Simultaneous characterization of porous and non-porous electrodes in microbial electrochemical systems

Abstract

Adequate electrochemical characterization of electrode material/biofilms is crucial for a comprehensive understanding and comparative performance of bioelectrochemical systems (BES). However, their responses are greatly affected by the metabolic activity and growth of these living entities and/or the interference of electrode wiring that can act as an electroactive surface for growth or constitute a source of contamination by corrosion. This restricts the meaningful comparison of the performance of distinct electrode materials in BES. This work describes a methodology for simultaneous electrochemical control and measurement of the microbial response on different electrode materials under the same physicochemical and biological conditions. The method is based on the use of a single channel potentiostat and one counter and reference electrodes to simultaneously polarize several electrode materials in a sole bioelectrochemical cell. Furthermore, various strategies to minimize wiring corrosion are proposed. The proposed methodology, then, will enable a more rigorous characterization of microbial electrochemical responses for comparisons purposes. •Experimental Set-up allows to polarize several working electrodes at the same time.•Chronoamperometry can be performed simultaneously with a potentiostat.•The physicochemical and biological conditions in each working electrode will be exactly the same.

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Identifiers

DOI

10.1016/j.mex.2020.101021

PubMed

32904165

Journal

MethodsX

Year

2020