Analytical applications of microbial fuel cells. Part I: Biochemical oxygen demand

ABREVAYA, X.C.; SACCO, N.J.; BONETTO, M.C.; HILDING-OHLSSON, A.; CORTÓN, E.

Biosensors and Bioelectronics

Elsevier

Año: 2015

0956-5663

Microbialfuelcells(MFCs)are bioelectrochemicaldevices,whereusuallytheanode(butsometimesthe cathode,orboth)containsmicroorganismsabletogenerateandsustainanelectrochemicalgradientwhich isusedtypicallytogenerateelectricalpower.Inthemorestudiedset-up,theanodecontainsheterotrophic bacteriainanaerobicconditions,capabletooxidizeorganicmoleculesreleasingprotonsandelectrons,as wellasotherby-products.Releasedprotonscouldreachthecathode(throughamembraneornot)whereas electronstravelacrossanexternalcircuitoriginatinganeasilymeasurabledirectcurrent flow.MFCshave beenproposedfundamentallyaselectricpowerproducingdevicesormorerecentlyashydrogenproducing devices.HerewewillreviewthestillincipientdevelopmentofanalyticalusesofMFCsorrelateddevicesor set-ups,inthelightofanon-restrictiveMFCdefinition,aspromisingtoolstoassetwaterqualityorother measurableparameters.Anintroductiontobiologicalbasedanalyticalmethods,includingbioassaysand biosensors,aswellasMFCsdesignandoperatingprinciples,willalsobeincluded.Besides,theuseofMFCs asbiochemicaloxygendemandsensors(perhapsthemainanalyticalapplicationofMFCs)isdiscussed.Ina companionreview(Part2),othernewanalyticalapplicationsarereviewedusedfortoxicitysensors, metabolicsensors,lifedetectors,andotherproposedapplications.