Extending the dynamic range of biochemical oxygen demand sensing with multi-stage microbial fuel cells

Spurr, Martin W. A.; Yu, Eileen Hao; Scott, Keith; Head, Ian M.

doi:10.1039/c8ew00497h

Cited by 31 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…In this study, a multi-stage MFC was used as reactor for the detection of acute toxic events. The multi-stage MFCs offer the advantage of measuring BOD concentration over a large range (Spurr et al, 2018) exhibiting a positive correlation between current generation and BOD while also allowing the presence of toxic compounds to be detected due to loss of current. The large range of BOD concentrations was possible due to the multi-stage array able to use unconsumed substrate in downstream MFCs (as previously reported by Spurr et al, 2018).…”

Section: Specificity Of a Multi-stage Mfc As Toxicity Biosensormentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The multi-stage MFCs offer the advantage of measuring BOD concentration over a large range (Spurr et al, 2018) exhibiting a positive correlation between current generation and BOD while also allowing the presence of toxic compounds to be detected due to loss of current. The large range of BOD concentrations was possible due to the multi-stage array able to use unconsumed substrate in downstream MFCs (as previously reported by Spurr et al, 2018). The hydraulic connection between MFCs leads to a gradient of chemical conditions through the MFC stages which modifies the electrochemical performance of each MFC and so could modify the detection of toxic compound.…”

Section: Specificity Of a Multi-stage Mfc As Toxicity Biosensormentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Ideally, a combined BOD-toxicity sensor would be able to operate online, providing real-time estimation of the BOD and detection of the presence of toxicant. Recently, Spurr (2017), Spurr et al (2018) reported the use of a multistage MFC configuration which could extend the range of BOD detection compared with single stage sensors, and simultaneously detect the presence of a toxicant. This monitoring technique has two principles of measurement; the generation of current by BOD and the loss of current due to toxic inhibition and by using this configuration a decrease in current can be elucidated from the ordered response in current (Spurr et al, 2020).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Detection of 4-Nitrophenol, a Model Toxic Compound, Using Multi-Stage Microbial Fuel Cells

Godain

Spurr

Boghani

et al. 2020

Front. Environ. Sci.

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The upstream protection of the biomass present in biological treatment processes is a vital challenge as the consequences of failure could include exposure of water users to hazardous chemicals in addition to loss of treatment performance. Online detection of toxic compounds in wastewater could enable processes to be monitored in real-time and promote pro-active responses to pollution incidents. Recently, Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs) which generate electricity from organic matter oxidation have shown potential as sensors for online detection of toxicity. In this study, the detection of a model toxicant (4-nitrophenol) was investigated using a multi-stage MFC-based toxicity sensor. MFCs were operated with synthetic wastewater to maintain realistic conditions while enabling organic carbon levels to be controlled. A positive correlation was observed between the 4-NP concentrations and the current drop area showing that the response was proportional to the toxicity level. In addition, the sensor anodic biofilm exhibited resilience to acute toxic events with recovery of 75% of the initial current following a toxic event comprising 500 mg/L 4-NP after 4 h. However, repetitive toxicity events could lead to the selection of resistant bacteria able to degrade the toxic compounds. In this study, a maximal 4-NP degradation rate of 36 mg/h was observed. This limitation could be overcome by re-calibration after a determined number of toxic events. An additional feature of the multi-stage configuration of the sensor is that a drop in output caused by the presence of a toxic compound could be distinguished from a drop in output caused by a decrease in BOD. The microbial community on the sensor anode was characterized by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and shown to comprise an anaerobic community of fermentative bacteria capable of producing volatile fatty acids and hydrogen that were consumed by electrogenic Geobacter spp (2.76 to 21.39% of the anode community) that generated the electrical signal in the sensor. The multi-stage MFC biosensor could provide an early warning system capable of alerting process operators to the presence and level of toxicity in influent wastewater.

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Section: Specificity Of a Multi-stage Mfc As Toxicity Biosensormentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Specificity Of a Multi-stage Mfc As Toxicity Biosensormentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Detection of 4-Nitrophenol, a Model Toxic Compound, Using Multi-Stage Microbial Fuel Cells

Godain

Spurr

Boghani

et al. 2020

Front. Environ. Sci.

Self Cite

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“…Twenty percentage of the anode compartment was inoculated with the effluent of an MFC running in the laboratory over a year using glucose and acetate as carbon sources. The bacterial community of the inoculum was dominated by Geobacter (Spurr et al, 2018). Anode medium consisted of 50 mM phosphate buffer (PBS), 1 g L −1 of sodium acetate, 25 mL L −1 of macronutrients solution, 1 mL L −1 of micronutrients solution, and 0.5 mL L −1 of vitamins solution (see composition in Table S1).…”

Section: Mfc Set Up and Operationmentioning

confidence: 99%

High Performing Gas Diffusion Biocathode for Microbial Fuel Cells Using Acidophilic Iron Oxidizing Bacteria

et al. 2019

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The development of a sustainable catalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is still a major bottleneck for the scale-up and commercialization of Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs). In this work, we have studied the utilization of iron-oxidizing bacteria (IOB) enriched from natural environment and Fe 2+ in MFCs equipped with gas diffusion electrodes (GDEs) as an alternative to traditional Pt-based catalysts. In half-cells systems, the oxidation of Fe 2+ into Fe 3+ by IOB and its regeneration at the cathode produced constant current densities close to 2 A m −2 for more than 45 days. In MFCs operated in batch mode, significant pH changes in both compartment led to the instability of the system. However, when operated in continuous mode, pH remained stable in both compartments and MFCs produced maximum power densities of 1.1 W m −2 were then reached, compared to 0.5 W m −2 for MFCs equipped with Pt catalyst. Diffusion of oxygen through the GDEs improved mass transport and the performance of the MFCs, and avoided the utilization of costly aeration system. This IOB GDE system also provides a reproducible and fast start-up for biocathode for MFCs.

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“…A multistage MFC possesses unique attributes because the unconsumed substrate from the front MFC flows to the subsequent MFC, where the bacteria can continuously consume residual substrate [23]. Such system was applied as a BOD sensor, and results indicated that a wide range of BOD concentrations were obtained [23]. The present study developed a three-stage SCMFC biosensor to increase the range of Cr(VI) measurements in continuous mode.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Three-Stage Single-Chambered Microbial Fuel Cell Biosensor Inoculated with Exiguobacterium aestuarii YC211 for Continuous Chromium (VI) Measurement

Wang²,

Tsai

et al. 2019

Sensors

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Chromium (VI) [Cr(VI)] compounds display high toxic, mutagenic, and carcinogenic potential. Biological analysis techniques (e.g., such as enzyme-based or cell-based sensors) have been developed to measure Cr(VI); however, these biological elements are sensitive to the environment, limited to measuring trace Cr(VI), and require deployment offsite. In this study, a three-stage single-chambered microbial fuel cell (SCMFC) biosensor inoculated with Exiguobacterium aestuarii YC211 was developed for in situ, real-time, and continuous Cr(VI) measurement. A negative linear relationship was observed between the Cr(VI) concentration (5–30 mg/L) and the voltage output using an SCMFC at 2-min liquid retention time. The theoretical Cr(VI) measurement range of the system could be extended to 5–90 mg/L by connecting three separate SCMFCs in series. The three-stage SCMFC biosensor could accurately measure Cr(VI) concentrations in actual tannery wastewater with low deviations (<7%). After treating the wastewater with the SCMFC, the original inoculated E. aestuarii remained dominant (>92.5%), according to the next-generation sequencing analysis. The stable bacterial community present in the SCMFC favored the reliable performance of the SCMFC biosensor. Thus, the three-stage SCMFC biosensor has potential as an early warning device with wide dynamic range for in situ, real-time, and continuous Cr(VI) measurement of tannery wastewater.

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Extending the dynamic range of biochemical oxygen demand sensing with multi-stage microbial fuel cells

Abstract: With multi-stage MFCs the dynamic sensing range for BOD can be significantly increased allowing for monitoring of higher strength wastewaters.

Cited by 31 publications

References 47 publications

Detection of 4-Nitrophenol, a Model Toxic Compound, Using Multi-Stage Microbial Fuel Cells

Detection of 4-Nitrophenol, a Model Toxic Compound, Using Multi-Stage Microbial Fuel Cells

High Performing Gas Diffusion Biocathode for Microbial Fuel Cells Using Acidophilic Iron Oxidizing Bacteria

Three-Stage Single-Chambered Microbial Fuel Cell Biosensor Inoculated with Exiguobacterium aestuarii YC211 for Continuous Chromium (VI) Measurement

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