Biofuel cell based on glucose oxidase from Penicillium funiculosum 46.1 and horseradish peroxidase

•Biofuel cell (BFC) operating at ambient temperature and in low fuel concentrations was developed.•Glucose oxidase (GOx) from Penicillium funiculosum 46.1 was applied in anode of BFC.•9,10-Phenantroline-5,6-dione was used as redox mediator in anode of BFC.•Horseradish peroxidase without any redox mediators was applied in cathode of BFC.

Biofuel cells are bio-electrochemical devices, which are suitable for environmentally friendly generation of energy. Enzymatic biofuel cell (E-BFC) operating at ambient temperature and in low fuel concentrations is reported in this research. Glucose oxidase (GOx) from Penicillium funiculosum 46.1 and insoluble redox mediator 9,10-phenantroline-5,6-dione (PD) immobilized on graphite rod electrode (GRE) were applied in the design of biofuel cell anode (GOx/PD/GRE). Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) modified GRE was applied in cathode (HRP/GRE) of the same biofuel cell. GOx/PD/GRE anode demonstrated sufficient electro-catalytic activity during the oxidation of glucose, and HRP/GRE cathode exhibited direct electron transfer based electro-catalytic reduction of hydrogen peroxide. Both anode and cathode were operating in buffer, pH 6.0, consisting of 0.05 mol L−1 sodium acetate–sodium phosphate and 0.1 mol L−1 KCl. The maximal registered open-circuit-voltage of the complete E-BFC exceeded 640 mV, calculated maximal power density was 4.2 μW cm−2 at the cell voltage of 530 mV in the presence of 200 mmol L−1 or higher glucose and 0.1–0.5 mmol L−1 of hydrogen peroxide concentration in anode and cathode compartment, respectively. Such new design of biofuel cell allows to utilize glucose as a fuel for the anode, and H2O2 formed during the catalytic action of GOx, which is immobilized on anode, could be utilized as a fuel at the cathode of the same biofuel cell.