Granular activated carbon assisted biocathode for effective electrotrophic denitrification in microbial fuel cells.

Granular activated carbon (GAC) has been widely used at the anode of a microbial fuel cell (MFC) to enhance anode performance due to its outstanding capacitance property. To the best of our knowledge, there haven't been any studies on GAC in the cathode for biofilm development and nitrate reduction in MFC. In this study, by adding GAC to biocathode, we investigated the impact of different GAC amounts and stirring speeds on power generation and nitrate reduction rate in MFC.

Emergence of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and advances in the remediation strategies.

A group of fluorinated organic molecules known as per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been commonly produced and circulated in the environment. PFAS, owing to multiple strong CF bonds, exhibit exceptional stability and possess a high level of resistance against biological or chemical degradation. Recently, PFAS have been identified to cause numerous hazardous effects on the biotic ecosystem.

Comparative Evaluation of and for Phycoremediation of Polluted River Water: Spotlighting Heavy Metals Detoxification.

This study investigated the phycoremediation abilities of (microalga) and (cyanobacterium) for the detoxification of polluted river water. Lab-scale phycoremediation experiments were conducted for 20 days at 30 °C using the microalgal and cyanobacterial strains and water samples collected from the Dhaleswari river in Bangladesh. The physicochemical properties such as electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), biological oxygen demand (BOD), hardness ions, and heavy metals of the collected water samples indicated that the river water is highly polluted.

Investigating the Performance of a Zinc Oxide Impregnated Polyvinyl Alcohol-Based Low-Cost Cation Exchange Membrane in Microbial Fuel Cells.

The current study investigated the development and application of lithium (Li)-doped zinc oxide (ZnO)-impregnated polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) proton exchange membrane separator in a single chambered microbial fuel cell (MFC). Physiochemical analysis was performed via FT-IR, XRD, TEM, and AC impedance analysis to characterize thus synthesized Li-doped ZnO. PVA-ZnO-Li with 2.

Integrating Human Waste with Microbial Fuel Cells to Elevate the Production of Bioelectricity.

Due to the continuous depletion of natural resources currently used for electricity generation, it is imperative to develop alternative energy sources. Human waste is nowadays being explored as an efficient source to produce bio-energy. Human waste is renewable and can be used as a source for an uninterrupted energy supply in bioelectricity or biofuel.

Microbiomics for enhancing electron transfer in an electrochemical system.

In microbial electrochemical systems, microorganisms catalyze chemical reactions converting chemical energy present in organic and inorganic molecules into electrical energy. The concept of microbial electrochemistry has been gaining tremendous attention for the past two decades, mainly due to its numerous applications. This technology offers a wide range of applications in areas such as the environment, industries, and sensors.

A novel gas production bioassay of thiosulfate utilizing denitrifying bacteria (TUDB) for the toxicity assessment of heavy metals contaminated water.

This study reports for the first-time the possibility of deploying gas production by thiosulfate utilizing denitrifying bacteria (TUDB) as a proxy to evaluate water toxicity. The test relies on gas production by TUDB due to inhibited metabolic activity in the presence of toxicants. Gas production was measured using a bubble-type respirometer.

Overview of electroactive microorganisms and electron transfer mechanisms in microbial electrochemistry.

Electroactive microorganisms acting as microbial electrocatalysts have intrinsic metabolisms that mediate a redox potential difference between solid electrodes and microbes, leading to spontaneous electron transfer to the electrode (exo-electron transfer) or electron uptake from the electrode (endo-electron transfer). These microbes biochemically convert various organic and/or inorganic compounds to electricity and/or biochemicals in bioelectrochemical systems (BESs) such as microbial fuel cells (MFCs) and microbial electrosynthesis cells (MECs). For the past two decades, intense studies have converged to clarify electron transfer mechanisms of electroactive microbes in BESs, which thereby have led to improved bioelectrochemical performance.

Studies on expression levels of and genes during bio-electrogenic process in MCC 3673.

The bacterium MCC 3673 transfers electrons directly to the electrode for bio-electricity generation in microbial fuel cell (MFC). This could be due to the formation of biofilm on the surface of electrode or with through the extracellular appendages, or both. The role of extracellular appendages pili and flagella in exo-electron transfer mechanism was investigated.

Kluyvera georgiana MCC 3673: A Novel Electrogen Enriched in Microbial Fuel Cell Fed with Oilseed Cake.

A novel electrogenic bacterial species, Kluyvera georgiana MCC 3673, was isolated by enrichment in microbial fuel cells (MFC) using oilseed cake as a growth substrate. CHNS analyses showed that oilseed cakes are rich in carbon and nitrogen content. Utilization of these compounds by bacteria was evident from 50% reduction in chemical oxygen demand.

Xerogel based catalyst for improved cathode performance in microbial fuel cells.

In a microbial fuel cell (MFC) the reduction reaction at cathode has been a limiting factor in achieving maximum power density, and numerous strategies have been implemented in an attempt to overcome this. Herein, we demonstrate that carbon xerogel (CX) doped with iron (Fe) and nitrogen (N) followed by modification with graphene oxide (GO) is an efficient catalyst for MFCs. The CXFeNGO catalyst was characterized using a scanning electron microscope, and X-ray diffraction, and the catalytic activity was confirmed using cyclic voltammetry studies.