Name: electrochemically and bioelectrochemically induced ammonium recovery
Uploaded: 2015-01-22T15:00:00.000+00:00
Duration: 9 min 50 s
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Electrochemically and Bioelectrochemically Induced Ammonium Recovery at JoVE.com

This work was supported by the BOF grant for SG from Ghent University. AL is supported by the Rutgers University NSF Fuels-IGERT. SA is supported by the European Union Framework Programme 7 project &#8220;ProEthanol 2G.&#8221; SA and KR are supported by Ghent University Multidisciplinary Research Partnership (MRP)&#8212;Biotechnology for a sustainable economy (01 MRA 510W). JD is supported by an IOF Advanced grant (F2012/IOF-Advanced/094). KR is supported by by the ERC Starter Grant &#8220;Electrotalk&#8221;. The authors thank Tim Lacoere for designing the TOC art figure, Robin Declerck for building the strip and absorption columns and Kun Guo for providing the inoculum source.

<ol>
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The authors have nothing to disclose.

This manuscript provides the necessary tools to set up a bioelectrochemical and an electrochemical cell for ammonium recovery. The calculations presented in the results section provide the parameters for evaluation of the system performance. The biological and electrochemical systems are similar in setup and function. The main difference between the two systems is the choice of a fixed current for the electrochemical cell versus a fixed anode potential for the bioelectrochemical setup. The fixed current for the abiotic s...

Recovery of valuable products from wastewater gains importance as valuable resources become scarce and treatment without recovery represents only a cost. Wastewater contains both energy and nutrients that can be recovered, and nutrient recovery can help to close the production loop1. Recovery of energy through anaerobic digestion is a well-established process, while recovery of nutrients is less common. Recovery of nutrients from liquid waste streams such as urine and manure has been widely investigated, e.g., through the production of struvite and direct stripping of ammonia2,3. However, the need for chemical addition is a downside of these processes4. Here we present a technique for the recovery of cationic nutrients from waste streams, including both potassium and ammonium. The cationic form of these nutrients allows recovery using an ion selective membrane in an electrochemical system. In this case, the electrochemical system consists of an anode chamber (where oxidation takes place), a cathode chamber (where reduction takes place) and an ion selective membrane to separate the compartments. A voltage is applied across the cell to produce a current flow from anode to cathode. This voltage can be generated by an external power source to drive water oxidation and reduction reactions. Alternatively the anodic oxidation, e.g., of organics, can be catalyzed by electroactive bacteria, requiring less power. To close the circuit and maintain the charge balance, a charged species must migrate between the electrodes for each electron generated. Ammonium transport from the anode chamber to the cathode chamber across a cation exchange membrane (CEM) can thus compensate the flux of electrons 4,5.
The technique presented here not only removes ammonium from waste streams, but also enables its recovery. Total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) exists in equilibrium of both ammonium (NH4+) and ammonia (NH3), and is dependent on pH and temperature6. NH4+ is abundantly available due to high TAN concentration and near neutral pH in the anode chamber and this positively charged species can therefore be driven by the current across the CEM into the cathode chamber. The current drives the reduction of water at the cathode, leading to the production of hydroxide ions and hydrogen gas. The TAN equilibrium shifts to nearly 100% NH3 due to the high pH in the cathode chamber (&#62; 10.0). NH3 is a gas that can be easily transferred via air circulation from the stripping unit to the absorption column where it is trapped and concentrated in an acid solution.
This technology has the potential to decrease ammonium toxicity during anaerobic digestion of N-rich streams like manure, thus increasing the energy recovery from these waste streams, while simultaneously recovering nutrients4. Electrochemical and bioelectrochemical extraction of ammonium can also be applied as nutrient recovery technique on waste streams with a high TAN content such as urine thereby avoiding costs for nutrient removal at a WWTP7.
The protocol presented here can serve as a basis for many different electrochemical and bioelectrochemical experiments, as we use a modular reactor. Different electrode types, membranes and frame thicknesses can be combined as explained in the protocol below. The main aim of the protocol is to provide a means for the comparison of electrochemical ammonium recovery and bio-electrochemical ammonium recovery using an electrolysis cell. The systems are evaluated in terms of extraction efficiency, power input and reproducibility.

