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Formation of electroactive biofilms derived by nanostructured anodes surfaces

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Abstract

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) have significant interest in the research community due to their ability to generate electricity from biodegradable organic matters. Anode materials and their morphological structures play a crucial role in the formation of electroactive biofilms that enable the direct electron transfer. In this work, modified electrodes with nanomaterials, such as multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), reduced graphene oxide (rGO), Al2O3/rGO or MnO2/MWCNTs nanocomposites were synthesized, characterized and utilized to support the growth of electrochemically active biofilms. The MFC's performance is optimized using anode-respiring strains isolated from biofilm-anode surface, while the adjusted operation is conducted with the consortium of (Enterobacter sp.). Besides the formation of matured biofilm on its surface, MnO2/MWCNTs nanocomposite produced the highest electrical potential outputs (710 mV) combined with the highest power density (372 mW/m2). Thus, a correlation between the anode nanostructured materials and the progression of the electrochemically active biofilms formation is presented, allowing new thoughts for enhancing the MFC's performance for potential applications ranging from wastewater treatment to power sources.

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Acknowledgements

This work has been supported by an internal Grant funded by the NRC (Project code:11050110).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Water Pollution Research Department, National Research Centre (NRC), Dokki, Giza, 12622, Egypt

    Rehab H. Mahmoud, Farag A. Samhan & Gamila H. Ali

  2. Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt

    Mohamed K. Ibrahim

  3. Applied Organic Chemistry Department, National Research Centre (NRC), Dokki, Giza, 12622, Egypt

    Rabeay Y. A. Hassan

  4. Nanoscience Program, University of Science and Technology (UST), Zewail City of Science and Technology, 6th October City, Giza, 12578, Egypt

    Rabeay Y. A. Hassan

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  1. Rehab H. Mahmoud
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  2. Farag A. Samhan
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  4. Gamila H. Ali
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  5. Rabeay Y. A. Hassan
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Correspondence to Rabeay Y. A. Hassan.

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Mahmoud, R.H., Samhan, F.A., Ibrahim, M.K. et al. Formation of electroactive biofilms derived by nanostructured anodes surfaces. Bioprocess Biosyst Eng 44, 759–768 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00449-020-02485-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00449-020-02485-4

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