This study reports the evidence of symbiosis of rumen fluid and dairy digester microbial population being responsible for enhancement of methanogenesis and power output of a microbial fuel cell. Mediator-  less two chamber H-type MFCs were constructed using dairy digester microbial population as anode inocula to convert finely ground pine   tree (Avicel) at 2%, w/v to electricity. Rumen fluid was fed into the anode of MFC at 1% v/v dosage, while control group received aseptic pure broth media used for treatment preparation. MFC power and current across an external resistor were measured daily for 10d.  At the end of incubation on d19 head space gas and anode chamber    liquid solutions were collected and analyzed for total gas volume and composition, and volatile fatty acids, respectively. Addition of            enriched rumen microorganisms to anaerobic anode chamber increased cellulose digestibility and increased both CO2 and methane production.  Total volatile fatty acids, acetic acid, and butyric acid concentrations also increased with the addition of treatment. Over the experimental period, electricity generation was increased with rumen microorganism addition, and power density normalized to anode        surface area were 17.6 to 67.2 mW/m2 with average of 36.0 mW/m2  in treatment, while control group had 3.6 to 21.6 (AVE 12.0) mW/m2. These observations imply that biocatalysis in MFCs is amenable to additional cellulolytic activities to utilize structural biomass more fin bioenergy production.

Novel bacteria for improving the efficiency of a microbial fuel cell

254th National Meeting (2017)

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