Electron and Ionic Transport in Microbial Anode Respiration and Their Importance in Microbial Electrochemical Cell Applications

Anode-respiring bacteria (ARB) catalyze the complete oxidation of organic compounds (e.g. acetate, glucose) into electrical current and carbon dioxide.  ARB produce a biofilm at the electrode surface, where even cells on the outer part of the biofilm are participating in current production.  Our team uses a variety of electrochemical techniques in order to characterize electron transport responses from various ARB.  Through these experiments, we have observed a complex response to anode potential that allows ARB, such as G. sulfurreducens, to optimize their efficiency in electron transport. Identifying this complex behavior allows us to better understand and predict the response of ARB to different conditions in microbial electrochemical cells (MXCs). 

While the topic of electron transport is the focus of most ARB research, ionic transport is the most important factor in determining rate-limiting and potential loss processes.  ARB require near-neutral pH in the medium to grow, differing from chemical fuel cells commonly employed, which run under acidic or alkaline conditions.  This pH requirement results in a major transport limitation, as H⁺ ions (now in mM range) should be transported from anode to cathode to achieve electron neutrality.  In an MXC anode, H⁺ ions accumulate in the ARB biofilm, creating an acidification that limits current generation.  We have identified and characterized ARB that  work outside the neutral pH range, including Geoalkalibacter ferrihydriticus and Thermoanaerobacter pseudethanolicus, that allow us to operate MXCs at either acidic or basic conditions.  Meanwhile, at the cathode, local gradients leading to pH > 12 is typical in MXC operation.  As a consequence, the pH gradient results in Nernstian concentration overpotential of > 300 mV.  Thus, understanding and controlling ionic transport in MXCs is essential to ensure an efficient operation.  I will discuss our current efforts to characterize and overcome ionic transport limitations in order to develop efficient MXC processes.