Nitrilotriacetic acid degradation under microbial fuel cell environment.

The removal of nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) was studied under anaerobic conditions using oligotrophic and copiotrophic microbial fuel cells (MFCs) as a novel wastewater treatment process. Over 85% of NTA was removed from oligotrophic MFCs enriched and maintained with fuel containing NTA, whilst the value was around 20% in oligotrophic MFCs fed with NTA-free fuel, and in copiotrophic MFCs enriched with NTA containing fuel. The oligotrophic MFCs generated current with concomitant utilization of NTA when served as the sole organic compound, suggesting that NTA is oxidized its suitability as fuel in the MFCs.

Improving the dynamic response of a mediator-less microbial fuel cell as a biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) sensor.

The dynamic behavior of a mediator-less, microbial fuel cell (MFC) was studied as a continuous biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) sensor. The response time and the sensitivity were analyzed through the step-change testing of the fuel concentration. The MFC of 25 ml had the shortest response time of 36 +/- 2 min at the fuel-feeding rate of 0.

Analysis of microbial diversity in oligotrophic microbial fuel cells using 16S rDNA sequences.

Molecular ecological techniques were applied to analyze the bacterial diversity of two oligotrophic microbial fuel cells (MFCs) enriched using river water or artificial wastewater (AWW) as fuel. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) of the PCR amplified 16S rDNA showed that different microbial communities were present in the two MFCs and these were different from the river sediment used to initiate the enrichment. Nearly complete 16S rDNA was amplified and sequenced.

A microbial fuel cell with improved cathode reaction as a low biochemical oxygen demand sensor.

Mediator-less microbial fuel cells (MFC) enriched with oligotrophic microbes were optimized through enhancement of cathode reaction and lowering O2 diffusion into the anode compartment as a low BOD sensor. The optimization of the MFC has greatly improved the maximum current and coulomb yield. The oligotroph-type MFC could be used as a low BOD sensor with high operational stability, good repeatability and reproducibility.

Continuous production of succinic acid by a fumarate-reducing bacterium immobilized in a hollow-fiber bioreactor.

Enterococcus faecalis RKY1, a fumarate-reducing bacterium, was immobilized in an asymmetric hollow-fiber bioreactor (HFBR) for the continuous production of succinic acid. The cells were inoculated into the shell side of the HFBR, which was operated in transverse mode. Since the pH values in the HFBR declined during continuous operation to about 5.