Storing of exoelectrogenic anolyte for efficient microbial fuel cell recovery

• Published in: Environmental technology Vol. 40; no. 11; pp. 1467 - 1475
• Main Authors: Haavisto, Johanna M., Lakaniemi, Aino-Maija, Puhakka, Jaakko A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis 12.05.2019; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Anolytes; Biochemical fuel cells; Cell culture; Energy storage; Enrichment; Exoelectrogenic culture; Fatty acids; Freezing; Fuel cells; Fuel technology; Lag time; Microorganisms; mixed culture storage; process recovery; Recovery; refrigerating; Volatile fatty acids; Xylose; Exoelectrogenic culture; freezing; mixed culture storage; refrigerating; process recovery
• ISSN: 0959-3330; 1479-487X
• DOI: 10.1080/09593330.2017.1423395

Starting up a microbial fuel cell (MFC) requires often a long-term culture enrichment period, which is a challenge after process upsets. The purpose of this study was to develop low-cost storage for MFC enrichment culture to enable prompt process recovery after upsets. Anolyte of an operating xylose-fed MFC was stored at different temperatures and for different time periods. Storing the anolyte for 1 week or 1 month at +4°C did not significantly affect power production, but the lag time for power production was increased from 2 days to 3 or 5 days, respectively. One month storing at -20°C increased the lag time to 7 days. The average power density in these MFCs varied between 1.2 and 1.7 W/m 3 . The share of dead cells (measured by live/dead staining) increased with storing time. After 6-month storage, the power production was insignificant. However, xylose removal remained similar in all cultures (99-100%) while volatile fatty acids production varied. The results indicate that fermentative organisms tolerated the long storage better than the exoelectrogens. As storing at +4°C is less energy intensive compared to freezing, anolyte storage at +4°C for a maximum of 1 month is recommended as start-up seed for MFC after process failure to enable efficient process recovery.