early commercial efforts highlight the complexities and high costs involved in silk production and more recent strategies have shifted toward processes with better scalability, techno‐economics, and product properties. Significant commercial progress has been made, with products launched in textiles and personal care. Although market penetration is limited so far, substantial groundwork is laid for future success. Key challenges remain, such as continued high production costs and the need for cost‐effective purification and fiber spinning techniques. However, the convergence of scientific, technological, and market developments –including a growing number of product launches – suggests that recombinant silk and protein polymers can soon become widespread sustainable materials across various industries.
Chaochao Li, Shaoan Cheng
Critical Reviews in Biotechnology · 2019
Abstract Various new energy technologies have been developed to reduce reliance on fossil fuels. The bioelectrochemical system (BES), an integrated microbial–electrochemical energy conversion process, is projected to be a sustainable and environmentally friendly energy technology. However, low power density is still one of the main limiting factors restricting the practical application of BESs. To enhance power output, functional group modification on anode surfaces has been primarily developed to improve the bioelectrochemical performances of BESs in terms of startup, power density, chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal and coulombic efficiency (CE). This modification could change the anode surface characteristics: roughness, hydrophobicity, biocompatibility, chemical bonding and electrochemically active surface area. This will facilitate bacterial adhesion, biofilm formation and extracellular electron transfer (EET). Additionally, some antibacterial functional groups are applied on air cathodes in order to suppress aerobic biofilms and enhance cathodic oxygen reduction reactions (ORRs). Various modification strategies such as: soaking, heat treatment and plasma modification have been reported to introduce functional groups typically as O-, N- and S-containing groups. In this review, the effects of anode functional groups on electroactive bacteria through the whole biofilm formation process are summarized. In addition, the application of those modification technologies to improve bioelectricity generation, resource recovery, bioelectrochemical analysis and the production of value-added chemicals and biofuels is also discussed. Accordingly, this review aims to help scientists select the most appropriate functional groups and up-to-date methods to improve biofilm formation. Graphical Abstract
Jie-jie Chen
Environmental Science & Technology · 2023
Interfacial electron transfer (IET) is essential for chemical and biological transformation of pollutants, operative across diverse lengths and time scales. This Perspective presents an array of multiscale molecular simulation methodologies, supplemented by in situ monitoring and imaging techniques, serving as robust tools to decode IET enhancement mechanisms such as interface molecular modification, catalyst coordination mode, and atomic composition regulation. In addition, three IET-based pollutant transformation systems, an electrocatalytic oxidation system, a bioelectrochemical spatial coupling system, and an enzyme-inspired electrocatalytic system, were developed, demonstrating a high effect in transforming and degrading pollutants. To improve the effectiveness and scalability of IET-based strategies, the refinement of these systems is necessitated through rigorous research and theoretical exploration, particularly in the context of practical wastewater treatment scenarios. Future endeavors aim to elucidate the synergy between biological and chemical modules, edit the environmental functional microorganisms, and harness machine learning for designing advanced environmental catalysts to boost efficiency. This Perspective highlights the powerful potential of IET-focused environmental remediation strategies, emphasizing the critical role of interdisciplinary research in addressing the urgent global challenge of water pollution.
Hasika Suresh, Presley Bird, Kundan Saha et al.
