Research Laboratory of Environmental Protection Technology (RLEPT), Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran.
Published: November 2022
AI Article Synopsis
Article Abstract
Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) have the capability of simultaneous sewage treatment and electricity generation. Modifying the cathode electrode enhances their efficiency. In this study, NiTiO and CuNiTiO were synthesized for practical application as cathode catalysts in a dual-chamber MFC and the performance of the modified cathodes was evaluated against a bare graphite electrode. SEM images showed that the particle sizes were mostly in the range of 40-120 and 20-80 nm for NiTiO and CuNiTiO, respectively. According to AFM results, CuNiTiO presented a higher surface roughness than NiTiO. MFC using CuNiTiO/G electrode with a reduction potential value of -0.27 V (vs. SCE) and a power density of 62.18 mW m showed better oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity compared with NiTiO/G and the bare graphite. MFC using CuNiTiO cathode also showed the highest values in terms of chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal (75%) and the calculated coulombic efficiency (CE, 10%). The results obtained in this study, introduce CuNiTiO as a promising electrocatalyst for further improvement of the cathodic reactions in MFC applications.
Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) is a petroleum-based plastic polymer that, by design, can last decades, if not hundreds of years, when released into the environment through plastic waste leakage. In the pursuit of sustainable solutions to plastic waste recycling and repurposing, the enzymatic depolymerization of PET has emerged as a promising green alternative. However, the metabolic potential of the resulting PET breakdown molecules, such as the two-carbon (C2) molecule ethylene glycol (EG), remains largely untapped.
A biofuel cell is an electrochemical device using exoelectrogen or biocatalysts to transfer electrons from redox reactions to the electrodes. While wild-type microbes and natural enzymes are often employed as exoelectrogen and biocatalysts, genetically engineered or modified organisms have been developed to enhance exoelectrogen activity. Here, we demonstrated a redox-enzyme integrated microbial fuel cell (REI-MFC) design based on an exoelectrogen-enhancing strategy that reinforces the electrogenic activity of MR1 by displaying an extra redox enzyme on the cell surface.
Obesity is a multifactorial condition influenced by genetic, environmental, and microbiome-related factors. The gut microbiome plays a vital role in maintaining intestinal health, increasing mucus creation, helping the intestinal epithelium mend, and regulating short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production. These tasks are vital for managing metabolism and maintaining energy balance.
Utilizing microbial fuel cells (MFCs) technology to simultaneously achieve efficient biopower generation and pollutant degradation is a persistent pursuit. However, the limited rate of extracellular electron transfer (EET) and the availability of electrode materials remain key factors limiting the practical application of MFCs. In this article, modified carbon derived from cyanobacteria is applied to modify electrodes and assemble MFCs.
Background: Underground research laboratories (URLs) provide a window on the deep biosphere and enable investigation of potential microbial impacts on nuclear waste, CO and H stored in the subsurface. We carried out the first multi-year study of groundwater microbiomes sampled from defined intervals between 140 and 400 m below the surface of the Horonobe and Mizunami URLs, Japan.
Results: We reconstructed draft genomes for > 90% of all organisms detected over a four year period.
