Development of an electroactive aerobic biocathode for microbial fuel cell applications
Priyadharshini Mani, Fidal V T, Kyle Bowman, Chandra T S +2
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82% confidenceThis study developed an electroactive aerobic biocathode from textile wastewater activated sludge using 70 days of chronoamperometric enrichment without organic carbon supplementation. The enriched microbial consortium achieved a maximum power density of 64.6 ± 3.5 mW m⁻² in a Shewanella-based MFC, approaching platinum performance (72.7 ± 1.2 mW m⁻²). Microbial community analysis identified chemolithotrophic bacteria including Nitrosomonas europaea, Nitratireductor indicus, and Luteimonas species capable of CO₂ fixation and nitrate reduction, demonstrating that microbial consortia can replace expensive platinum catalysts.
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Abstract
Summary Microbial biocathodes are gaining interest due to their low cost, environmental friendliness and sustainable nature. In this study, a microbial consortium was enriched from activated sludge obtained from a common textile effluent treatment plant in the absence of organic carbon source to produce an electroactive biofilm. Chronoamperometry method of enrichment was carried out for over 70 days to select for electroactive bacteria that could be used as a cathode catalyst in microbial fuel cells (MFC). The resultant biofilm produced an average peak current of −0.7 mA during the enrichment and produced a maximum power density of 64.6 ± 3.5 mW m −2 compared to platinum (72.7 ± 1.2 mW m −2 ) in a Shewanella ‐based MFC. Microbial community analysis of the initial sludge sample and enriched samples, based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing, revealed the selection of chemolithotrophs with the most dominant phylum being Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Actinobacteria and Acidobacteria in the enriched samples. A variety of CO 2 fixing and nitrate‐reducing bacteria was present in the resultant biofilm on the cathode. This study suggests that microbial consortia are capable of replacing expensive platinum as a cathode catalyst in MFCs.
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Identifiers
- Journal
- Environmental Microbiology Reports
- Year
- 2020