产电微生物及微生物燃料电池最新研究进展

新型产电微生物(Electricigens)的发现,使得微生物燃料电池概念的内涵发生了根本性的变化,展现了广阔的应用前景。这种微生物能够以电极作为唯一电子受体,把氧化有机物获得的电子通过电子传递链传递到电极产生电流,同时微生物从中获得能量而生长。这种代谢被认为是一种新型微生物呼吸方式。以这种新型微生物呼吸方式为基础的微生物燃料电池可以同时进行废水处理和生物发电,有望可以把废水处理发展成一个有利可图的产业,是MFC最有发展前景的方向。

Recenct progress in electricigens and microbial fuel cell

The discovery of Electricigens substantially changed the meaning of Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) and exhibited a broad prospect for application. This kind microorganism can completely oxidize organic compounds with electrode as sole electron acceptor and then transfer the electrons derived from that oxidation onto the anode of a MFC through electron transport chain. When the electrons transfer from anode to cathode, the current was generated continuously. At same time, they gain energy to support their growth from the electron transport. The biochemical metabolism process was considered as a new type microbiological respiration. Based on the new concept, MFC offered the possibility of efficient treatment waste-water and generation electricity simultaneously, which would fuel the waste-water into a profitable industry in the future. So the application of MFC in the waste-water treatment would be most promising.