Microbial fuel cells and their electrified biofilms

Abstract

Bioelectrochemical systems (BES) represent a wide range of different biofilm-based bioreactors that includes microbial fuel cells (MFCs), microbial electrolysis cells (MECs) and microbial desalination cells (MDCs). The first described bioelectrical bioreactor is the Microbial Fuel Cell and with the exception of MDCs, it is the only type of BES that actually produces harvestable amounts of electricity, rather than requiring an electrical input to function. For these reasons, this review article, with previously unpublished supporting data, focusses primarily on MFCs. Of relevance is the architecture of these bioreactors, the type of membrane they employ (if any) for separating the chambers along with the size, as well as the geometry and material composition of the electrodes which support biofilms. Finally, the structure, properties and growth rate of the microbial biofilms colonising anodic electrodes, are of critical importance for rendering these devices, functional living ‘engines’ for a wide range of applications.

Microbially catalyzed enhanced bioelectrochemical performance using covalent organic framework‐modified anode in a microbial fuel cell

“…15 At the phylum level (Figure 7A), Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Spirochaetes were abundantly enriched contributing to approximately $70.0% community. The aforementioned phyla are promising electricity producers 62,63 with Proteobacteria identified as possible exoelectrogen. 64 On the class level (Figure 7B), Deltaproteobacteria (24%) and Betaproteobacteria (11%) from phylum Proteobacteria were dominant, followed by Bacteroidia (12%) belonging to Bacteroidetes.…”

Advances in Microfluidic Technologies for Energy Storage and Release Systems

“…Differing from batteries, in microbial fuel cells there is a start‐up process whereby bacteria will form a biofilm on the anode and this formation of biofilm has a direct influence on the performance. [ 162 ] Ye et al combined a microchannel reactor based on transparent ITO and phase contrast microscopy to visualize biofilm formation under various anolyte flow rates (Figure 12g). They found that at moderate flow rates, superior electrochemical performance was obtained (Figure 12h).…”

Engineered microbial consortia: strategies and applications

“…[ 72 ], Pseudomonas aeruginosa [ 73 ], and B. subtilis [ 74 ]. Applications of engineered biofilms include manufacturing aquaplastics [ 75 ], minimizing fouling on reverse-osmosis membranes [ 76 ], and producing electricity in microbial fuel cells [ 77 , 78 ]. Controlling and optimizing the production of biofilms provides a foundation for further development of ELMs.…”