Work

Direct enrichment of perchlorate-reducing microbial community for efficient electroactive perchlorate reduction in biocathodes

Year: 2013

Type: article

Abstract: Biological reduction of perchlorate (ClO₄⁻) has emerged as a promising solution for the removal of perchlorate in contaminated water and soils. In this work, we demonstrate a simple process to enrich perchlorate-reducing microbial communities separately using acetate as electron donor and the municipal aerobic membrane bioreactor sludge as inoculum. Inoculation of cathodes in microbial fuel cells (MFCs) with these enrichments, and further electrochemical enrichment at constant resistance operation of the MFCs, led to perchlorate-reducing biocathodes with peak reduction rates of 0.095 mM/day (2 mg/m²/day). Analysis of the microbial diversity of perchlorate-reducing biocathodes using PCR-DGGE revealed unique community profiles when compared to the denitrifying biocathode communities. More importantly, the total time taken for enrichment of the electroactive communities was reduced from several months reported previously in literature to less than a month in this work.

Source: Journal of Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology

DOI: 10.1007/s10295-013-1318-y

Authors: Maren Mieseler, Mays N Atiyeh, Hector H Hernandez, Farrukh Ahmad

Institution: Masdar Institute of Science and Technology

Language: English

Topic: Microbial Fuel Cells and Bioremediation

Subfield: Environmental Engineering

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Clean water and sanitation, Affordable and clean energy

Open Access status: bronze

Funder: Masdar Institute of Science and Technology