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The effect of flavin electron shuttles in microbial fuel cells current production

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Abstract

The effect of electron shuttles on electron transfer to microbial fuel cell (MFC) anodes was studied in systems where direct contact with the anode was precluded. MFCs were inoculated with Shewanella cells, and flavins used as the electron shuttling compound. In MFCs with no added electron shuttles, flavin concentrations monitored in the MFCs' bulk liquid increased continuously with FMN as the predominant flavin. The maximum concentrations were 0.6 μM for flavin mononucleotide and 0.2 μM for riboflavin. In MFCs with added flavins, micro-molar concentrations were shown to increase current and power output. The peak current was at least four times higher in MFCs with high concentrations of flavins (4.5–5.5 μM) than in MFCs with low concentrations (0.2–0.6 μM). Although high power outputs (around 150 mW/m2) were achieved in MFCs with high concentrations of flavins, a Clostridium-like bacterium along with other reactor limitations affected overall coulombic efficiencies (CE) obtained, achieving a maximum CE of 13%. Electron shuttle compounds (flavins) permitted bacteria to utilise a remote electron acceptor (anode) that was not accessible to the cells allowing current production until the electron donor (lactate) was consumed.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologia (CONACyT) via grant 196298 and by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) via grant BBS/B/03718. S. B. Velasquez-Orta appreciates the funding provided by the Postgraduate Researcher Development Programme in Newcastle University to conduct a Centre of Excellence Visit.

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Author notes

  1. Harald von Canstein

    Present address: E.ON Bioerdgas GmbH, Ruhrallee 307, 45136, Essen, Germany

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK

    Sharon B. Velasquez-Orta, Ian M. Head & Thomas P. Curtis

  2. School of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK

    Sharon B. Velasquez-Orta & Keith Scott

  3. School of Earth, Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK

    Jonathan R. Lloyd & Harald von Canstein

Authors
  1. Sharon B. Velasquez-Orta
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  2. Ian M. Head
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  3. Thomas P. Curtis
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Correspondence to Sharon B. Velasquez-Orta.

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Velasquez-Orta, S.B., Head, I.M., Curtis, T.P. et al. The effect of flavin electron shuttles in microbial fuel cells current production. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 85, 1373–1381 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-009-2172-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-009-2172-8

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