Effect of Electrode Potential on Electrode-Reducing Microbiota

详细信息    查看全文

• 作者：David A. Finkelstein ; Leonard M. Tender ; J. Gregory Zeikus
• 刊名：Environmental Science & Technology
• 出版年：2006
• 出版时间：November 15, 2006
• 年：2006
• 卷：40
• 期：22
• 页码：6990 - 6995
• 全文大小：264K
• 年卷期：v.40,no.22(November 15, 2006)
• ISSN：1520-5851

文摘

The benthic microbial fuel cell (BMFC) generates powerby coupling oxidation of fuels naturally residing in marinesediments with reduction of oxygen in overlying waters.A central feature of BMFCs is spontaneous colonization ofthe anode by mineral-reducing microorganisms indigenousto marine sediments that catalyze the power-generatinganodic reactions. Described here is a preliminary investigationof how the anode potential affects this feature. Differentoxidative potentials were applied to a set of anodes underconditions known to promote anode enrichment ofacetate oxidizing/mineral reducing microorganisms. In-situanalysis of current, acetate consumption, and reducingability of the anode colonies suggest that the microorganismsconserve a significant portion (as much as 95%) ofpotential energy liberated from oxidation of acetate andreduction of the anode for their own metabolic benefit. Theimplication of this result with respect to BMFCs, andother MFCs utilizing electrode-reducing microbial catalysts,is that although the microorganisms enable long-termstability of such fuel cells, they may significantly impactefficiency of power output per equivalent of fuel consumed.