Development of a Scalable Microbial Electrolysis Cell and Investigations of Exoelectrogenic Pure and Mixed Communities
Open Access
Author:
Call, Douglas
Graduate Program:
Environmental Engineering
Degree:
Doctor of Philosophy
Document Type:
Dissertation
Date of Defense:
August 26, 2011
Committee Members:
Bruce Logan, Committee Chair/Co-Chair John Regan, Committee Member Brian Dempsey, Committee Member Ming Tien, Committee Member Peggy Johnson, Committee Member
Keywords:
wastewater bioenergy Bioelectrochemical systems hydrogen Geobacter
Abstract:
Bioelectrochemical systems (BESs) combine the fields of microbiology and electrochemistry for the production of electricity, gaseous fuels, or chemicals from biodegradable material. Advancing these systems towards large-scale applications requires improvements in both reactor designs and our understanding of the microbial ecology of exoelectrogenic biofilms. The work described in this dissertation addresses these areas through the development of a scalable microbial electrolysis cell (MEC), characterization of exoelectrogenic biofilms using the molecular technique fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH), and investigation into the current-producing and substrate utilizing capabilities of the exoelectrogenic bacterium Geobacter sulfurreducens.
