Enhancing the performance of Escherichia coli-inoculated microbial fuel cells by introduction of the phenazine-1-carboxylic acid pathway

Jiao Feng, Ying Qian, Zhen Wang, Xin Wang, Sheng Xu, Kequan Chen, Pingkai Ouyang

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

67 Scopus citations

Abstract

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are a renewable green energy source that uses microorganisms to catalytically convert chemical energy into electrical energy. The efficiency of extracellular electron transfer (EET) from the microbe cell to the anode electrode plays a key role in the MFC. However, the insulating properties of the cell membrane limit the efficiency of EET. Herein, EET efficiency was improved by introducing a phenazine synthesis pathway into Escherichia coli. Through the heterologous expression of phzA1B1C1D1E1F1G1, phenazine-1-carboxylic acid production increased, and the maximum power density increased from 16.7 mW/m2 to 181.1 mW/m2. Furthermore, the charge transfer resistance of 6.7 Ω decreased to 4.2 Ω, which reflected the enhancement of the EET efficiency and the electricity power output. Our results imply that introducing a heterologous electron shuttle into E. coli could be an efficient approach to improving the EET efficiency and performance of an MFC.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1-6
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Biotechnology
Volume275
DOIs
StatePublished - 10 Jun 2018

Keywords

  • Electron shuttle
  • Escherichia coli
  • Microbial fuel cell
  • Phenazine-1-carboxylic acid

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Enhancing the performance of Escherichia coli-inoculated microbial fuel cells by introduction of the phenazine-1-carboxylic acid pathway'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this