Sampling location of the inoculum is crucial in designing anodes for microbial fuel cells

A Kraft pulp mill effluent was used as the inoculum to form microbial bioanodes under controlled potential at +0.4 V/SCE. Samples were collected at the inlet and outlet of the aerated lagoon of the treatment line. The outlet sample allowed efficient bioanodes to be designed (5.1 A/m2), which included Geobacter and Desulfuromonas sp. in their microbial community. In contrast, the bioanodes formed with the inlet sample did not contain directly connecting anode-respiring bacteria and led to lower currents. It was necessary to re-form this bioanode at lower applied potential (−0.2 V/SCE) to select more efficient electroactive species and increase the current density to 5 A/m2.

► Microbial anodes formed from pulp and paper effluents. ► Efficiency and microbial composition of the anodes depend on the inoculum location. ► Predominant species Desulfuromonas acetexigens was detected by DGGE.