Logo image
Enrichment of anodophilic nitrogen fixing bacteria in a bioelectrochemical system
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Enrichment of anodophilic nitrogen fixing bacteria in a bioelectrochemical system

P.Y. Wong, K.Y. Cheng, A.H. Kaksonen, D.C. Sutton and M.P. Ginige
Water Research, Vol.64, pp.73-81
2014
url
Link to Published Version *Subscription may be requiredView

Abstract

We demonstrated the ability of a bio-anode to fix dinitrogen (N2), and confirmed that diazotrophs can be used to treat N-deficient wastewater in a bioelectrochemical system (BES). A two-compartment BES was fed with an N-deficient medium containing glucose for >200 days. The average glucose and COD removal at an anodic potential of +200 mV vs. Ag/AgCl was 100% and 76%, respectively. Glucose removal occurred via fermentation under open circuit (OC), with acetate as the key byproduct. Closing circuit remarkably reduced acetate accumulation, suggesting the biofilm could oxidise acetate under N-deficient conditions. Nitrogen fixation required an anode and glucose; removing either reduced N2 fixation significantly. This suggests that diazotroph utilised glucose directly at the anode or indirectly through syntrophic interaction of an N2-fixing fermenter and an anodophile. The enriched biofilm was dominated (68%) by the genus Clostridium, members of which are known to be electrochemically active and capable of fixing N2.

Details

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#7 Affordable and Clean Energy

Source: InCites

Metrics

InCites Highlights

These are selected metrics from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool, related to this output

Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
Citation topics
3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology
3.83 Bioengineering
3.83.1487 Microbial Fuel Cell
Web Of Science research areas
Engineering, Environmental
Environmental Sciences
Water Resources
ESI research areas
Environment/Ecology
Logo image