Scratching and transplanting of electro-active biofilm in fruit peeling leachate by ultrasound: re-inoculation in new microbial fuel cell for enhancement of bio-energy production and organic matter detection

• Published in: Biotechnology letters Vol. 42; no. 6; pp. 965 - 978
• Main Authors: Kebaili, Hakima, Kameche, Mostefa, Innocent, Christophe, Benayyad, Amina, Kosimaningrum, Widya Ernayati, Sahraoui, Tewfik
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.06.2020; Springer Nature B.V; Springer Verlag
• Subjects: Acetic acid; Anodes; Applied Microbiology; Bacterial leaching; Biochemical fuel cells; Biochemistry; Bioelectric Energy Sources; Biofilms; Biofilms - radiation effects; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biotechnology; Carbon - chemistry; Charge transfer; Chemical Sciences; Electric potential; Electricity; Electrochemical analysis; Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy; Electrochemistry; Equipment Design; Fruit - microbiology; Fruits; Fuel cells; Fuel technology; Inoculation; Lag time; Leachates; Life Sciences; Microbiology; Organic matter; Original Research Paper; Oxidation; Oxidation-Reduction; Peeling; Scratching; Sodium acetate; Sodium Acetate - analysis; Sonication; Spectroscopy; Substrates; Transplantation; Ultrasonic imaging; Ultrasound; Voltage; Microbial fuel cell; Acetate detection; Carbon felt; Electroactive bio-film; Scratching-transplantation
• ISSN: 0141-5492; 1573-6776
• DOI: 10.1007/s10529-020-02858-5

Objective An electro-active biofilm of Fruit Peeling (FP) leachate was formed onto the Carbon Felt (CF) bio-anode in a Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC), after functioning for a long time. The electro active-biofilm thus formed was then scratched by ultrasound and re-inoculated in a new leachate to be transplanted onto the bio-anode. This procedure allowed the microbial electron charge transfer and therefore the enhancement of the bio-energy production of the fuel cell. Results By using the repetitive mechanical biofilm removal, re-suspension and electrochemically facilitated biofilm formation, the voltage was substantially increased. In effect, the voltage of the 1st G of biofilm, rose gradually and reached its maximum value of 65 mV after 10 days. Whilst the 2nd generation allowed to obtain the maximum voltage 276 mV and without any lag time. The DCO abatement using the 1st G biofilm was 68% greater than the 3rd G 26%. Besides, the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy characterization and cyclic voltammetry of bio-anode with 2nd G biofilm confirmed the ability of electro-active biofilm formation on a new support. The biofilm transplanted showed thus greater kinetic performance, with reduced lag time demonstrating the interest of the selection that took place during the formation of successive biofilms. Conclusions Despite the transplantation of the electro-active biofilm onto the bio-anode, the MFC still produced relatively lower power output. Nevertheless, it has been tested successfully for monitoring and detecting the oxidation of sodium acetate substrate in the very wide concentration range 0.0025–35 g/l.