<table><tbody><tr><td>Carbon Felt 3.18 mm Thick</td><td>Alfa Aesar</td><td>ALFA43199</td><td>Used as bioanode, 110&amp;nbsp;mm x 110&amp;nbsp;mm</td></tr><tr><td>Ti electrode coated with Ir MMO&amp;nbsp;</td><td>Magneto Special Anodes (The Netherlands)</td><td></td><td>Used as stable anode for electrochemical tests</td></tr><tr><td>Stainless steel mesh</td><td>Solana (Belgium)</td><td>RVS 554/64: material AISI 316L, mesh width: 564 micron, wire thickness: 140 micron, mesh number: 36,6</td><td>Used as cathode, 110&amp;nbsp;mm x 110&amp;nbsp;mm</td></tr><tr><td>Stainless steel plate</td><td>Solana (Belgium)</td><td>inox 304 sheet, thickness: 0.5 mm</td><td>Used as current collector for the bioanode</td></tr><tr><td>Ag/AgCl Reference Electrode</td><td>Bio-Logic (France)</td><td>A-012167 RE-1B</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Potentiostat (VSP Multipotentiostat)&amp;nbsp;</td><td>Bio-Logic (France)</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>EC Lab</td><td>Bio-Logic (France)</td><td></td><td>software for performing electrochemistry measurements</td></tr><tr><td>Cation Exchange Membrane</td><td>Membranes International (USA)</td><td>Ultrex CMI-7000</td><td>Pretreated according to the manufacturers&#039; instructions</td></tr><tr><td>Turbulence Promotor mesh</td><td>ElectroCell Europe A/S (Tarm, Denmark)</td><td>EPC20432-PP-2</td><td>spacer material, 110 mm x 110 mm</td></tr><tr><td>Connectors</td><td>Serto</td><td>1,281,161,120</td><td>Other sizes possible, dependant on tubing type and size of holes in frames</td></tr><tr><td>Strip and absorption column</td><td></td><td></td><td>In house design</td></tr><tr><td>Tubing</td><td>Masterflex</td><td>HV-06404-16</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Gas bag</td><td>Keika Ventures</td><td></td><td>Kynar gas bag with Roberts valve</td></tr><tr><td>Rashig Rings</td><td>Glasatelier Saillart (Belgium)</td><td>Raschig rings 4 x 4 mm</td><td>Put inside the strip and absorption column to improve the air/liquid contact. Available with many suppliers</td></tr><tr><td>Rubber sheet</td><td></td><td></td><td>Cut to fit on the perspex frames</td></tr><tr><td>Perspex reactor frames</td><td>Vlaeminck, Beernem</td><td></td><td>In-house design, see tab &quot;reactor frames&quot; in this file</td></tr></tbody></table>

electrochemically and bioelectrochemically induced ammonium recovery

Streams such as urine and manure can contain high levels of ammonium, which could be recovered for reuse in agriculture or chemistry. The extraction of ammonium from an ammonium-rich stream is demonstrated using an electrochemical and a bioelectrochemical system. Both systems are controlled by a potentiostat to either fix the current (for the electrochemical cell) or fix the potential of the working electrode (for the bioelectrochemical cell). In the bioelectrochemical cell, electroactive bacteria catalyze the anodic reaction, whereas in the electrochemical cell the potentiostat applies a higher voltage to produce a current. The current and consequent restoration of the charge balance across the cell allow the transport of cations, such as ammonium, across a cation exchange membrane from the anolyte to the catholyte. The high pH of the catholyte leads to formation of ammonia, which can be stripped from the medium and captured in an acid solution, thus enabling the recovery of a valuable nutrient. The flux of ammonium across the membrane is characterized at different anolyte ammonium concentrations and currents for both the abiotic and biotic reactor systems. Both systems are compared based on current and removal efficiencies for ammonium, as well as the energy input required to drive ammonium transfer across the cation exchange membrane. Finally, a comparative analysis considering key aspects such as reliability, electrode cost, and rate is made.
This video article and protocol provide the necessary information to conduct electrochemical and bioelectrochemical ammonia recovery experiments. The reactor setup for the two cases is explained, as well as the reactor operation. We elaborate on data analysis for both reactor types and on the advantages and disadvantages of bioelectrochemical and electrochemical systems.

