Genetic Approaches for Improving Performance of Microbial Fuel Cells: Part A

GONZÁLEZ-PABÓN, MJ; FIGUEREDO, F; SAAVEDRA, A; FIGUEROLA, ELM; ERIJMAN, L; CORTÓN, E

Progress and Recent Trends in Microbial Fuel Cells

Elsevier

Año: 2018;

Thischapter reviews the advances and novel techniques presented in the last yearsin order to improve the efficiency of one relevant bioelectrochemical system,the microbial fuel cells (MFCs). The efficiency of MFCs, when energy productionis considered, has reached a limit:  tofurther increase the possibilities, several paths have been followed, includingnew electrode materials, catalyzers, membranes, and MFC designs. Here we willconcentrate on genetic engineering approaches to improve the efficiency, byaltering the metabolic pathways that channelled electrons from its productionin the intracellular metabolic process to the electrode surface. These pathsinclude a myriad of redox small molecules, as well as large proteins, such ascytochromes. Modification of the limiting step (if any) or the whole electronpath is the goal. We present here advances made in the most used microorganisms(as Geobacter and Shewanella), as well as otherheterotrophic and autotrophic organisms. The selection of natural and syntheticmicrobial communities at the anode is also discussed<!-- /* Font Definitions */@font-face{font-family:"Cambria Math";panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;mso-font-charset:0;mso-generic-font-family:auto;mso-font-pitch:variable;mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;}@font-face{font-family:Calibri;panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;mso-font-charset:0;mso-generic-font-family:auto;mso-font-pitch:variable;mso-font-signature:-536870145 1073786111 1 0 415 0;} /* Style Definitions */p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal{mso-style-unhide:no;mso-style-qformat:yes;mso-style-parent:"";margin:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-line-height-alt:5.0pt;mso-pagination:widow-orphan;mso-hyphenate:none;font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";}.MsoChpDefault{mso-style-type:export-only;mso-default-props:yes;font-size:10.0pt;mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;}@page WordSection1{size:612.0pt 792.0pt;margin:72.0pt 72.0pt 72.0pt 72.0pt;mso-header-margin:36.0pt;mso-footer-margin:36.0pt;mso-paper-source:0;}div.WordSection1{page:WordSection1;}-->