Carboxylate-controlled electron transfer in Bacillus clausii J1G-0%B halophilic microbial fuel cells
Original scientific paper
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5599/jese.3222Keywords:
Salty wastewater, bioelectricity generation, halophilic bacteria, carboxylate supplementation, biofilm growthAbstract
Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) provide a cohesive approach to treating hypersaline wastewater and generating renewable energy. This research assessed the efficacy of halophilic Bacillus clausii J1G-0%B supplemented with acetate, lactate, or citrate at doses of 10, 30 and 50 mM. The half-cell investigation included cyclic voltammetry, diagnostics of the rate-determining step, electron transfer rate constant (kₛ), pH profiles, and ammonia buildup. Comprehensive cell testing, including assessments of output voltage, peak power density, and biofilm mass, was also performed. In comparison to the control, all carbon sources enhanced the electrochemical response by 184.56 to 378.23 %, due to bacterial-electrode electron transfer, diffusion-limited kinetics, and the involvement of cytochromes a₃, b, c and/or c₁ in B. clausii. The MFC system generated an average voltage ranging from 33.64 to 77.87 mV and achieved a maximum power density between 19.19±3.11 and 58.16±3.54 mW m-². Within the tested range, the highest acetate concentration (50 mM) produced the largest electrochemical response, yielding kₛ of 1.888±0.002 s⁻¹, an average voltage of 486.94 mV, and a power density of 58.16±3.54 mW m-². The results demonstrate that targeted carboxylate supplementation significantly improves electron transport and energy recovery in high-salinity microbial fuel cells, underscoring its viability for waste cleanup and energy generation during energy shortages and environmental contamination.
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