Chronoamperometry results from the bioreactor
The chronoamperometry results, calculated according to Equation 1, show a typical graph for a continuous reactor (Figure 4). At the start of the experiment, the anode and cathode were operated in recirculation mode. This allows a biofilm to develop and the onset of the current production. After 5 days of operation, the current density reached a maximum, followed by a decrease in current production. This is an indic...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Electrochemically and Bioelectrochemically Induced Ammonium Recovery at JoVE.com

Electrochemically and Bioelectrochemically Induced Ammonium Recovery

We demonstrate the extraction of ammonium from an ammonium-rich stream using an electrochemical and a bioelectrochemical system. The reactor setup, operation and data analysis are discussed.

Streams such as urine and manure can contain high levels of ammonium, which could be recovered for reuse in agriculture or chemistry. The extraction of ...

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12.6K Views.  Ghent University. We demonstrate the extraction of ammonium from an ammonium-rich stream using an electrochemical and a bioelectrochemical system. The reactor setup, operation and data analysis are discussed. 

Video: Electrochemically and Bioelectrochemically Induced Ammonium Recovery

Waste Water Derived Electroactive Microbial Biofilms: Growth, Maintenance, and Basic Characterization

The growth of anodic electroactive microbial biofilms from waste water inocula in a fed-batch reactor is demonstrated using a three-electrode setup controlled by a potentiostat. Thereby the use of potentiostats allows an exact adjustment of the electrode potential and ensures reproducible microbial culturing conditions. During growth the current production is monitored using chronoamperometry (CA). Based on these data the maximum current density (jmax) and the coulombic efficiency (CE) are discussed as measures for characterization of the bioelectrocatalytic performance. Cyclic voltammetry (CV), a nondestructive, i.e. noninvasive, method, is used to study the extracellular electron transfer (EET) of electroactive bacteria. CV measurements are performed on anodic biofilm electrodes in the presence of the microbial substrate, i.e. turnover conditions, and in the absence of the substrate, i.e. nonturnover conditions, using different scan rates. Subsequently, data analysis is exemplified and fundamental thermodynamic parameters of the microbial EET are derived and explained: peak potential (Ep), peak current density (jp), formal potential (Ef) and peak separation (&#916;Ep). Additionally the limits of the method and the state-of the art data analysis are addressed. Thereby this video-article shall provide a guide for the basic experimental steps and the fundamental data analysis.

Chronoamperometric growth of anodic electroactive microbial biofilms in a fed-batch reactor using a three-electrode setup, controlled by a potentiostat, is demonstrated. The extracellular electron transfer is characterized using cyclic voltammetry in the presence of the electron donor and in the absence of the electron donor. Fundamental data analysis is demonstrated.

The growth of anodic electroactive microbial biofilms from waste water inocula in a fed-batch reactor is demonstrated using a three-electrode setup ...

Environment

Electrochemical Detection of Deuterium Kinetic Isotope Effect on Extracellular Electron Transport in Shewanella oneidensis MR-1

Direct electrochemical detection of c-type cytochrome complexes embedded in the bacterial outer membrane (outer membrane c-type cytochrome complexes; OM c-Cyts) has recently emerged as a novel whole-cell analytical method to characterize the bacterial electron transport from the respiratory chain to the cell exterior, referred to as the extracellular electron transport (EET). While the pathway and kinetics of the electron flow during the EET reaction have been investigated, a whole-cell electrochemical method to examine the impact of cation transport associated with EET has not yet been established. In the present study, an example of a biochemical technique to examine the deuterium kinetic isotope effect (KIE) on EET through OM c-Cyts using a model microbe, Shewanella oneidensis MR-1, is described. The KIE on the EET process can be obtained if the EET through OM c-Cyts acts as the rate-limiting step in the microbial current production. To that end, before the addition of D2O, the supernatant solution was replaced with fresh media containing a sufficient amount of the electron donor to support the rate of upstream metabolic reactions, and to remove the planktonic cells from a uniform monolayer biofilm on the working electrode. Alternative methods to confirm the rate-limiting step in microbial current production as EET through OM c-Cyts are also described. Our technique of a whole-cell electrochemical assay for investigating proton transport kinetics can be applied to other electroactive microbial strains.

Electrochemical Detection of Deuterium Kinetic Isotope Effect on Extracellular Electron Transport in Shewanella oneidensis MR-1

Here we present a protocol of whole-cell electrochemical experiments to study the contribution of proton transport to the rate of extracellular electron transport via the outer-membrane cytochromes complex in Shewanella oneidensis MR-1.

Direct electrochemical detection of c-type cytochrome complexes embedded in the bacterial outer membrane (outer membrane c-type cytochrome complexes; OM ...

Biochemistry

Ammonia Fiber Expansion (AFEX) Pretreatment of Lignocellulosic Biomass

Lignocellulosic materials are plant-derived feedstocks, such as crop residues (e.g., corn stover, rice straw, and sugar cane bagasse) and purpose-grown energy crops (e.g., miscanthus, and switchgrass) that are available in large quantities to produce biofuels, biochemicals, and animal feed. Plant polysaccharides (i.e., cellulose, hemicellulose, and pectin) embedded within cell walls are highly recalcitrant towards conversion into useful products. Ammonia fiber expansion (AFEX) is a thermochemical pretreatment that increases accessibility of polysaccharides to enzymes for hydrolysis into fermentable sugars. These released sugars can be converted into fuels and chemicals in a biorefinery. Here, we describe a laboratory-scale batch AFEX process to produce pretreated biomass on the gram-scale without any ammonia recycling. The laboratory-scale process can be used to identify optimal pretreatment conditions (e.g., ammonia loading, water loading, biomass loading, temperature, pressure, residence time, etc.) and generates sufficient quantities of pretreated samples for detailed physicochemical characterization and enzymatic/microbial analysis. The yield of fermentable sugars from enzymatic hydrolysis of corn stover pretreated using the laboratory-scale AFEX process is comparable to pilot-scale AFEX process under similar pretreatment conditions. This paper is intended to provide a detailed standard operating procedure for the safe and consistent operation of laboratory-scale reactors for performing AFEX pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass.

Ammonia Fiber Expansion AFEX Pretreatment of Lignocellulosic Biomass

Ammonia fiber expansion (AFEX) is a thermochemical pretreatment technology that can convert lignocellulosic biomass (e.g., corn stover, rice straw, and sugarcane bagasse) into a highly digestible feedstock for both biofuels and animal feed applications. Here, we describe a laboratory-scale method for conducting AFEX pretreatment on lignocellulosic biomass.

Lignocellulosic materials are plant-derived feedstocks, such as crop residues (e.g., corn stover, rice straw, and sugar cane bagasse) and purpose-grown ...

Self-standing Electrochemical Set-up to Enrich Anode-respiring Bacteria On-site

Anaerobic respiration coupled with electron transport to insoluble minerals (referred to as extracellular electron transport [EET]) is thought to be critical for microbial energy production and persistence in many subsurface environments, especially those lacking soluble terminal electron acceptors. While EET-capable microbes have been successfully isolated from various environments, the diversity of bacteria capable of EET is still poorly understood, especially in difficult-to-sample, low energy or extreme environments, such as many subsurface ecosystems. Here, we describe an on-site electrochemical system to enrich EET-capable bacteria using an anode as a respiratory terminal electron acceptor. This anode is connected&#160;to a cathode capable of&#160;catalyzing abiotic oxygen reduction. Comparing this approach with electrocultivation methods that use a potentiostat for poising the electrode potential, the two-electrode system does not require an external power source. We present an example of our on-site enrichment utilized in an alkaline pond at the Cedars, a terrestrial serpentinization site in Northern California. Prior attempts to cultivate mineral reducing bacteria were unsuccessful, which is likely due to the low-biomass nature of this site and/or the low relative abundance of metal reducing microbes. Prior to implementing our two-electrode enrichment, we measured the vertical profile of dissolved oxygen concentration. This allowed us to place the carbon felt anode and platinum-electroplated carbon felt cathode at depths that would support anaerobic and aerobic processes, respectively. Following on-site incubation, we further enriched the anodic electrode in the laboratory and confirmed&#160;a distinct microbial community compared to the surface-attached or biofilm communities normally observed at the Cedars. This enrichment subsequently led to the isolation of the first electrogenic microbe from the Cedars. This method of on-site microbial enrichment has the potential to greatly enhance the isolation of EET-capable bacteria from low biomass or difficult to sample habitats.

On-site microbial enrichment or in situ cultivation techniques can facilitate the isolation of difficult-to-culture microbial taxa, especially from low-biomass or geochemically extreme environments. Here, we describe an electrochemical set-up without using an external power source to enrich microbial strains that are capable of extracellular electron transport (EET).

Anaerobic respiration coupled with electron transport to insoluble minerals (referred to as extracellular electron transport [EET]) is thought to be ...

Characterizing Electron Transport through Living Biofilms

Here we demonstrate the method of electrochemical gating used to characterize electrical conductivity of electrode-grown microbial biofilms under physiologically relevant conditions.1 These measurements are performed on living biofilms in aqueous medium using source and drain electrodes patterned on a glass surface in a specialized configuration referred to as an interdigitated electrode (IDA) array. A biofilm is grown that extends across the gap connecting the source and drain. Potentials are applied to the electrodes (ES and ED) generating a source-drain current (ISD) through the biofilm between the electrodes. The dependency of electrical conductivity on gate potential (the average of the source and drain potentials, EG = [ED + ES]/2) is determined by systematically changing the gate potential and measuring the resulting source-drain current. The dependency of conductivity on gate potential provides mechanistic information about the extracellular electron transport process underlying the electrical conductivity of the specific biofilm under investigation. The electrochemical gating measurement method described here is based directly on that used by M. S. Wrighton2,3 and colleagues and R. W. Murray4,5,6 and colleagues in the 1980&#39;s to investigate thin film conductive polymers.

A protocol for measuring electrical conductivity of living microbial biofilms under physiologically relevant conditions is presented.

Here we demonstrate the method of electrochemical gating used to characterize electrical conductivity of electrode-grown microbial biofilms under ...

Measurement of the Potential Rates of Dissimilatory Nitrate Reduction to Ammonium Based on 14NH4+/15NH4+ Analyses via Sequential Conversion to N2O

The importance of understanding the fate of nitrate (NO3&#8722;), which is the dominant N species transferred from terrestrial to aquatic ecosystems, has been increasing because global nitrogen loads have dramatically increased following industrialization. Dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA) and denitrification are both microbial processes that use NO3&#8722; for respiration. Compared to denitrification, quantitative determinations of the DNRA activity have been carried out only to a limited extent. This has led to an insufficient understanding of the importance of DNRA in NO3&#8722; transformations and the regulating factors of this process. The objective of this paper is to provide a detailed procedure for the measurement of the potential DNRA rate in environmental samples. In brief, the potential DNRA rate can be calculated from the 15N-labeled ammonium (15NH4+) accumulation rate in 15NO3&#8722; added incubation. The determination of the 14NH4+ and 15NH4+ concentrations described in this paper is comprised of the following steps. First, the NH4+ in the sample is extracted and trapped on an acidified glass filter as ammonium salt. Second, the trapped ammonium is eluted and oxidized to NO3&#8722; via persulfate oxidation. Third, the NO3&#8722; is converted to N2O via an N2O reductase deficient denitrifier. Finally, the converted N2O is analyzed using a previously developed quadrupole gas chromatography&#8211;mass spectrometry system. We applied this method to salt marsh sediments and calculated their potential DNRA rates, demonstrating that the proposed procedures allow a simple and more rapid determination compared to previously described methods.

