Anode Biofilm Formation With Applied External Voltage

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20535/ibb.2023.7.1.273816

Keywords:

microbial fuel cell, external voltage, biofilm, bioanode

Abstract

Background. The formation of an exoelectrogenic biofilm in a microbial fuel cell (MFC) is an important stage, because it affects later on current generation by the system. The fermented residue after methanogenesis as an inoculum contains not only exoelectrogenic microorganisms, but also methanogens, which reduce the productivity of MFC. The use of current allows the formation of a biofilm enriched with exoelectrogenic microorganisms.

Objective. The purpose of our study was to establish the parameters of MFC under periodic application of external voltage.

Methods. A two-chamber H-type MFC with a salt bridge between the chambers was used for the study. The anolyte was stirred with a magnetic stirrer for 4 h a day and a 3V voltage was simultaneously applied to create selective conditions for exoelectrogenic biofilm growth.

Results. The application of external voltage stimulated the increase in the current and voltage of the MFC. With the periodic application of an external voltage, the MFC current increased to 788 ± 40 mA for the MFC with a resistor and without load. After disconnection and discharge, the MFC current dropped to 189 ± 10 mA for the MFC without load and to 154 ± 8 mA for the MFC with a resistor, respectively. Under the conditions of MFC operation without applying external voltage, the current was 960 ± 50 mA for MFC with an open circuit and 672 ± 35 mA for MFC with a closed circuit when a resistor is connected. For all MFC, the current gradually decreased over time. MFC demonstrated capacitive behaviour: after accumulating charge for 4 h, a discharge from 622 ± 30 mV to 462 ± 23 mV was observed. Microscopy showed fouling of the anode. Since the fermented residue after methanogenesis is mixed consortium, the anodic biofilm was also mixed consortium enriched with different species of exoelectrogens.

Conclusions. Periodic application of external voltage allowed to increase the current by 17% and double the voltage compared to MFC without external voltage supply. However, after disconnecting the external voltage source, the MFC gradually discharged, that is, the current and voltage decreased. The maximum value of the current of the MFC with an open circuit was 22% more than the MFC with a closed circuit.

References

Li M, Zhou M, Tian X, Tan C, McDaniel CT, Hassett DJ, Gu T. Microbial fuel cell (MFC) power performance improvement through enhanced microbial electrogenicity. Biotechnol Adv. 2018 Jul-Aug;36(4):1316-27. DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2018.04.010

Lin H, Wu S, Zhu J. Modeling power generation and energy efficiencies in air-cathode microbial fuel cells based on freter equations. Appl Sci. 2018;8(10):1983. DOI: 10.3390/app8101983

Kakarla R, Min B. Photoautotrophic microalgae scenedesmus obliquus attached on a cathode as oxygen producers for Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) operation. Int J Hydrogen Energy. 2014;39(19):10275-83. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2014.04.158

Shchurska K, Zubchenko L, Sobczuk H, Kuzminskyy Y. High exoelectrogenic biofilms formation in microbial fuel cells. Innov Biosyst Bioeng. 2019;3(4):246-52. DOI: 10.20535/ibb.2019.3.4.185159

Chabert N, Amin Ali O, Achouak W. All ecosystems potentially host electrogenic bacteria. Bioelectrochemistry. 2015;106(Pt A):88-96. DOI: 10.1016/j.bioelechem.2015.07.004

Eyiuche NJ, Asakawa S, Yamashita T, Ikeguchi A, Kitamura Y, Yokoyama H. Community analysis of biofilms on flame-oxidized stainless steel anodes in microbial fuel cells fed with different substrates. BMC Microbiol. 2017;17(1):145. DOI: 10.1186/s12866-017-1053-z

Nath D, Chakraborty I, Ghangrekar MM. Methanogenesis inhibitors used in bio-electrochemical systems: A review revealing reality to decide future direction and applications. Biores Technol. 2021;319:124141. DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2020.124141

Guo J, Cheng J, Wang J, Zhang Z, Xie X, Chu P. Effects of temporary external voltage on the performance and community of Microbial Fuel Cells. Water Sci Technol. 2020;81(9):1972-82. DOI: 10.2166/wst.2020.251

