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Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) can generate electrical current using organic waste as a substrate, and the performance of MFCs depends on the characteristics of the biofilm on the anode surface.

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What they did

System
MFC
Substrate
pure compound

What worked

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Abstract

Microbial fuel cells (MFC) constitute an attractive alternative as an environmental remediation technology since they can generate electrical current using organic waste as a substrate. Since the performance of MFCs depends on the characteristics of the biofilm on the anode surface, it is important to assess the genetic information of the microorganisms that grow on the electrode. For this purpose, a sewage sludge sample was obtained from a wastewater treatment plant and used to inoculate a type H MFC. Electrochemical characterization, on one hand, indicates that while the biofilm has a typical electrochemical performance reflected by the generated voltage (near 0.4 V) and by the electroactivity observed in cyclic voltammetry experiments, and on the other hand, the metagenomic analysis shows that the most abundant genera are Pseudomonacea, Nitrosomonas, Hyphomonas, and Opitutus. The study also indicates that the biofilm’s electroactive microorganisms can metabolize amino acids, lipids, and carbohydrates and possess genetic tools for ionic transport and energy production. Regarding the electron acceptor/donator capabilities, several oxidases, reductases, and complexes were identified, mainly terminal cytochrome C oxidase and respiratory complex I, which could be associated with the exoelectrogenic capacity of the microorganisms. Finally, the metagenomic information indicates that the biofilm can synthesize rhamnose, sialic acid, and alginate molecules, which could possibly be associated with the formation and consolidation of the microbial biofilm.

Key findings

  • The biofilm in the MFC has a typical electrochemical performance with a generated voltage of near 0.4 V.
  • The metagenomic analysis shows that the most abundant genera are Pseudomonacea, Nitrosomonas, Hyphomonas, and Opitutus.
  • The biofilm's electroactive microorganisms can metabolize amino acids, lipids, and carbohydrates and possess genetic tools for ionic transport and energy production.

Keywords

BiofilmMicrobial fuel cellFuel cellsBiochemical engineeringMicrobiology

Identifiers

DOI
10.20937/rica.54752
Journal
Revista Internacional de Contaminación Ambiental
Year
2024