Tuning Geobacter sulfurreducens biofilm with conjugated polyelectrolyte for increased performance in bioelectrochemical system

TitleTuning Geobacter sulfurreducens biofilm with conjugated polyelectrolyte for increased performance in bioelectrochemical system
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2019
AuthorsRen L, McCuskey SR, Moreland A, Bazan GC, Nguyen T-Q
JournalBiosensors and Bioelectronics
Volume144
Pagination111630
ISSN0956-5663
KeywordsBioelectrochemical system, Biofilm permeability, Biomass content, Conjugated polyelectrolyte, Current production
Abstract

Bioelectrochemical systems (BESs) are emerging as a platform technology with great application potentials such as wastewater remediation and power generation. Materials for electrode/microorganism modification are being examined in order to improve the current production in BESs. Herein, we report that the current production increased almost one fold in single-chamber BES reactors, by adding a conjugated polyelectrolyte (CPE-K) in the growth medium to co-form the anodic biofilm with Geobacter sulfurreducens cells. The CPE-K treated BESs had a maximum current density as high as 12.3 ± 0.5 A/m2, with that of the controls being 6.2 ± 0.7 A/m2. Improved current production was sustained even after CPE-K was no longer added to the medium. It was demonstrated that increased current resulted from improvement of certain biofilm properties. Analysis using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) showed that CPE-K addition decreased the charge transfer resistance at the cell/electrode interface and the diffusion resistance through the biofilm. Protein quantification showed increased biomass growth on the electrode surface, and confocal scanning microscopy images revealed enhanced biofilm permeability. These results demonstrated for the first time that conjugated polyelectrolytes could be used for G. sulfurreducens biofilm augmentation to achieve high electricity production through tuning the anodic biofilm in BESs.

URLhttp://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0956566319307092
DOI10.1016/j.bios.2019.111630