Two-chamber microbial fuel cells (MFCs) were used to study the applicability of MFCs for hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) detection in water. The microbial acetate oxidation in the anode and the Cr(VI) reduction in the cathode together generated voltages, which were used to indicate the change in Cr(VI) concentrations of the cathode under varying conditions of pH, ionic strength, co-existing Fe(II) concentration, and organic matter concentration. The MFC-based Cr(VI) detector showed a significant change in voltage with increasing Cr(VI) concentration at pH 1 and 2, but not at higher pH conditions. The detector also successfully measured the changes in Cr(VI) concentration at a range of ionic strength (i.e., 10-300 mM), and in the presence of different concentrations of fulvic acid (0-50 mg/L), which was used as a surrogate of organic matters, without interference. The Cr(VI) detection was not interfered by the presence of Fe(II) at the Cr(VI)/Fe(II) ratio of 1:1 and 1:15, but it was interfered at higher ratios (i.e., 1:164 and 1:848). The detector could measure the Cr(VI) concentration from 0.1 to 15 mg/L at pH 2. Overall, the MFC-based Cr(VI) detector may be applied to meet the growing need of real-time Cr(VI) monitoring in water.
Keywords: Biosensor; Chromium (VI); Detection; Microbial fuel cell; Real-time monitoring.