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Electricity generation from cysteine in a microbial fuel cell

Lookup NU author(s): Professor Bruce Logan, Cassandro Murano, Emeritus Professor Keith Scott, Emeritus Professor Neil GrayORCiD, Professor Ian Head

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Abstract

In a microbial fuel cell (MFC), power can be generated from the oxidation of organic matter by bacteria at the anode, with reduction of oxygen at the cathode. Proton exchange membranes used in MFCs are permeable to oxygen, resulting in the diffusion of oxygen into the anode chamber. This could either lower power generation by obligate anaerobes or result in the loss in electron donor from aerobic respiration by facultative or other aerobic bacteria. In order to maintain anaerobic conditions in conventional anaerobic laboratory cultures, chemical oxygen scavengers such as cysteine are commonly used. It is shown here that cysteine can serve as a substrate for electricity generation by bacteria in a MFC. A two-chamber MFC containing a proton exchange membrane was inoculated with an anaerobic marine sediment. Over a period of a few weeks, electricity generation gradually increased to a maximum power density of 19 mW/m2 (700 or 1000Ω resistor; 385 mg/L of cysteine). Power output increased to 39 mW/m2 when cysteine concentrations were increased up to 770 mg/L (493Ω resistor). The use of a more active cathode with Pt- or Pt-Ru, increased the maximum power from 19 to 33 mW/m2 demonstrating that cathode efficiency limited power generation. Power was always immediately generated upon addition of fresh medium, but initial power levels consistently increased by ca. 30% during the first 24 h. Electron recovery as electricity was 14% based on complete cysteine oxidation, with an additional 14% (28% total) potentially lost to oxygen diffusion through the proton exchange membrane. 16S rRNA-based analysis of the biofilm on the anode of the MFC indicated that the predominant organisms were Shewanella spp. closely related to Shewanella affinis (37% of 16S rRNA gene sequences recovered in clone libraries). © 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Logan BE, Murano C, Scott K, Gray ND, Head IM

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Water Research

Year: 2005

Volume: 39

Issue: 5

Pages: 942-952

ISSN (print): 0043-1354

ISSN (electronic): 1879-2448

Publisher: Pergamon

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2004.11.019

DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2004.11.019

PubMed id: 15743641


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