Abstract
The relationship between anode microbial characteristics and electrochemical parameters in microbial fuel cells (MFCs) was analyzed by time-course sampling of parallel single-bottle MFCs operated under identical conditions. While voltage stabilized within 4. days, anode biofilms continued growing during the six-week operation. Viable cell density increased asymptotically, but membrane-compromised cells accumulated steadily from only 9% of total cells on day 3 to 52% at 6. weeks. Electrochemical performance followed the viable cell trend, with a positive correlation for power density and an inverse correlation for anode charge transfer resistance. The biofilm architecture shifted from rod-shaped, dispersed cells to more filamentous structures, with the continuous detection of Geobacter sulfurreducens-like 16S rRNA fragments throughout operation and the emergence of a community member related to a known phenazine-producing Pseudomonas species. A drop in cathode open circuit potential between weeks two and three suggested that uncontrolled biofilm growth on the cathode deleteriously affects system performance.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 416-421 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Bioresource Technology |
Volume | 102 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 2011 |
Externally published | Yes |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Bioengineering
- Waste Management and Disposal
- Environmental Engineering
- Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
Keywords
- Biofilm
- Electricity
- Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy
- Microbial fuel cell