Set anode potentials affect the electron fluxes and microbial community structure in propionate-fed microbial electrolysis cells.

ABSTRACT: Anode potential has been shown to be a critical factor in the rate of acetate removal in microbial electrolysis cells (MECs), but studies with fermentable substrates and set potentials are lacking. Here, we examined the impact of three different set anode potentials (SAPs; -0.25, 0, and 0.25 V vs. standard hydrogen electrode) on the electrochemical performance, electron flux to various sinks, and anodic microbial community structure in two-chambered MECs fed with propionate. Electrical current (49-71%) and CH₄ (22.9-41%) were the largest electron sinks regardless of the potentials tested. Among the three SAPs tested, 0 V showed the highest electron flux to electrical current (71 ± 5%) and the lowest flux to CH₄ (22.9 ± 1.2%). In contrast, the SAP of -0.25 V had the lo

SUBMITTER: Hari AR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5146674 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature