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Hydrogen production profiles using furans in microbial electrolysis cells

World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology volume 33, Article number: 115 (2017) Cite this article

Abstract

Microbial electrochemical cells including microbial fuel cells (MFCs) and microbial electrolysis cells (MECs) are novel biotechnological tools that can convert organic substances in wastewater or biomass into electricity or hydrogen. Electroactive microbial biofilms used in this technology have ability to transfer electrons from organic compounds to anodes. Evaluation of biofilm formation on anode is crucial for enhancing our understanding of hydrogen generation in terms of substrate utilization by microorganisms. In this study, furfural and hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) were analyzed for hydrogen generation using single chamber membrane-free MECs (17 mL), and anode biofilms were also examined. MECs were inoculated with mixed bacterial culture enriched using chloroethane sulphonate. Hydrogen was succesfully produced in the presence of HMF, but not furfural. MECs generated similar current densities (5.9 and 6 mA/cm2 furfural and HMF, respectively). Biofilm samples obtained on the 24th and 40th day of cultivation using aromatic compounds were evaluated by using epi-fluorescent microscope. Our results show a correlation between biofilm density and hydrogen generation in single chamber MECs.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK) (Grant No. 113Z589).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Uskudar University, Uskudar, 34662, Istanbul, Turkey

    Tunc Catal, Tansu Gover & Bugra Yaman

  2. Biotechnology Application and Research Center, Uskudar University, Uskudar, 34662, Istanbul, Turkey

    Tunc Catal

  3. Department of Bioengineering, Uskudar University, Uskudar, 34662, Istanbul, Turkey

    Jessica Droguetti & Kaan Yilancioglu

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  1. Tunc Catal
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  2. Tansu Gover
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  3. Bugra Yaman
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  4. Jessica Droguetti
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  5. Kaan Yilancioglu
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Correspondence to Tunc Catal.

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Catal, T., Gover, T., Yaman, B. et al. Hydrogen production profiles using furans in microbial electrolysis cells. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 33, 115 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11274-017-2270-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11274-017-2270-1

Keywords

  • Aromatic compounds
  • Biofilm
  • Electricity
  • Hydrogen