Microbial Fuel Cell as a Bioelectrochemical Sensor of Nitrite Ions

Abstract

The deteriorating environmental quality requires a rapid in situ real-time monitoring of toxic compounds in environment including water and wastewater. One of the most toxic nitrogen-containing ions is nitrite ion, therefore, it is particularly important to ensure that nitrite ions are completely absent in surface and ground waters as well as in wastewater or, at least, their concentration does not exceed permissible levels. However, no selective ion electrode, which would enable continuous measurement of nitrite ion concentration in wastewater by bioelectrochemical sensor, is available. Microbial fuel cell (MFC)-based biosensor offers a sustainable low-cost alternative to the monitoring by periodic sampling for laboratory testing. It has been determined, that at low (0.01–0.1 mg·L−1) and moderate (1.0–10 mg·L−1) concentration of nitrite ions in anolyte-model wastewater, the voltage drop in MFC linearly depends on the logarithm of nitrite ion concentration of proving the potential of the application of MFC-based biosensor for the quantitative monitoring of nitrite ion concentration in wastewater and other surface water. Higher concentrations (100–1000 mg·L−1) of nitrite ions in anolyte-model wastewater could not be accurately quantified due to a significant drop in MFC voltage. In this case MFC can potentially serve as a bioelectrochemical early warning device for extremely high nitrite pollution.

Performance Evaluation of Aquaponics-Waste-Based Biochar as a Cathode Catalyst in Sediment Microbial Fuel Cells for Integrated Multitrophic Aquaculture Systems

“…The water quality parameters such as DO, pH, COD, turbidity, and conductivity were analyzed at the start after collecting and filling the aquacultural wastewater in the reactor. To study the performance of SMFC, parameters such as power generation, voltage, COD removal, pH, conductivity, dissolved oxygen (DO), nitrate, etc., were measured and monitored [30]. Since the wastewater quality was optimal enough and did not require any treatment, synthetic wastewater had to be synthesized (for more accurate analysis) considering the level of contaminants that can occur in actual large-scale aquacultural systems or integrated livestock aquacultural systems.…”

Recent Implementations of Hydrogel-Based Microbial Electrochemical Technologies (METs) in Sensing Applications

“…Detection of these inorganic ions in the environment is therefore highly important. Nitrite ions affect the survivability of the microbes, resulting in a drop in MFC voltage when present [ 124 ]. MFCs can therefore be used as an early warning device.…”

Sensing oxy anodic microbial fuel cell potential of halotolerant protease producer Priestia megaterium BorS17B13 belonging to mangrove biota

“…R ex s, where they were used considering the internal resistance of the MFC setup to overcome the ohmic losses and to get desired output in the form of current [19][20][21][22]. To study the effect of different R ex on MFC sets, a polarization study was performed [23,24].…”