Integrated hydrogen production process from cellulose by combining dark fermentation, microbial fuel cells, and a microbial electrolysis cell

Hydrogen gas production from cellulose was investigated using an integrated hydrogen production process consisting of a dark fermentation reactor and microbial fuel cells (MFCs) as power sources for a microbial electrolysis cell (MEC). Two MFCs (each 25 mL) connected in series to an MEC (72 mL) produced a maximum of 0.43 V using fermentation effluent as a feed, achieving a hydrogen production rate from the MEC of 0.48 m³ H₂/m³/d (based on the MEC volume), and a yield of 33.2 mmol H₂/g COD removed in the MEC. The overall hydrogen production for the integrated system (fermentation, MFC and MEC) was increased by 41% compared with fermentation alone to 14.3 mmol H₂/g cellulose, with a total hydrogen production rate of 0.24 m³ H₂/m³/d and an overall energy recovery efficiency of 23% (based on cellulose removed) without the need for any external electrical energy input.     

Luminostat operation: a tool to maximize microalgae photosynthetic efficiency in photobioreactors during the daily light cycle?

The luminostat regime has been proposed as a way to maximize light absorption and thus to increase the microalgae photosynthetic efficiency within photobioreactors. In this study, simulated outdoor light conditions were applied to a lab-scale photobioreactor in order to evaluate the luminostat control under varying light conditions. The photon flux density leaving the reactor (PFD_out) was varied from 4 to 20 μmol photons m⁻² s⁻¹and the productivity and photosynthetic efficiency of Chlorella sorokiniana were assessed.Maximal volumetric productivity (1.22 g kg⁻¹ d⁻¹) and biomass yield on PAR photons (400-700 nm) absorbed (1.27 g mol⁻¹) were found when PFD_out was maintained between 4 and 6 μmol photons m⁻² s⁻¹. The resultant photosynthetic efficiency was comparable to that already reported in a chemostat-controlled reactor. A strict luminostat regime could not be maintained under varying light conditions. Further modifications to the luminostat control are required before application under outdoor conditions.     

Genome size, GC percentage and 5mC level in the Indonesian coelacanth Latimeria menadoensis

The living fossil Latimeria menadoensis is important to understand sarcopterygian evolution. To gain further insights into this fish species we studied its genome size, GC% and 5mC level. The genome size and the GC% of the Indonesian coelacanth seem to be very similar to those of the African coelacanth. Moreover the GC%, the CpG frequency and the 5mC level of L. menadoensis are more similar to those of fish and amphibians than to those of mammals, birds and reptiles and this is in line with the hypothesis that two different DNA methylation and CpG shortage equilibria arose during vertebrate evolution. Our results suggest that the genome of L. menadoensis has remained unchanged for several million years, maybe since the origin of the lineage which from lobe-finned fish led to tetrapods. These data fit a conservative evolutionary landscape and suggest that the genome of the extant crossopterygians may be a sort of evolutionarily frozen genome.     

微生物燃料电池在固体废物堆肥中的应用进展

微生物燃料电池(Microbial fuel cell,MFC)是一种近几年快速发展的废物处理与能源化技术,可以与污水处理、污染物降解、脱盐等环境技术结合。微生物燃料电池与堆肥技术结合可以在处理日益增长的固体废弃物的同时回收能量,具有很好的发展前景。文中分析了堆肥微生物燃料电池系统的微生物特征,探讨了堆肥过程中影响微生物燃料电池产电性能的因素,包括电极,隔膜,供氧和构型。最后归纳说明了堆肥微生物电池作为一种新的废弃物处理技术的特点:较高的微生物量并可产生较高的电流密度;对不同环境的适应性强;可以自身调节温度,能源利用效率高;质子从阳极向阴极的移动会受到不同堆肥原料的影响。     

Effect of mass and charge transport speed and direction in porous anodes on microbial electrolysis cell performance