Measurement of the Potential Rates of Dissimilatory Nitrate Reduction to Ammonium Based on 14NH4+/15NH4+ Analyses via Sequential Conversion to N2O

A series of methods to determine the potential DNRA rate based on 14NH4+/15NH4+ analyses is provided in detail. NH4+ is converted into N2O via several steps and analyzed using quadrupole gas chromatography&#8211;mass spectrometry.

The importance of understanding the fate of nitrate (NO3&#8722;), which is the dominant N species transferred from terrestrial to aquatic ecosystems, has ...

Asymmetric Thermoelectrochemical Cell for Harvesting Low-grade Heat under Isothermal Operation

Low-grade heat is abundantly available in the environment as waste heat. The efficient conversion of low-grade heat into electricity is very difficult. We developed an asymmetric thermoelectrochemical cell (aTEC) for heat-to-electricity conversion under isothermal operation in the charging and discharging processes without exploiting the thermal gradient or the thermal cycle. The aTEC is composed of a graphene oxide (GO) cathode, a polyaniline (PANI) anode, and 1M KCl as the electrolyte. The cell generates a voltage due to the pseudocapacitive reaction of GO when heating from room temperature (RT) to a high temperature (TH, ~40-90 &#176;C), and then current is successively produced by oxidizing PANI when an external electrical load is connected. The aTEC demonstrates a remarkable temperature coefficient of 4.1 mV/K and a high heat-to-electricity conversion efficiency of 3.32%, working at a TH = 70 &#176;C with a Carnot efficiency of 25.3%, unveiling a new promising thermoelectrochemical technology for low-grade heat recovery.

Low-grade heat is abundant, but its efficient recovery is still a great challenge. We report an asymmetric thermoelectrochemical cell using graphene oxide as a cathode and polyaniline as an anode with KCl as the electrolyte. This cell works under isothermal heating, exhibiting a high heat-to-electricity conversion efficiency in low-temperature regions.

Low-grade heat is abundantly available in the environment as waste heat. The efficient conversion of low-grade heat into electricity is very difficult. We ...

Ion-Exchange Membranes for the Fabrication of Reverse Electrodialysis Device

Reverse electrodialysis (RED) is an effective way to generate power by mixing two different salt concentrations in water using cation-exchange membranes (CEM) and anion-exchange membranes (AEM). The RED stack is composed of an alternating arrangement of the cation-exchange membrane and anion-exchange membrane. The RED device acts as a potential candidate for fulfilling the universal demand for future energy crises. Here, in this article, we demonstrate a procedure to fabricate a reverse electrodialysis device using laboratory-scale CEM and AEM for power production. The active area of the ion-exchange membrane is 49 cm2. In this article, we provide a step-by-step procedure for synthesizing the membrane, followed by the stack&#39;s assembly and power measurement. The measurement conditions and net power output calculation have also been explained. Furthermore, we describe the fundamental parameters that are taken into consideration for obtaining a reliable outcome. We also provide a theoretical parameter that affects the overall cell performance relating to the membrane and the feed solution. In short, this experiment describes how to assemble and measure RED cells on the same platform. It also contains the working principle and calculation used for estimating the net power output of the RED stack using CEM and AEM membranes.

We demonstrate the fabrication of a reverse electrodialysis device using a cation-exchange membrane (CEM) and anion-exchange membrane (AEM) for power generation.

Reverse electrodialysis (RED) is an effective way to generate power by mixing two different salt concentrations in water using cation-exchange membranes ...

