• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.127-131
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• 1999

Anaerobically grown cells of an Fe(III)-reducing bacterium, Shewanella putrefaciens IR-l, were electrochemically active with an apparent reduction potential of about 0.15 V against a saturated calomel electrode in the cyclic voltammetry. The bacterium did not grow fermentatively on lactate, but grew in an anode compartment of a three-electrode electrochemical cell using lactate as an electron donor and the electrode as the electron acceptor. This property was shared by a large number of Fe(III)-reducing bacterial isolates. This is the first observation of a direct electrochemical reaction by an intact bacterial cell, which is believed to be possible due to the electron carrier(s) located at the cell surface involved in the reduction of the natural water insoluble electron acceptor, Fe(III).

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.297-301
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• 2021

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) convert chemical energy to electrical energy via electrochemically active microorganisms. The interactions between microbes and the surface of a carbon electrode play a vital role in capturing the respiratory electrons from bacteria. Therefore, improvements in the electrochemical and physicochemical properties of carbon materials are essential for increasing performance. In this study, a microwave and sulfuric acid treatment was used to modify the surface structure of graphite granules. The prepared expandable graphite granules (EGG) exhibited a 1.5 times higher power density than the unmodified graphite granules (1400 vs. 900 mW/m³). Scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed improved physical and chemical characteristics of the EGG surface. These results suggest that physical and chemical surface modification using sulfuric acid and microwave heating improves the performance of electrode-based bioprocesses, such as MFCs.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.407-411
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• 2011

Microbial fuel cell (MFC) wes enriched using sludge in wastewater treatment. The microbial community of activated sludge and enriched MFC were analyzed by FISH (fluorescent in situ hybridization) and 16S rDNA sequencing. Bacteroidetes group were pre-dominant in activated sludge by FISH. ${\alpha}$ group, ${\gamma}$ group and Acintobacter group were dominant and they were similar to distribution. The average value of 10 peak of MFC is 0.44C. When MFC wase enriched by sludge, ${\gamma}$-Proteobacteria, Plantomycetes group increased 70% and 60%, respectively. In results of 16S rDNA sequencing, Sphiringomonas sp. was comprised in ${\alpha}$ proteobacteria and Enterobacter sp., Klebsiella sp., Acinetobacter sp., Bacillus sp. were comprised in ${\gamma}$ proteobacteria and Chryseobacterium sp. was comprised in Flavobacteria were isolated from sludge.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.303-310
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• 2023

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are a bioelectrochemical system where electrochemically active bacteria convert organic waste into electricity. Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and chitosan (CS) are polymers that have been studied as potential alternative ion exchange membranes to Nafion for many electrochemical systems. This study examined the optimal mixing ratio of PVA and chitosan CS in a PVA:CS composite membrane for MFC applications. PVA:CS composite membranes with 1:1, 2:1, and 3:1 ratios were synthesized and tested. The water uptake and ion exchange capacity, Fourier transform infrared spectra, and scanning electron microscopy images were analyzed to determine the physicochemical properties of PVA:CS membranes. The prepared membranes were applied to the ion exchange membrane of the MFC system, and their effects on the electrochemical performance were evaluated. These results showed that the composite membrane with a 3:1 (PVA:CS) ratio showed comparable performance to the commercialized Nafion membrane and produced more electricity than the other synthesized membranes. The PVA:CS membrane implemented MFCs produced a maximum power density of 0.026 mW cm^-2 from organic waste with stable performance. Therefore, it can be applied to a cost-effective MFC system.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.71-78
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• 2010

To understand the effects of acclimation schemes on the formation of anode biofilms, different electrical performances are characterized in this study, with the roles of suspended and attached bacteria in single-chamber microbial fuel cells (MFCs). The results show that the generation of current in single-chamber MFCs is significantly affected by the development of a biofilm matrix on the anode surface containing abundant immobilized microorganisms. The long-term operation with suspended microorganisms was demonstrated to form a dense biofilm matrix that was able to reduce the activation loss in MFCs. Also, a Pt-coated anode was not favorable for the initial or long-term bacterial attachment due to its high hydrophobicity (contact angle = $124^{\circ}$), which promotes easy detachment of the biofilm from the anode surface. Maximum power ($655.0\;mW/m^2$) was obtained at a current density of $3,358.8\;mA/m^2$ in the MFCs with longer acclimation periods. It was found that a dense biofilm was able to enhance the charge transfer rates due to the complex development of a biofilm matrix anchoring the electrochemically active microorganisms together on the anode surface. Among the major components of the extracellular polymeric substance, carbohydrates ($85.7\;mg/m^2_{anode}$) and proteins ($81.0\;mg/m^2_{anode}$) in the dense anode biofilm accounted for 17 and 19%, respectively, which are greater than those in the sparse anode biofilm.

