Microbial community structure of different electrode materials in constructed wetland incorporating microbial fuel cell

Bioresour Technol. 2016 Dec:221:697-702. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2016.09.116. Epub 2016 Sep 30.

Abstract

The microbial fuel cell coupled with constructed wetland (CW-MFC) microcosms were operated under fed-batch mode for evaluating the effect of electrode materials on bioelectricity generation and microbial community composition. Experimental results indicated that the bioenergy output in CW-MFC increased with the substrate concentration; maximum average voltage (177mV) was observed in CW-MFC with carbon fiber felt (CFF). In addition, the four different materials resulted in the formation of significantly different microbial community distribution around the anode electrode. The relative abundance of Proteobacteria in CFF and foamed nickel (FN) was significantly higher than that in stainless steel mesh (SSM) and graphite rod (GR) samples. Notably, the findings indicate that CW-MFC utilizing FN anode electrode could apparently improve relative abundance of Dechloromonas, which has been regarded as a denitrifying and phosphate accumulating microorganism.

Keywords: Constructed wetland; Electrochemically active bacteria; Electrode material; Microbial community composition; Microbial fuel cell.

MeSH terms

  • Bioelectric Energy Sources / microbiology*
  • Carbon
  • Carbon Fiber
  • Denitrification
  • Electrodes*
  • Graphite
  • Microbial Consortia / physiology*
  • Nickel
  • Proteobacteria / metabolism
  • Steel
  • Wetlands*

Substances

  • Carbon Fiber
  • Steel
  • Carbon
  • Graphite
  • Nickel