Fe(III) oxide microparticles modulate extracellular electron transfer in anodic biofilms dominated by bacteria of the Pelobacter genus

Abstract

Exo-electrogenic microorganisms have been extensively studied for their ability to transfer electrons with solid surfaces using a large variety of metabolic pathways. Most of the studies on these microorganisms consist in the replacement of solid electron acceptors such as Fe(III) oxides found in nature by electrodes with the objective of generating harvestable current in devices such as microbial fuel cells. In this study we show how the presence of solid ferric oxide (Fe₂O₃) particles in the inoculum during bio-anode development influences extracellular electron transfer to the electrode. Amplification and sequencing of the 16S rRNA (V4-V5 region) show bacteria and archaea communities with a large predominance of the Pelobacter genus, which is known to be phylogenetically close to the Geobacter genus, regardless of the presence or absence of ferric oxide in the inoculum. Data indicate that the bacteria at the bio-anode surface can preferentially utilize solid ferric oxide as terminal electron acceptors instead of the anode, though extracellular electron transfer to the anode can be restored by removing the particles. Mixed inoculum commonly used to develop bioanodes may produce similar bacterial communities with divergent electrochemical responses due to the presence of alternate electron acceptors, with direct implications for microbial fuel cell performance.

Keywords: 16S rRNA gene sequencing; Bioanodes; Electroactive biofilms; Ferric oxides; Microbial fuel cells; Pelobacter.