Engineering

Ammonia Synthesis at Low Pressure

Ammonia can be synthesized at low pressure by the use of an ammonia selective absorbent. The process can be driven with wind energy, available locally in areas requiring ammonia for synthetic fertilizer. Such wind energy is often called &#34;stranded,&#34; because it is only available far from population centers where it can be directly used.
In the proposed low pressure process, nitrogen is made from air using pressure swing absorption, and hydrogen is produced by electrolysis of water. While these gases can react at approximately 400 &#176;C in the presence of a promoted conventional catalyst, the conversion is often limited by the reverse reaction, which makes this reaction only feasible at high pressures. This limitation can be removed by absorption on an ammine-like calcium or magnesium chloride. Such alkaline metal halides can effectively remove ammonia, thus suppressing the equilibrium constraints of the reaction. In the proposed absorption-enhanced ammonia synthesis process, the rate of reaction may then be controlled not by the chemical kinetics nor the absorption rates, but by the rate of the recycle of unreacted gases. The results compare favorably with ammonia made from a conventional small scale Haber-Bosch process.

Ammonia can be synthesized at low pressure by using a conventional catalyst and an ammonia selective absorbent.

Ammonia can be synthesized at low pressure by the use of an ammonia selective absorbent. The process can be driven with wind energy, available locally in ...

Bioengineering

Chronoamperometry Analysis of EET in Lactiplantibacillus plantarum with DHNA

Characterizing Mediated Extracellular Electron Transfer in Lactic Acid Bacteria with a Three-Electrode, Two-Chamber Bioelectrochemical System

Many bacteria perform extracellular electron transfer (EET), whereby electrons are transferred from the cell to an extracellular terminal electron acceptor. This electron acceptor can be an electrode and electrons can be delivered indirectly via a redox-active mediator molecule. Here, we present a protocol to study mediated EET in Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, a probiotic lactic acid bacterium widely used in the food industry, using a bioelectrochemical system. We detail how to assemble a three-electrode, two-chambered bioelectrochemical system and provide guidance on characterizing EET in the presence of a soluble mediator using chronoamperometry and cyclic voltammetry techniques. We use representative data from 1,4-dihydroxy-2-naphthoic acid (DHNA)-mediated EET experiments with L. plantarum to demonstrate data analysis and interpretation. The techniques described in this protocol can open new opportunities for electro-fermentation and bioelectrocatalysis. Recent applications of this electrochemical technique with L. plantarum demonstrated an acceleration of metabolic flux towards producing fermentation end-products, which are critical flavor components in food fermentation. As such, this system has the potential to be further developed to alter flavors in food production or produce valuable chemicals.

Here we present a protocol for characterizing mediated extracellular electron transfer (EET) in lactic acid bacteria using a three-electrode, two-chamber bioelectrochemical system. We illustrate this method with Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and the redox mediator 1,4-dihydroxy-2-naphthoic acid and provide a thorough description of the electrochemical techniques used to evaluate mediated EET.

Electrochemically and Bioelectrochemically Induced Ammonium Recovery

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Waste Water Derived Electroactive Microbial Biofilms: Growth, Maintenance, and Basic Characterization

Electrochemical Detection of Deuterium Kinetic Isotope Effect on Extracellular Electron Transport in Shewanella oneidensis MR-1

Ammonia Fiber Expansion (AFEX) Pretreatment of Lignocellulosic Biomass

Self-standing Electrochemical Set-up to Enrich Anode-respiring Bacteria On-site

Characterizing Electron Transport through Living Biofilms

Measurement of the Potential Rates of Dissimilatory Nitrate Reduction to Ammonium Based on ¹⁴NH₄⁺/¹⁵NH₄⁺ Analyses via Sequential Conversion to N₂O

Asymmetric Thermoelectrochemical Cell for Harvesting Low-grade Heat under Isothermal Operation

Ion-Exchange Membranes for the Fabrication of Reverse Electrodialysis Device

Ammonia Synthesis at Low Pressure

Characterizing Mediated Extracellular Electron Transfer in Lactic Acid Bacteria with a Three-Electrode, Two-Chamber Bioelectrochemical System