Hybridization of photoanode and bioanode to enhance the current production of bioelectrochemical systems

Huajun Feng; Yuxiang Liang; Kun Guo; Na Li; Dongsheng Shen; Yanqing Cong; Yuyang Zhou; Yanfeng Wang; Meizhen Wang; Yuyang Long

doi:10.1016/j.watres.2016.06.061

Hybridization of photoanode and bioanode to enhance the current production of bioelectrochemical systems

Water Res. 2016 Oct 1:102:428-435. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2016.06.061. Epub 2016 Jul 1.

Authors

Huajun Feng¹, Yuxiang Liang², Kun Guo³, Na Li², Dongsheng Shen², Yanqing Cong⁴, Yuyang Zhou², Yanfeng Wang², Meizhen Wang², Yuyang Long⁵

Affiliations

¹ School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310012, China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Waste Treatment and Recycling, Hangzhou 310012, China; Laboratory of Microbial Ecology and Technology, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
² School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310012, China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Waste Treatment and Recycling, Hangzhou 310012, China.
³ Laboratory of Microbial Ecology and Technology, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
⁴ School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310012, China.
⁵ School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310012, China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Waste Treatment and Recycling, Hangzhou 310012, China. Electronic address: longyy@zjgsu.edu.cn.

PMID: 27395027
DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2016.06.061

Abstract

Bacterial extracellular electron transfer is one of the main bottlenecks in determining the efficiency of bioelectrochemical systems. Here, we report a photobioanode that combines carbon material with a photocatalyst (α-Fe2O3), utilizing visible light to accelerate biofilm formation and extracellular electron transfer in bioelectrochemical systems. Cyclic voltammetric studies of this photobioanode revealed active electron transfer at the anode/biofilm interface. The charge-transfer resistance of the anode/biofilm was ca. 46.6 Ω, which is half that of the unmodified anode. In addition, the results of confocal laser scanning microscopy and bacterial community analysis indicate that the photobioanode and light can accelerate biofilm formation and enrich exoelectrogens. When equipped in photo-bioelectrochemical systems, the start-up time was shortened from about 2.5 days to 1.1 days. The maximum current density of photo-bioelectrochemical systems was almost twice that of a control bioelectrochemical system. In addition, the current density of the photo-bio-electrochemical cell (PBEC) showed almost no decrease after being subjected to 40 d of illumination. This photobioanode is therefore a cost-effective, energy-clean, environment-friendly anode with high electrocatalytic activity and long-term stability, which has broad prospects in various processes, including wastewater treatment, bioelectricity generation, bioelectricity synthesis, and hydrogen production.

Keywords: Bioelectrochemical system; Biofilm formation; Charge-transfer; Current generation; Photocatalyst.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Bioelectric Energy Sources*
Biofilms
Electrodes
Electron Transport
Ferric Compounds*

Substances

Ferric Compounds