The use of porous electrodes like graphite felt as anode material has the potential of achieving high volumetric current densities. High volumetric current densities, however, may also lead to mass transport limitations within these porous materials. Therefore, in this study we investigated the mass and charge transport limitations by increasing the speed of the forced flow and changing the flow direction through the porous anode. Increase of the flow speed led to a decrease in current density when the flow was directed towards the membrane caused by an increase in anode resistance. Current density increased at higher flow speed when the flow was directed away from the membrane. This was caused by a decrease in transport resistance of ions through the membrane which increased the buffering effect of the system. Furthermore, the increase in flow speed led to an increase of the coulombic efficiency by 306%.     

用于水环境重金属监测的微生物电化学传感器构建与运行效果分析

本研究旨在开发基于微生物燃料电池（microbial fuel cell,MFC）的微生物电化学传感器对水环境重金属污染进行实时在线监测。构建微生物电化学传感器,采用错流式布水方式、优化外阻值及外循环速率等参数,在最优参数下分析重金属模拟废水浓度对电压的抑制情况。结果表明,当外阻值为130Ω、外循环速率为1.0 mL/min时,MFC电化学传感器的性能最优。在此条件下对1–10 mg/L的Cu²⁺、0.25–1.25 mg/L的Cd²⁺、0.25–1.25 mg/L的Cr⁶⁺和0.25–1.00 mg/L的Hg²⁺均有响应,60 min内输出电压最大抑制率分别可达92.95%、73.11%、82.76%和75.80%,线性相关系数均大于0.95,且有较好的生物学重复性。该MFC电化学传感器具有良好的重金属检测性能,可为实现水环境重金属污染实时在线监测技术的实际应用提供理论依据。     

The anode potential regulates bacterial activity in microbial fuel cells

The anode potential in microbial fuel cells controls both the theoretical energy gain for the microorganisms as the output of electrical energy. We operated three reactors fed with acetate continuously at a poised anode potential of 0 (R ₀), −200 (R ₋₂₀₀) and −400 (R ₋₄₀₀) mV versus Ag/AgCl and investigated the resulting bacterial activity. The anode potential had no influence on the start-up time of the three reactors. During a 31-day period, R ₋₂₀₀ produced 15% more charge compared to R ₀ and R ₋₄₀₀. In addition, R ₋₂₀₀ had the highest maximal power density (up to 199 W m⁻³ total anode compartment during polarization) but the three reactors evolved to the same power density at the end of the experimental period. During polarization, only the current of R ₋₄₀₀ levelled off at an anode potential of −300 mV versus Ag/AgCl. The maximum respiration rate of the bacteria during batch tests was also considerably lower for R ₋₄₀₀. The specific biomass activity however, was the highest for R ₋₄₀₀ (6.93 g chemical oxygen demand g⁻¹ biomass-volatile suspended solids (VSS) d⁻¹ on day 14). This lowered during the course of the experiment due to an increase of the biomass concentration to an average level of 578 ± 106 mg biomass-VSS L⁻¹ graphite granules for the three reactors. This research indicated that an optimal anode potential of −200 mV versus Ag/AgCl exists, regulating the activity and growth of bacteria to sustain an enhanced current and power generation.     

