TY - JOUR
T1 - The biocathode of microbial electrochemical systems and microbially-influenced corrosion
AU - Kim, Byung Hong
AU - Lim, Swee Su
AU - Daud, Wan Ramli Wan
AU - Gadd, Geoffrey Michael
AU - Chang, In Seop
PY - 2015/8
Y1 - 2015/8
N2 - The cathode reaction is one of the most important limiting factors in bioelectrochemical systems even with precious metal catalysts. Since aerobic bacteria have a much higher affinity for oxygen than any known abiotic cathode catalysts, the performance of a microbial fuel cell can be improved through the use of electrochemically-active oxygen-reducing bacteria acting as the cathode catalyst. These consume electrons available from the electrode to reduce the electron acceptors present, probably conserving energy for growth. Anaerobic bacteria reduce protons to hydrogen in microbial electrolysis cells (MECs). These aerobic and anaerobic bacterial activities resemble those catalyzing microbially-influenced corrosion (MIC). Sulfate-reducing bacteria and homoacetogens have been identified in MEC biocathodes. For sustainable operation, microbes in a biocathode should conserve energy during such electron-consuming reactions probably by similar mechanisms as those occurring in MIC. A novel hypothesis is proposed here which explains how energy can be conserved by microbes in MEC biocathodes.
AB - The cathode reaction is one of the most important limiting factors in bioelectrochemical systems even with precious metal catalysts. Since aerobic bacteria have a much higher affinity for oxygen than any known abiotic cathode catalysts, the performance of a microbial fuel cell can be improved through the use of electrochemically-active oxygen-reducing bacteria acting as the cathode catalyst. These consume electrons available from the electrode to reduce the electron acceptors present, probably conserving energy for growth. Anaerobic bacteria reduce protons to hydrogen in microbial electrolysis cells (MECs). These aerobic and anaerobic bacterial activities resemble those catalyzing microbially-influenced corrosion (MIC). Sulfate-reducing bacteria and homoacetogens have been identified in MEC biocathodes. For sustainable operation, microbes in a biocathode should conserve energy during such electron-consuming reactions probably by similar mechanisms as those occurring in MIC. A novel hypothesis is proposed here which explains how energy can be conserved by microbes in MEC biocathodes.
KW - Biocathode
KW - Bioelectrochemical systems
KW - Energy conservation
KW - Microbial electrolysis cells
KW - Microbially-influenced corrosion
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84930178434&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.biortech.2015.04.084
DO - 10.1016/j.biortech.2015.04.084
M3 - Article
C2 - 25976915
AN - SCOPUS:84930178434
VL - 190
SP - 395
EP - 401
JO - Bioresource Technology
JF - Bioresource Technology
SN - 0960-8524
ER -