Anodic biofilms in microbial fuel cells harbor low numbers of higher-power-producing bacteria than abundant genera
Type
ArticleKAUST Grant Number
KUS-I1-003-13Date
2010-07-15Online Publication Date
2010-07-15Print Publication Date
2010-09Permanent link to this record
http://hdl.handle.net/10754/597578
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Microbial fuel cell (MFC) anode communities often reveal just a few genera, but it is not known to what extent less abundant bacteria could be important for improving performance. We examined the microbial community in an MFC fed with formic acid for more than 1 year and determined using 16S rRNA gene cloning and fluorescent in situ hybridization that members of the Paracoccus genus comprised most (~30%) of the anode community. A Paracoccus isolate obtained from this biofilm (Paracoccus denitrificans strain PS-1) produced only 5.6 mW/m 2, whereas the original mixed culture produced up to 10 mW/m 2. Despite the absence of any Shewanella species in the clone library, we isolated a strain of Shewanella putrefaciens (strain PS-2) from the same biofilm capable of producing a higher-power density (17.4 mW/m2) than the mixed culture, although voltage generation was variable. Our results suggest that the numerical abundance of microorganisms in biofilms cannot be assumed a priori to correlate to capacities of these predominant species for high-power production. Detailed screening of bacterial biofilms may therefore be needed to identify important strains capable of high-power generation for specific substrates. © 2010 Springer-Verlag.Citation
Kiely PD, Call DF, Yates MD, Regan JM, Logan BE (2010) Anodic biofilms in microbial fuel cells harbor low numbers of higher-power-producing bacteria than abundant genera. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology 88: 371–380. Available: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00253-010-2757-2.Sponsors
This research was supported by Award KUS-I1-003-13 from the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (RFH-7-77623-01).Publisher
Springer NaturePubMed ID
20632002ae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.1007/s00253-010-2757-2
Scopus Count
Collections
Publications Acknowledging KAUST SupportRelated articles
- Community analysis of biofilms on flame-oxidized stainless steel anodes in microbial fuel cells fed with different substrates.
- Authors: Eyiuche NJ, Asakawa S, Yamashita T, Ikeguchi A, Kitamura Y, Yokoyama H
- Issue date: 2017 Jun 29
- Dynamic changes in the microbial community composition in microbial fuel cells fed with sucrose.
- Authors: Beecroft NJ, Zhao F, Varcoe JR, Slade RC, Thumser AE, Avignone-Rossa C
- Issue date: 2012 Jan
- Bacterial community structure corresponds to performance during cathodic nitrate reduction.
- Authors: Wrighton KC, Virdis B, Clauwaert P, Read ST, Daly RA, Boon N, Piceno Y, Andersen GL, Coates JD, Rabaey K
- Issue date: 2010 Nov
- Isolation of the exoelectrogenic denitrifying bacterium Comamonas denitrificans based on dilution to extinction.
- Authors: Xing D, Cheng S, Logan BE, Regan JM
- Issue date: 2010 Feb
- Microbial community differences between propionate-fed microbial fuel cell systems under open and closed circuit conditions.
- Authors: de Cárcer DA, Ha PT, Jang JK, Chang IS
- Issue date: 2011 Feb