Evolving Microbial Communities in Cellulose-Fed Microbial Fuel Cell

Abstract

Abstract:The abundance of cellulosic wastes make them attractive source of energy for producing electricity in microbial fuel cells (MFCs). However, electricity production from cellulose requires obligate anaerobes that can degrade cellulose and transfer electrons to the electrode (exoelectrogens), and thus most previous MFC studies have been conducted using two-chamber systems to avoid oxygen contamination of the anode. Single-chamber, air-cathode MFCs typically produce higher power densities than aqueous catholyte MFCs and avoid energy input for the cathodic reaction. To better understand the bacterial communities that evolve in single-chamber air-cathode MFCs fed cellulose, we examined the changes in the bacterial consortium in an MFC fed cellulose over time. The most predominant bacteria shown to be capable electron generation was Firmicutes, with the fermenters decomposing cellulose Bacteroidetes. The main genera developed after extended operation of the cellulose-fed MFC were cellulolytic strains, fermenters and electrogens that included: Parabacteroides, Proteiniphilum, Catonella and Clostridium. These results demonstrate that different communities evolve in air-cathode MFCs fed cellulose than the previous two-chamber reactors.

Enhancing Biochemical Methane Potential and Enrichment of Specific Electroactive Communities from Nixtamalization Wastewater using Granular Activated Carbon as a Conductive Material

“…Parabacteroides played an important role in DIET, producing the essential VFA required by the exoelectrogenic bacteria to degrade and donate electrons to electrotrophic methanogens. Parabacteroidetes growth has been reported in microbial fuel cells [80], assuming the same role as in this study, however it has not been reported in studies that are related with the promotion of DIET in anaerobic reactors. This is a result of the fact that most of these studies employ synthetic wastewater that is easily converted to methane.…”

Wood-Based Panel Industry Wastewater Meets Microbial Fuel Cell Technology

“…In the case of complex substrates, such as wastewater, microbial consortia need to be used. In such consortia there are fermentative and methanogenic species that decompose complex substances into simple organics that can be further used by electrogenic species for current production [17]. MFCs were successfully applied in the treatment of various types of wastewater (including industrial) with the use of dual-chamber and single-chamber reactors [18].…”

Introduction of Microbial as a Major Factor in the Human Body

“…Inflammation is our natural reaction to injury, but when this reaction is too intense, it can lead to several diseases, including arthritis and asthma. In fact, the more inflammation in the body is, the more likely it is for heart disease and atherosclerosis (Toczyłowska-Mamińska et al, 2018 ). According to a previous study, one of the ways to reduce inflammation in the body is the presence of beneficial bacteria in the intestine.…”