Skip to main content

Application of Microbial Fuel Cell as a Biosensor

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Microbial Fuel Cell

Abstract

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are being studied as a biosensor for a wide gamut of applications. Currently, since the power generated by an MFC is too low to power any practical devices, it is pertinent to use MFC as a sensor for the accurate and simple measurement of various analytes. The present chapter deals with the various upcoming applications of the MFC technology in the field of sensing with an emphasis on Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) bio-sensing. The application of MFCs as BOD biosensor is one of the most widely studied fields followed by the volatile fatty acid sensing and toxicity sensing. Figure 20.1 depicts various novel applications of MFC as biosensor from the literature.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 149.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 199.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Abrevaya, X. C., Sacco, N. J., Bonetto, M. C., Hilding-Ohlsson, A., & Cortón, E. (2015). Analytical applications of MFCs. Part I: Biochemical oxygen demand. Biosensors & Bioelectronics, 63, 580–590.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ayyaru, S., & Dharmalingam, S. (2014). Enhanced response of MFC using sulfonated poly ether ether ketone membrane as a biochemical oxygen demand sensor. Analytica Chimica Acta, 818, 15–22.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chang, I. S., Moon, H., Jang, J. K., & Kim, B. H. (2005). Improvement of a MFC performance as a BOD sensor using respiratory inhibitors. Biosensors & Bioelectronics, 20, 1856–1859.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Choi, G., Hassett, D. J., & Choi, S. (2015). A paper-based MFC array for rapid and high-throughput screening of electricity-producing bacteria. Analyst, 140(12), 4277–4283.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Christgen, B., Scott, K., Dolfing, J., Head, I. M., & Curtis, T. P. (2015). An evaluation of the performance and economics of membranes and separators in single chamber MFCs treating domestic wastewater. PloS One, 10, 1–13.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Commault, A. S., Lear, G., Bouvier, S., Feiler, L., Karacs, J., & Weld, R. J. (2016). Geobacter-dominated biofilms used as amperometric BOD sensors. Biochemical Engineering Journal, 109, 88–95.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dávila, D., Esquivel, J. P., Sabat, N., & Mas, J. (2011). Silicon-based microfabricated MFC toxicity sensor. Biosensors & Bioelectronics, 26, 2426–2430.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Di Lorenzo, M., Curtis, T. P., Head, I. M., & Scott, K. (2009). A single-chamber MFC as a biosensor for wastewaters. Water Research, 43, 3145–3154.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • D’Souza, S. F. (2001). Microbial biosensors. Biosensors & Bioelectronics, 16, 337–353.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hou, H., Li, L., De Figueiredo, P., & Han, A. (2011). Microfluidic MFC Array for multiplexed long-term parallel analysis of microbial activities. In 15th international conference on miniaturized systems for chemistry and life sciences, Seattle, Washington.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jin, X., Angelidaki, I., & Zhang, Y. (2016). Microbial electrochemical monitoring of volatile fatty acids during anaerobic digestion. Environmental Science & Technology, 50(8), 4422–4429.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jouanneau, S., Recoules, L., Durand, M. J., Boukabacheb, A., Picotb, V., Primaultc, Y., Lakeld, A., Sengeline, M., Barillonf, B., & Thouand, G. (2014). Methods for assessing biochemical oxygen demand (BOD): A review. Water Research, 49, 62–82.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kang, K. H., Jang, J. K., Pham, T. H., Moon, H., Chang, I. S., & Kim, B. H. (2003). A MFC with improved cathode reaction as a low biochemical oxygen demand sensor. Biotechnology Letters, 25, 1357–1361.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Karube, I., Matsunaga, T., Mitsuda, S., & Suzuki, S. (1977). Microbial electrode BOD sensors. Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 19, 1535–1547.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kaur, A., Kim, J. R., Michie, I., Dinsdale, R. M., Guwy, A. J., & Premier, G. C. (2013). MFC type biosensor for specific volatile fatty acids using acclimated bacterial communities. Biosensors & Bioelectronics, 47, 50–55.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kim, M., Youn, S. M., Shin, S. H., Jang, J. G., Han, S. H., Hyun, M. S., Gadd, G. M., & Kim, H. J. (2003). Practical field application of a novel BOD monitoring system. Journal of Environmental Monitoring, 5, 640–643.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kim, M., Hyun, M. S., Gadd, G. M., & Kim, H. J. (2007). A novel biomonitoring system using MFCs. Journal of Environmental Monitoring, 9, 1323–1328.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kim, M., Hyun, M. S., Gadd, G. M., Kim, G. T., Lee, S. J., & Kim, H. J. (2009). Membrane-electrode assembly enhances performance of a MFC type biological oxygen demand sensor. Environmental Technology, 30, 329–336.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kumlanghan, A., Liu, J., Thavarungkul, P., Kanatharana, P., & Mattiasson, B. (2007). MFC-based biosensor for fast analysis of biodegradable organic matter. Biosensors & Bioelectronics, 22, 2939–2944.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lim, J. W., Ha, D., Lee, J., Lee, S. K., & Kim, T. (2015). Review of micro/nanotechnologies for microbial biosensors. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 3, 1–13.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu, L., Zhang, S., Xing, L., Zhao, H., & Dong, S. (2012). A co-immobilized mediator and microorganism mediated method combined pretreatment by TiO2 nanotubes used for BOD measurement. Talanta, 93, 314–319.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Modin, O., & Wilén, B. M. (2012). A novel bioelectrochemical BOD sensor operating with voltage input. Water Research, 46, 6113–6120.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Moon, H., Chang, I. S., Kang, K. H., Jang, J. K., & Kim, B. H. (2004). Improving the dynamic response of a mediator-less MFC as a biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) sensor. Biotechnology Letters, 26, 1717–1721.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Moon, H., Chang, I. S., Jang, J. K., Kim, K. S., Lee, J., Lovitt, R. W., & Kim, B. H. (2005). On-line monitoring of low biochemical oxygen demand through continuous operation of a mediator-less MFC. Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology, 5, 192–196.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mukherjee, S., Su, S., Panmanee, W., Irvin, R. T., Hassett, D. J., & Choi, S. (2013). A microliter-scale MFC array for bacterial electrogenic screening. Sensors and Actuators A: Physical, 201, 532–537.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stein, N. E., Hamelers, H. M. V., Van Straten, G., & Keesman, K. J. (2012). On-line detection of toxic components using a MFC-based biosensor. Journal of Process Control, 22, 1755–1761.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Su, L., Jia, W., Hou, C., & Lei, Y. (2011). Microbial biosensors: A review. Biosensors & Bioelectronics, 26(5), 1788–1799.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Webster, D. P., TerAvest, M. A., Doud, D. F. R., Chakravorty, A., Holmes, E. C., Radens, C. M., Sureka, S. I., Gralnick, J. A., & Angenent, L. T. (2014). An arsenic-specific biosensor with genetically engineered Shewanella oneidensis in a bioelectrochemical system. Biosensors & Bioelectronics, 62, 320–324.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, Y., & Angelidaki, I. (2011). Submersible MFC sensor for monitoring microbial activity and BOD in groundwater: Focusing on impact of anodic biofilm on sensor applicability. Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 108, 2339–2347.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ramya Veerubhotla .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 Capital Publishing Company, New Delhi, India

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Veerubhotla, R., Das, D. (2018). Application of Microbial Fuel Cell as a Biosensor. In: Das, D. (eds) Microbial Fuel Cell. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-66793-5_20

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics