Filamentous marine Gram-positive Nocardiopsis dassonvillei biofilm as biocathode and its electron transfer mechanism

Abstract

This study investigated electrochemical characteristics of Gram-positive, Nocardiopsis dassonvillei B17 facultative bacterium in bioelectrochemical systems. The results demonstrated that anodic and cathodic reaction rates were catalyzed by this bacterium, especially by utilization of aluminium alloy as a substrate. Cyclic voltammogram results depicted an increase of peak current and surface area through biofilm development, confirming its importance on catalysis of redox reactions. Phenazine derivatives were detected and their electron mediating behavior was evaluated exogenously. A symmetrical redox peak in the range of -59 to -159 mV/SHE was observed in cyclic voltammogram of bacterial solution supplemented with 12 μM phenazine, a result consistent with cyclic voltammogram of a 5-d biofilm, confirming its importance as an electron mediator in extracellular electron transfer. Furthermore, the dependency of bacterial catalysis and polarization potential were studied. These results suggested that B17 biofilm behaved as a biocathode and transferred electrons to bacterial cells through a mechanism associated with electron mediators.

Keywords: Electroactive biofilm; Electron transfer pathways; Gram-positive Nocardiopsis dassonvillei; Phenazine derivatives; Poised potential effect.