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A new approach for in situ cyclic voltammetry of a microbial fuel cell biofilm without using a potentiostat
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

A new approach for in situ cyclic voltammetry of a microbial fuel cell biofilm without using a potentiostat

K.Y. Cheng, R. Cord-Ruwisch and G. Ho
Bioelectrochemistry, Vol.74(2), pp.227-231
2009
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Abstract

Electrochemically active bacteria in a microbial fuel cell (MFC) usually exist as a biofilm attached to an electrode surface. Conventional cyclic voltammetry using potentiostat is considered as a powerful and reliable method to study electrochemical behavior of MFC biofilm. In this paper, we introduce a new approach to evaluate redox behavior of an electro-active MFC biofilm without using a potentiostat. Analogous to a conventional cyclic voltammetry study, we controlled the biofilm-electrode potential by computer-feedback controlling the external resistance of an operating MFC. In this way, the MFC can still operate as a "fuel cell" without being "interrupted" by an external device (i.e. potentiostat) that normally does not belong to the system. Relationship between current and biofilm-electrode potential was obtained and showed agreement with a potentiostat-controlled method under similar experimental conditions. The method could be added to our technical repertoire for analysis of bacterial mediator involved in the exocellular electron transfer of a MFC-biofilm, and it could potentially serve as a practical process monitoring method for MFC operation. The application of computer-control components should be further explored to facilitate control, diagnosis as well as optimization of MFC processes.

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Citation topics
3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology
3.83 Bioengineering
3.83.1487 Microbial Fuel Cell
Web Of Science research areas
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Biology
Biophysics
Electrochemistry
ESI research areas
Biology & Biochemistry
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