Phenol-degrading anode biofilm with high coulombic efficiency in graphite electrodes microbial fuel cell

Dongdong Zhang; Zhiling Li; Chunfang Zhang; Xue Zhou; Zhixing Xiao; Takanori Awata; Arata Katayama

doi:10.1016/j.jbiosc.2016.10.010

Phenol-degrading anode biofilm with high coulombic efficiency in graphite electrodes microbial fuel cell

J Biosci Bioeng. 2017 Mar;123(3):364-369. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiosc.2016.10.010. Epub 2016 Dec 12.

Authors

Dongdong Zhang¹, Zhiling Li², Chunfang Zhang², Xue Zhou³, Zhixing Xiao⁴, Takanori Awata¹, Arata Katayama⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Civil Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University, Chikusa, Nagoya 464-8603, Japan; EcoTopia Science Institute, Nagoya University, Chikusa, Nagoya 464-8603, Japan; Institute of Materials and Systems for Sustainability (IMaSS), Nagoya University, Chikusa, Nagoya 464-8603, Japan.
² EcoTopia Science Institute, Nagoya University, Chikusa, Nagoya 464-8603, Japan.
³ Department of Environmental Engineering and Architecture, Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Nagoya University, Chikusa, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan.
⁴ Department of Civil Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University, Chikusa, Nagoya 464-8603, Japan; Institute of Materials and Systems for Sustainability (IMaSS), Nagoya University, Chikusa, Nagoya 464-8603, Japan.
⁵ Department of Civil Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University, Chikusa, Nagoya 464-8603, Japan; EcoTopia Science Institute, Nagoya University, Chikusa, Nagoya 464-8603, Japan; Institute of Materials and Systems for Sustainability (IMaSS), Nagoya University, Chikusa, Nagoya 464-8603, Japan; Department of Environmental Engineering and Architecture, Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Nagoya University, Chikusa, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan. Electronic address: katayama.arata@nagoya-u.jp.

PMID: 27979700
DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiosc.2016.10.010

Abstract

A microbial fuel cell (MFC), with graphite electrodes as both the anode and cathode, was operated with a soil-free anaerobic consortium for phenol degradation. This phenol-degrading MFC showed high efficiency with a current density of 120 mA/m² and a coulombic efficiency of 22.7%, despite the lack of a platinum catalyst cathode and inoculation of sediment/soil. Removal of planktonic bacteria by renewing the anaerobic medium did not decrease the performance, suggesting that the phenol-degrading MFC was not maintained by the planktonic bacteria but by the microorganisms in the anode biofilm. Cyclic voltammetry analysis of the anode biofilm showed distinct oxidation and reduction peaks. Analysis of the microbial community structure of the anode biofilm and the planktonic bacteria based on 16S rRNA gene sequences suggested that Geobacter sp. was the phenol degrader in the anode biofilm and was responsible for current generation.

Keywords: Biofilm; Geobacter; Graphite electrodes; Microbial fuel cell; Phenol degradation.

MeSH terms

Anaerobiosis
Bioelectric Energy Sources*
Biofilms*
Catalysis
Electricity
Electrodes
Geobacter / genetics
Geobacter / metabolism
Graphite / metabolism*
Oxidation-Reduction
Phenol / metabolism*
RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / genetics

Substances

RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
Phenol
Graphite