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) · 2025
Summary Electroactive microbes can be used as components in electrical devices to leverage their unique behavior for biotechnology, but they remain challenging to engineer because the bioelectrochemical systems (BES) used for characterization are low-throughput. To overcome this challenge, we describe the development of the Bioelectrochemical Crossbar Architecture Screening Platform (BiCASP), which allows for samples to be arrayed and characterized in individually addressable microwells. This device reliably reports on the current generated by electroactive bacteria on the minute time scale, decreasing the time for data acquisition by several orders of magnitude compared to conventional BES. Also, this device increased the throughput of screening engineered biological components in cells, quickly identifying mutants of the membrane protein wire MtrA in Shewanella oneidensis that retain the ability to support extracellular electron transfer (EET). BiCASP is expected to enable the design of new components for bioelectronics by supporting directed evolution of electroactive proteins. The bigger picture Devices that interface microbes and materials, known as bioelectronics, can be used to sense environmental chemicals in real time, generate energy from sugars, and synthesize chemicals. While these devices leverage the unique capabilities of living systems as components in devices, such as their ability to convert chemical information in the environment into electrical information at the cell surface, it remains challenging to engineer these cellular components and their biomolecules for new applications, largely because commercially available bioelectrochemical systems for monitoring current generated by electroactive microbes are costly and require large culture volumes, needs continuous monitoring for days to obtain stable signals, and multichannel potentiostats to monitor multiple microbes in parallel. To overcome these challenges, we created the Bioelectrochemical Crossbar Architecture Screening Platform or BiCASP that is easy to fabricate, enables parallel analysis of microbial samples in flexible arrayed formats, and yields a stable signal on the minute time scale. This device is expected to enable the application of combinatorial protein engineering methods, such as directed evolution, to proteins that control microbial current production, by allowing for fast screening of cells expressing protein mutant libraries. As a proof-of-concept, we demonstrate that this device can screen for cells that express mutants of decaheme cytochromes that retain the ability to electrically connect cells to electrodes. This device will simplify the engineering of cells and proteins that function as electrical switches as well as the diversification of bioelectronic devices for real-time sensing of chemicals in the environment. Furthermore, BiCASP is promising as a high-throughput screening (HTS) platform, enabling rapid, parallel analysis of cellular and molecular interactions of diverse biological systems through label-free electrochemical methods. Such capabilities could transform drug discovery, personalized medicine, and functional genomics, supporting systematic genetic and chemical screens even at single-cell resolution. Highlights A high-throughput screening platform with individual addressability A device with a flexible crossbar architecture that simplifies current analysis Reproducible detection of real-time cellular current on the minute time scale The device can be used to screen a library for cells with functional protein wires Graphical Abstract
Simone Schmitz, Miriam A. Rosenbaum
Biotechnology and Bioengineering · 2018
Abstract Bioelectrochemical systems (BES) hold great promise for sustainable energy generation via a microbial catalyst from organic matter, for example, from wastewater. To improve current generation in BES, understanding the underlying microbiology of the electrode community is essential. Electron mediator producing microorganism like Pseudomonas aeruginosa play an essential role in efficient electricity generation in BES. These microbes enable even nonelectroactive microorganism like Enterobacter aerogenes to contribute to current production. Together they form a synergistic coculture, where both contribute to community welfare. To use microbial co‐operation in BES, the physical and chemical environments provided in the natural habitats of the coculture play a crucial role. Here, we show that synergistic effects in defined cocultures of P. aeruginosa and E. aerogenes can be strongly enhanced toward high current production by adapting process parameters, like pH, temperature, oxygen demand, and substrate requirements. Especially, oxygen was identified as a major factor influencing coculture behavior and optimization of its supply could enhance electric current production over 400%. Furthermore, operating the coculture in fed‐batch mode enabled us to obtain very high current densities and to harvest electrical energy for 1 month. In this optimized condition, the coulombic efficiency of the process was boosted to 20%, which is outstanding for mediator‐based electron transfer. This study lays the foundation for a rationally designed utilization of cocultures in BES for bioenergy generation from specific wastewaters or for bioprocess sensing and for benefiting from their synergistic effects under controlled bioprocess condition.
Işılay BİLGİÇ
Gazi Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Dergisi Part C: Tasarım ve Teknoloji · 2023
Fuel cells are known as eco-friendly systems considering that only water is produced as a secondary product due to energy-producing reactions. However in order to increase the commercial usage of fuel cells, it is necessary to decrease the costs of the catalysts. In recent studies on alternative energy systems microbial fuel cell systems (MFC) with their basic structure and system allowing wastewater treatment, rise to notice. Inorganic molecules as catalysts and microorganisms instead of enzymes are used in MFCs. A majority of the catalysts are wasted in the traditional catalysts coating methods. The control of the particle size of the Pt is derived by using different powers in the coating process. The Pt-coated carbon electrodes are tested both within a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) and MFC. In this study used oxidation bacteria Thiobacillus ferrooxidans on the cathode and mixed culture bacteria on the anode of MFC. As a result of using these electrodes the conductivity and ultimately the performance is increased. The performances of both fuel cell systems are investigated with electrochemical measurements. Moreover, the electron transfer mechanism at the cathode is clarified by examining the porphyrin structure of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans via quantum mechanical methods.