Open AccessHigh shear enrichment improves the performance of the anodophilic microbial consortium in a microbial fuel cell
Author(s) -
Pham Hai The,
Boon Nico,
Aelterman Peter,
Clauwaert Peter,
De Schamphelaire Liesje,
Van Oostveldt Patrick,
Verbeken Kim,
Rabaey Korneel,
Verstraete Willy
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
microbial biotechnology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.287
H-Index - 74
ISSN - 1751-7915
DOI - 10.1111/j.1751-7915.2008.00049.x
Subject(s) - biofilm , microbial fuel cell , shear (geology) , microbial consortium , microbial population biology , biomass (ecology) , bioreactor , shear rate , pulp and paper industry , chemistry , microorganism , environmental science , biology , materials science , anode , bacteria , ecology , composite material , rheology , electrode , genetics , engineering , organic chemistry
Summary In many microbial bioreactors, high shear rates result in strong attachment of microbes and dense biofilms. In this study, high shear rates were applied to enrich an anodophilic microbial consortium in a microbial fuel cell (MFC). Enrichment at a shear rate of about 120 s −1 resulted in the production of a current and power output two to three times higher than those in the case of low shear rates (around 0.3 s −1 ). Biomass and biofilm analyses showed that the anodic biofilm from the MFC enriched under high shear rate conditions, in comparison with that under low shear rate conditions, had a doubled average thickness and the biomass density increased with a factor 5. The microbial community of the former, as analysed by DGGE, was significantly different from that of the latter. The results showed that enrichment by applying high shear rates in an MFC can result in a specific electrochemically active biofilm that is thicker and denser and attaches better, and hence has a better performance.