Insight of the bio-cathode biofilm construction in microbial electrolysis cell dealing with sulfate-containing wastewater

Ke Shi; Weimin Cheng; Qing Jiang; Jianliang Xue; Yanlu Qiao; Dongle Cheng

doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2022.127695

Insight of the bio-cathode biofilm construction in microbial electrolysis cell dealing with sulfate-containing wastewater

Bioresour Technol. 2022 Oct:361:127695. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2022.127695. Epub 2022 Jul 26.

Authors

Ke Shi¹, Weimin Cheng¹, Qing Jiang², Jianliang Xue³, Yanlu Qiao², Dongle Cheng⁴

Affiliations

¹ College of Safety and Environmental Engineering, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, Shandong 266590, China.
² College of Safety and Environmental Engineering, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, Shandong 266590, China; Institute of Yellow River Delta Earth Surface Processes and Ecological Integrity, Shandong University of Science and Technology Qingdao, Shandong 266590, China.
³ College of Safety and Environmental Engineering, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, Shandong 266590, China; Institute of Yellow River Delta Earth Surface Processes and Ecological Integrity, Shandong University of Science and Technology Qingdao, Shandong 266590, China. Electronic address: LL-1382@163.com.
⁴ College of Safety and Environmental Engineering, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, Shandong 266590, China; Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia.

PMID: 35905879
DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2022.127695

Abstract

Signaling molecules are useful in biofilm formation, but the mechanism for biofilm construction still needs to be explored. In this study, a signaling molecule, N-butyryl-l-Homoserine lactone (C₄-HSL), was supplied to enhance the construction of the sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) bio-cathode biofilm in microbial electrolysis cell (MEC). The sulfate reduction efficiency was more than 90% in less time under the system with C₄-HSL addition. The analysis of SRB bio-cathode biofilms indicated that the activity, distribution, microbial population, and secretion of extracellular polymers prompted by C₄-HSL, which accelerate the sulfate reduction, in particular for the assimilatory sulfate reduction pathway. Specifically, the relative abundance of acidogenic fermentation bacteria increased, and Desulfovibrio was co-metabolized with acidogenic fermentation bacteria. This knowledge will help to reveal the potential of signaling molecules to enhance the SRB bio-cathode biofilm MEC construction and improve the performance of treating sulfate-containing wastewater.

Keywords: Biofilm; Microbial electrolysis cell; Sulfate-containing wastewater; Sulfate-reducing bacteria.

MeSH terms

Biofilms
Desulfovibrio*
Electrodes
Electrolysis
Sulfates
Sulfur Oxides
Wastewater*

Substances

Sulfates
Sulfur Oxides
Waste Water