Novel fungicidal benzylsulfanyl-phenylguanidines

A series of substituted benzylsulfanyl-phenylamines was synthesized, of which four substituted benzylsulfanyl-phenylguanidines (665, 666, 667 and 684) showed potent fungicidal activity (minimal fungicidal concentration, MFC ? 10 μM for Candida albicans and Candida glabrata). A benzylsulfanyl-phenyl scaffold with an unsubstituted guanidine resulted in less active compounds (MFC = 50-100 μM), whereas substitution with an unsubstituted amine group resulted in compounds without fungicidal activity. Compounds 665, 666, 667 and 684 also showed activity against single C. albicans biofilms and biofilms consisting of C. albicans and Staphylococcus epidermidis (minimal concentration resulting in 50% eradication of the biofilm, BEC50 ? 121 μM for both biofilm setups). Compounds 665 and 666 combined potent fungicidal (MFC = 5 μM) and bactericidal activity (minimal bactericidal concentration, MBC for S. epidermidis ? 4 μM). In an in vivo Caenorhabditis elegans model, compounds 665 and 667 exhibited less toxicity than 666 and 684. Moreover, addition of those compounds to Candida-infected C. elegans cultures resulted in increased survival of Candida-infected worms, demonstrating their in vivo efficacy in a mini-host model.     

微嗜酸寡养单胞菌EFS1的产电性能及在污水处理中的应用

【背景】微生物燃料电池(Microbial Fuel Cell,MFC)作为一种新型的燃料电池资源,在产电的同时可应用于污水处理领域,达到资源最大化的目的。【目的】从MFC中分离获得一株可培养微生物,研究其产电特性及在污水处理中的微生物絮凝、重金属耐受、苯酚降解性能,为扩展产电菌资源库提供理论基础。【方法】利用WO_3纳米探针从MFC阳极中筛选获得一株具备产电和絮凝性能的菌株,命名为EFS1。运用循环伏安分析结合扫描电镜观测阳极电极;改变外电阻测定极化曲线和功率密度曲线。测定菌株的絮凝、重金属耐受及苯酚降解性能。【结果】经16S rRNA基因序列分析,结合形态学和生理生化鉴定菌株EFS1为微嗜酸寡养单胞菌(Stenotrophomonas acidaminiphila)。菌株EFS1具有稳定的产电周期,周期电压最高可达300m V,功率密度可达56.25m W/m~2;扫描电镜发现菌株存在直接接触电极及分泌电子中介体传递电子的方式;MFC内阻为1 000Ω左右。有氧条件下菌株的絮凝率可达到70%,存在电子受体的无氧环境中可达到80%;该菌株还具有良好的Cd~(2+)、Cu~(2+)、Mn~(2+)耐受性及苯酚降解性能,在48 h、2–4 mg/L时苯酚降解率达到了100%。【结论】研究验证了产电菌EFS1具备絮凝能力、重金属耐受、苯酚降解的可能性,为产电菌的开发及污水处理方面提供理论依据。     

19种常见中药材醇提物的体外抗菌活性筛选

为考察19种中药材乙醇提取物的体外抗临床常见致病菌的活性,该文将中药粗粉用80%乙醇浸泡提取, 提取液减压浓缩制备成浸膏,采用琼脂打孔法测定提取物抑菌圈, 通过微量倍比稀释法测定最低抑菌浓度(MIC)和最低杀菌浓度(MBC/MFC)。结果表明:所筛选的19种中药材乙醇提取物对不同的菌株具有不同程度的抑制作用, 14种中药材乙醇提取物抗SA、EC、PA和CA的抑菌圈范围在8～27 mm之间, 其中地锦草、四块瓦、三颗针、马尾黄连和土大黄的提取物抗SA、EC的抑菌圈范围在10.3～26.6 mm之间。马尾黄连、孜然、地锦草、广西莪术、穿心莲、益母草、吴茱萸、土大黄、叶上花、土连翘、凤尾草和三颗针的醇提物对MRSA和铜绿假单胞菌耐药菌均具有显著的抗微生物活性, 其MIC/MBC值在391～6 250 μg·mL^-1之间; 地锦草、三颗针抗MRSA的最低MIC值分别为391、781 μg·mL^-1, 抗PA耐药菌的最低MIC值均为1 562.5 μg·mL^-1; 马尾黄连、孜然和三颗针的醇提物对白色念珠菌耐药菌有中等抑制作用, 杀菌效果不明显。该研究结果为后续相关植物作为潜在抗菌化合物及其抗菌药物佐剂的研究提供了参考。