Pietrelli A. Electrical valorization of MFC: application to monitoring [dissertation on the Internet]. Université de Lyon, Università degli studi La Sapienza (Rome); 2019 [cited 2023 Feb 13]. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/334107134

Lee JY, Park JH, Park HD. Effects of an applied voltage on direct interspecies electron transfer via conductive materials for methane production. Waste Manag. 2017;68:165-72. DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2017.07.025

Li WW, Sheng GP. Microbial fuel cells in power generation and extended applications. In: Bai FW, Liu CG, Huang H, Tsao G, editors. Biotechnology in China III: Biofuels and bioenergy. Advances in biochemical engineering biotechnology, vol. 128. Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer; 2012. p. 165-97. DOI: 10.1007/10_2011_125

Joicy A, Seo H, Lee ME, Song YC, Jeong YW, Ahn Y. Influence of applied voltage and conductive material in diet promotion for methane generation. Int J Hydrogen Energy. 2022;47(18):10228-38. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2022.01.075

Tice RC, Kim Y. Methanogenesis control by electrolytic oxygen production in microbial electrolysis cells. Int J Hydrogen Energy. 2014;39(7):3079-86. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2013.12.103

Wang Y, Dong L, Zuo Y, Xu T, Ru Z. Improving hydrogen production from straw though simultaneous fermentation by applied voltage in microbial electrolysis cell. Trans Chinese Soc Agricult Eng. 2016;32(24):234-9.

Oh SE, Kim JR, Joo J-H, Logan BE. Effects of applied voltages and dissolved oxygen on sustained power generation by microbial fuel cells. Water Sci Technol. 2009;60(5):1311-7. DOI: 10.2166/wst.2009.444

Shchurska K, Kuzminskyi Y. Bioelectrochemical generation of hydrogen in a microbial fuel cell. 3. Experimental part. Vidnovluvana Energetika. 2012;(1):67-77.

Kokabian B, Ghimire U, Gude VG. Water deionization with renewable energy production in microalgae - microbial desalination process. Renewable Energy. 2018;122:354-61. DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2018.01.061

Lawson K, Rossi R, Regan JM, Logan BE. Impact of cathodic electron acceptor on microbial fuel cell internal resistance. Bioresour Technol. 2020;316:123919. DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2020.123919

Liu Q, Yang Y, Mei X, Liu B, Chen C, Xing D. Response of the microbial community structure of biofilms to ferric iron in microbial fuel cells. Sci Total Environ. 2018;631-632:695-701. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.03.008

Golub NB, Shinkarchuk MV, Kozlovets OA, Morgun BV, Lakhneko OR, Stepanenko AI, et al. Determination of biogas producers in antibiotic-containing sewage. Water Air Soil Pollut. 2020;231(8):445. DOI: 10.1007/s11270-020-04805-6

Timmers RA, Strik DP, Hamelers HV, Buisman CJ. Long-term performance of a plant microbial fuel cell with Spartina Anglica. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 2010;86(3):973-81. DOI: 10.1007/s00253-010-2440-7

Saravanan A, Karishma S, Kumar PS, Yaashikaa PR, Jeevanantham S, Gayathri B. Microbial electrolysis cells and microbial fuel cells for biohydrogen production: Current advances and emerging challenges. Biomass Convers Biorefinery. 2020. DOI: 10.1007/s13399-020-00973-x

Wang Y, Wu J, Yang S, Li H, Li X. Electrode modification and optimization in air-cathode single-chamber microbial fuel cells. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018 Jun 27;15(7):1349. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph15071349

Guang L, Koomson DA, Jingyu H, Ewusi-Mensah D, Miwornunyuie N. Performance of exoelectrogenic bacteria used in microbial desalination cell technology. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Feb 10;17(3):1121. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17031121

Downloads

Published

2023-04-26

How to Cite

1.
Koltysheva D, Shchurska K, Kuzminskyi Y. Anode Biofilm Formation With Applied External Voltage. Innov Biosyst Bioeng [Internet]. 2023Apr.26 [cited 2024Dec.10];7(1):14-23. Available from: https://ibb.kpi.ua/article/view/273816

Issue

Section

Articles