thumbnail

Electricity generation by anaerobic bacteria and anoxic sediments from hypersaline soda lakes

Extremophiles
By:  and 
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00792-008-0191-5

Links

Abstract

Anaerobic bacteria and anoxic sediments from soda lakes produced electricity in microbial fuel cells (MFCs). No electricity was generated in the absence of bacterial metabolism. Arsenate respiring bacteria isolated from moderately hypersaline Mono Lake (Bacillus selenitireducens), and salt-saturated Searles Lake, CA (strain SLAS-1) oxidized lactate using arsenate as the electron acceptor. However, these cultures grew equally well without added arsenate using the MFC anode as their electron acceptor, and in the process oxidized lactate more efficiently. The decrease in electricity generation by consumption of added alternative electron acceptors (i.e. arsenate) which competed with the anode for available electrons proved to be a useful indicator of microbial activity and hence life in the fuel cells. Shaken sediment slurries from these two lakes also generated electricity, with or without added lactate. Hydrogen added to sediment slurries was consumed but did not stimulate electricity production. Finally, electricity was generated in statically incubated “intact” sediment cores from these lakes. More power was produced in sediment from Mono Lake than from Searles Lake, however microbial fuel cells could detect low levels of metabolism operating under moderate and extreme conditions of salt stress.


Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Electricity generation by anaerobic bacteria and anoxic sediments from hypersaline soda lakes
Series title Extremophiles
DOI 10.1007/s00792-008-0191-5
Volume 12
Issue 6
Year Published 2008
Language English
Publisher Springer
Contributing office(s) Toxic Substances Hydrology Program
Description 12 p.
First page 837
Last page 848
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details