• KEPCO Journal on Electric Power and Energy
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.589-593
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• 2016

Microbial fuel cell (MFC) can produce electricity from oxidation-reduction of organic and inorganic matters by electrochemically active bacteria as catalyst. Stacked MFCs have been investigated for overcoming low electricity generation of single MFC. In this study, two-typed stacked-MFCs (submerged-flat and stand-falt) were operated according to electrode connection for optimal stacked technology of MFC. In case of submerged-flat MFC with all separator electrode assembly (SEA) sharing anode chamber, MFC with mixed-connection showed more voltage loss than MFC with single-connection method. And MFC stacked in parallel showed better voltage production than MFC stacked in series. In case of stand-flat MFC, voltage loss was bigger when SEAs sharing anodic chamber only were connected in series. Voltage loss was decreased when SEAs parallel connected SEAs sharing anodic chamber were connected in series.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.32 no.12
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• pp.1094-1101
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• 2010

Microbial fuel cells (MFC) were enriched using sediment Nakdong river, Hoidong river and protected water area in Gijang. The microbial community of sediment and enriched MFC was analyzed by FISH (fluorescent in situ hybridization) and 16S rDNA sequencing. ${\alpha}$-Proteobacteria, Acidobacter and Cyanobactia group were dominant in sediment by FISH. The coulombs of the final 10 peak of the 3 MFC (Nakdong, Hoidong, Gijang) were 0.64 C, 0.50 C, 0.61 C, respectively. When MFCs were enriched by sediment, ${\beta}$-, ${\gamma}$-Proteobacteria, Acidobacter and Firmicutes group increased 45~90%, 50~90%, 40~80% and 45~125%, respectively. In results of 16S rDNA sequencing, Roseomonas sp., Azospillium sp., Frateuria sp., Dyella sp., Enterobacter sp. and Deinocossus were isolated from Nakdong river and Azospillium sp., Delftia sp., Ralstonia sp., Klebsiella sp. and Deinococcus sp. were isolated from protected water area in Gijang and Pseudomonas sp., Klebsiella sp., Deinococcus sp., Leifsonia sp. and Bacillus sp. were isolated from Hoidong river.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.7
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• pp.1104-1116
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• 2019

In this study, we investigated the potential of using sediment bioelectrochemical systems (SBESs) for in situ treatment of the water and sediment in brackish aquaculture ponds polluted with uneaten feed. An SBES integrated into a laboratory-scale tank simulating a brackish aquaculture pond was established. This test tank and the control (not containing the SBES) were fed with shrimp feed in a scheme that mimics a situation where 50% of feed is uneaten. After the SBES was inoculated with microbial sources from actual shrimp pond sediments, electricity generation was well observed from the first experimental week, indicating successful enrichment of electrochemically active bacteria in the test tank sediment. The electricity generation became steady after 3 weeks of operation, with an average current density of $2.3mA/m^2$ anode surface and an average power density of $0.05mW/m^2$ anode surface. The SBES removed 20-30% more COD of the tank water, compared to the control. After 1 year, the SBES also reduced the amount of sediment in the tank by 40% and thus could remove approximately 40% more COD and approximately 52% more nitrogen from the sediment, compared to the control. Insignificant amounts of nitrite and nitrate were detected, suggesting complete removal of nitrogen by the system. PCR-DGGE-based analyses revealed the dominant presence of Methylophilus rhizosphaerae, Desulfatitalea tepidiphila and Thiothrix eikelboomii, which have not been found in bioelectrochemical systems before, in the bacterial community in the sediment of the SBES-containing tank. The results of this research demonstrate the potential application of SBESs in helping to reduce water pollution threats, fish and shrimp disease risks, and thus farmers' losses.