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Evaluation of Kefir as a New Anodic Biocatalyst Consortium for Microbial Fuel Cell

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Abstract

Kefir, a combined consortium of bacteria and yeast encapsulated by a polymeric matrix of exopolysaccharides, was used as anodic biocatalyst in a two-chamber microbial fuel cell (MFC). Fermentation was followed during 72 h and polarization curves were obtained from linear sweep voltammetry. The effect of methylene blue as charge-transfer mediator in the kefir metabolism was evaluated. UV/Vis spectrophotometry and cyclic voltammetry were applied to evaluate the redox state of the mediator and to characterize the electrochemical activity, whereas current interruption was used for internal resistance determination. Aiming to establish a relationship between the microbial development inside the anodic chamber with the generated power in the MFC, total titratable acidity, pH, viscosity, carbohydrate assimilation, and microbial counting were assayed. The kefir-based MFC demonstrated a maximum power density of 54 mW m−2 after 24 h fermentation, revealing the potential use of kefir as a biocatalyst for microbial fuel cells.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to acknowledge Federal University of Alfenas, Minas Gerais, Brazil, for the facilities provided to accomplish the present research. We thank Dr. Masaharu Ikegaki for your careful reading of the manuscript and helpful comments and suggestions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Food and Drugs, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Alfenas, Alfenas, MG, 37130-001, Brazil

    Gustavo Silveira

  2. Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Alfenas, Alfenas, MG, 37130-001, Brazil

    José Maurício Schneedorf

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  1. Gustavo Silveira
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Correspondence to Gustavo Silveira.

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Fig. S1

a Cyclic voltammograms of the MFC anolyte containing methylene blue at 0.48 × 10−3 mol L−1 after 48 h fermentation. Scan rates of 0.010, 0.025, 0.050, 0.075, 0.100, 0.200, 0.300, and 0.400 V s−1. Conditions: working electrode, Pt disk; counter electrode, Pt wire; reference electrode, Ag/AgCl (saturated KCl); potential range from − 400 to + 300 mV. b Peak currents vs. square root of the scan rate (0.010–0.4 V s−1). R2 > 0.992 for all the fixed intervals. (PDF 88 kb)

Fig. S2

Paper chromatogram from samples collected at different MFC operating times. Lanes: 1–3 (0 h); 4–6 (24 h); 7–9 (48 h); 10–12 (72 h). The samples at points 3, 6, 9, 12 were collected from MFC without the mediator. Reference compounds: sucrose (S); glucose (G); fructose (F). (PDF 812 kb)

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Silveira, G., Schneedorf, J.M. Evaluation of Kefir as a New Anodic Biocatalyst Consortium for Microbial Fuel Cell. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 185, 1118–1131 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-018-2718-2

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