Use of microbial fuel cells for soil remediation: A preliminary study on DDE

Borello, Domenico; Gagliardi, Gabriele Guglielmo; Aimola, Giorgia; Ancona, Valeria; Grenni, Paola; Bagnuolo, Giuseppe; Garbini, Gian Luigi; Rolando, Ludovica; Caracciolo, Anna Barra

doi:10.1016/j.ijhydene.2020.07.074

Cited by 23 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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“…In 2020, a case study of MFCs using soil contaminated with DDE (2,2-bis (dichlorodiphenyl-dichloroethylene or p-chlorophenyl)-1,1-dichloroetylene), a persistent metabolite of the DDT (dichlorodiphenyl-trichloroethane) pesticide, was conducted to analyse the cell characteristics and the effectiveness in removing soil contamination by a persistent organic pollutant [30,31]. MFCs have been tested for triggering and promoting DDE degradation by stimulating exo-electrogen microorganisms that catalyse oxidation and reduction reactions in two electrodes.…”

Section: Dichlorodiphenyl-dichloroethylene (Dde)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Bio-Electrochemical System Depollution Capabilities and Monitoring Applications: Models, Applicability, Advanced Bio-Based Concept for Predicting Pollutant Degradation and Microbial Growth Kinetics via Gene Regulation Modelling

et al. 2021

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Microbial fuel cells (MFC) are an emerging technology for waste, wastewater and polluted soil treatment. In this manuscript, pollutants that can be treated using MFC systems producing energy are presented. Furthermore, the applicability of MFC in environmental monitoring is described. Common microbial species used, release of genome sequences, and gene regulation mechanisms, are discussed. However, although scaling-up is the key to improving MFC systems, it is still a difficult challenge. Mathematical models for MFCs are used for their design, control and optimization. Such models representing the system are presented here. In such comprehensive models, microbial growth kinetic approaches are essential to designing and predicting a biosystem. The empirical and unstructured Monod and Monod-type models, which are traditionally used, are also described here. Understanding and modelling of the gene regulatory network could be a solution for enhancing knowledge and designing more efficient MFC processes, useful for scaling it up. An advanced bio-based modelling concept connecting gene regulation modelling of specific metabolic pathways to microbial growth kinetic models is presented here; it enables a more accurate prediction and estimation of substrate biodegradation, microbial growth kinetics, and necessary gene and enzyme expression. The gene and enzyme expression prediction can also be used in synthetic and systems biology for process optimization. Moreover, various MFC applications as a bioreactor and bioremediator, and in soil pollutant removal and monitoring, are explored.

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Section: Dichlorodiphenyl-dichloroethylene (Dde)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Bio-Electrochemical System Depollution Capabilities and Monitoring Applications: Models, Applicability, Advanced Bio-Based Concept for Predicting Pollutant Degradation and Microbial Growth Kinetics via Gene Regulation Modelling

et al. 2021

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“…Biodegradation can occur in soil, because natural microbial communities (and in particular Bacteria) have a great physiological versatility and catabolic potential, leading to breakdown of an enormous number of organic molecules, including persistent organic pollutants [1]- [3]. Bioremediation includes bioaugmentation (addition of previously selected microorganisms for removing specific contaminants) and biostimulation (addition of nutrients, oxygen, electron donors or acceptors).…”

Section: Remediation Progresses 21 Bioremediationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The oxidation of organic contaminants by electroactive bacteria is performed in anaerobic conditions, thanks to a high soil moisture. A soil moisture close to the maximum water holding capacity of soil and a constant environmental temperature favour microbial activity and promote TMFC performance (in terms of electricity production and organic contaminant degradation) [1], [3]. Even if in the case of TMFCs used for organic contaminant biodegradation the electricity outputs can be relatively low, this technology can be effective for bioremediation purposes.…”

Section: Remediation Progresses 21 Bioremediationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Recently, Borello et al [1] reported the removal of DDE (2,2-bis (dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene or p-chlorophenyl)-1,1-dichloroethylene), the main toxic metabolite of the pesticide DDT (dichlorodiphenyl-trichloroethane). After 2 months from the beginning of the experiment, the results showed that the TMFCs promoted a significant degradation of the pesticide (39%), compared to conditions in absence of TMFCs.…”

Section: Tmfc For Remediation Of Organic Pollutantsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Environmental Remediation and Possible Use of Terrestrial Microbial Fuel Cells

Aimola

Gagliardi

Pietrelli

et al. 2021

WIT Transactions on the Built Environment

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Many soils contain a wide number of organic and inorganic chemicals and potential toxic elements due to industrial, agricultural and numerous anthropogenic activities. The recovery of polluted sites is an urgent need to be addressed and the development of innovative remediation technologies, which exploit nature-based solutions, is strongly encouraged, in line with the new EU Circular Economy Action Plan. Terrestrial microbial fuel cells (TMFCs) can be a valuable tool for recovering soils polluted by various organic and inorganic contaminants. TMFCs benefit from capabilities of microbial biofilms developed on the electrodes, which use the terminals as catalysts for metabolic activities, including contaminant degradation. This process produces energy, thanks to conversion of chemical bond energy (stored in the bonds of organic compounds) into electrical ones. This work describes construction materials, remediation capabilities and technology of the TMFCs, reporting the last advances in TMFCs such as soil-based reactors or in combination with plants (plant microbial fuel cell (PMFC)). Some aspects related to microbiological activities for pollutant biodegradation, plant-microbial interactions, energy production, and fields of application will be shown. Finally, abiotic factors which can improve bioremediation activities are also considered. Furthermore, limitations and issues for large-scale applications, as well as for stacking and scaling-up are discussed.

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“…MFCs represent a sustainable approach to harvest electricity from biodegradable materials. Thanks to the capability of bacteria inside the reactor of generating electricity while consuming organic matter, the can be considered as a future option for the treatment of organic wastes, bioremediation, and the recovery of bioenergy from wastes [1][2][3][4][5]. However, harvesting energy from MFC represents a critical issue because of the low output voltage and power produced, which limits its use as an electricity supply system and its development on the market as renewable energy technology [6][7][8].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Performance assessment of stacked air-cathode microbial fuel cells under series and parallel electrical connections

et al. 2022

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Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are playing an important role in the context of sustainable energy development. They represent a sustainable approach to harvest electricity from biodegradable materials. However, harvesting energy from MFCs represents a critical issue because of the low output voltage and power produced. Realizing stacked configurations may involve an increase in MFCs performances in terms of output voltage, current and electric power. In this paper, two stacked configurations under different electrical connection modes have been designed, developed, modeled and tested. The stacked MFCs consist of 4 reactors (28 mL x4) that are connected in series, and parallel-series modes. Three different tests have been carried out, which involves: 1) performing the polarization and power curves by applying decreasing resistances; 2) assessment of the electric behavior of each reactor over time at a fixed resistance, 3) performing the polarization and power curves by applying increasing resistances. Moreover, a numerical model for predicting the transient behavior of the electrical quantities for one reactor, has been developed and validated by using the experimental data. As expected, the results highlighted that the parallel-series configuration assures the highest volumetric power density compared to the series configuration, reaching the maximum value of 1248.5 mW/m3 (139.8 µW) at 0.291 mA. Eventually, by comparing the numerical and the experimental data, it has been demonstrated that the developed model is able to predict the reactor’s electrical trend with a good accuracy.

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Use of microbial fuel cells for soil remediation: A preliminary study on DDE

Cited by 23 publications

References 51 publications

Bio-Electrochemical System Depollution Capabilities and Monitoring Applications: Models, Applicability, Advanced Bio-Based Concept for Predicting Pollutant Degradation and Microbial Growth Kinetics via Gene Regulation Modelling

Bio-Electrochemical System Depollution Capabilities and Monitoring Applications: Models, Applicability, Advanced Bio-Based Concept for Predicting Pollutant Degradation and Microbial Growth Kinetics via Gene Regulation Modelling

Environmental Remediation and Possible Use of Terrestrial Microbial Fuel Cells

Performance assessment of stacked air-cathode microbial fuel cells under series and parallel electrical connections

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