Electricity generation by Pseudomonas putida B6-2 in microbial fuel cells using carboxylates and carbohydrate as substrates

Microbial fuel cells(MFCs)employing Pseudomonas putida B6-2(ATCC BAA-2545)as an exoelectrogen have been developed to harness energy from various conventional substrates,such as acetate,lactate,glucose,and fructose.Owing to its metabolic versatility,P.putida B6-2 demonstrates adaptable growth rates on diverse,cost-effective carbon sources within MFCs,exhibiting distinct energy production characteristics.Notably,the anode chamber’s pH rises with carboxylates’(acetate and lactate)consumption and decreases with carbohydrates’(glucose and fructose)utilization.The MFC utilizing fructose as a substrate achieved the highest power density at 411 mW m^(−2).Initial analysis revealed that P.putida B6-2 forms biofilms covered with nanowires,contributing to bioelectricity generation.These microbial nanowires are likely key players in direct extracellular electron transport through physical contact.This study established a robust foundation for producing valuable compounds and bioenergy from common substrates in bioelectrochemical systems(BESs)utilizing P.putida as an exoelectrogen.

Enhanced nitrate reduction in water by a combined bio-electrochemical system of microbial fuel cells and submerged aquatic plant Ceratophyllum demersum

High nitrate(NO_3^-)loading in water bodies is a crucial factor inducing the eutrophication of lakes.We tried to enhance NO_3^-reduction in overlying water by coupling sediment microbial fuel cells(SMFCs)with submerged aquatic plant Ceratophyllum demersum.A comparative study was conducted by setting four treatments:open-circuit SMFC(Control),closed-circuit SMFC(SMFC-c),open-circuit SMFC with C.demersum(Plant),and closed-circuit SMFC with C.demersum(P-SMFC-c).The electrochemical parameters were documented to illustrate the bio-electrochemical characteristics of SMFC-c and P-SMFC-c.Removal pathways of NO_3^- in different treatments were studied by adding quantitative^(15)NO_3^- to water column.The results showed that the cathodic reaction in SMFC-c was mainly catalyzed by aerobic organisms attached on the cathode,including algae,Pseudomonas,Bacillus,and Albidiferax.The oxygen secreted by plants significantly improved the power generation of SMFC-c.Both electrogenesis and plants enhanced the complete removal of NO_3^- from the sediment–water system.The complete removal rates of added^(15)N increased by 17.6% and 10.2% for SMFC-c and plant,respectively,when compared with control at the end of experiment.The electrochemical/heterotrophic and aerobic denitrification on cathodes mainly drove the higher reduction of NO_3^- in SMFC-c and plant,respectively.The coexistence of electrogenesis and plants further increased the complete removal of NO_3^- with a rate of 23.1%.The heterotrophic and aerobic denitrifications were simultaneously promoted with a highest abundance of Flavobacterium,Bacillus,Geobacter,Pseudomonas,Rhodobacter,and Arenimonas on the cathode.