Effects of municipal waste compost on microbial biodiversity and energy production in terrestrial microbial fuel cells

N Biotechnol. 2023 Oct 22:S1871-6784(23)00060-2. doi: 10.1016/j.nbt.2023.10.009. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTMicrobial Fuel Cells (MFCs) transform organic matter into electricity through microbial electrochemical reactions catalysed on anodic and cathodic half-cells. Terrestrial MFCs (TMFCs) are a bioelectrochemical system for bioelectricity production as well as soil remediation. In TMFCs, the soil is the ion-exchange electrolyte, whereas a biofilm on the anode oxidises organic matter through electroactive bacteria. Little is known of the overall microbial community composition in a TMFC, which impedes complete exploitation of the potential to generate energy in different soil types. In this context, an experiment was performed to reveal the prokaryotic community structure in single chamber TMFCs with soil in the presence and absence of a municipal waste compost (3% w/v). The microbial community was assessed on the anode and cathode and in bulk soil at the end of the experiment (54 days). Moreover, TMFC electrical performance (voltage and power) was also evaluated over the experimental period, varying the external resistance to improve performance. Compost stimulated soil microbial activity, in line with a general increase in voltage and power. Significant differences were observed in the microbial communities between initial soil conditions and TMFCs, and between the anode, cathode and bulk soil in the presence of the compost. Several electroactive genera (Bacillus, Fulvi...

Source: New Biotechnology - October 24, 2023 Category: Biotechnology Authors: Gian Luigi Garbini Anna Barra Caracciolo Ludovica Rolando Andrea Visca Domenico Borello Carlotta Cosentini Gabriele Gagliardi Ioannis Ieropoulos Paola Grenni Source Type: research