Butsuri
Online ISSN : 2423-8872
Print ISSN : 0029-0181
ISSN-L : 0029-0181
Volume 71, Issue 5
Displaying 1-26 of 26 articles from this issue
Preface
Contents
70 Challenges and Mysteries in Physics
Trends
Interdisciplinary
  • Atsushi Kouzuma
    2016 Volume 71 Issue 5 Pages 296-301
    Published: May 05, 2016
    Released on J-STAGE: July 12, 2016
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
    Microbial fuel cells (MFCs), which use living microbes as catalysts for the conversion of fuels (e.g., organic compounds) into electricity, have recently attracted wide attention as sustainable bioenergy systems. The diverse catabolic activities of bacteria provide MFCs with a great advantage over chemical fuel cells that can utilize only purified reactive fuels (e.g., hydrogen). MFCs are expected to be applied to the recovery of energy from biomass wastes and wastewater. Electron transfer to electrodes by microbes requires distinct mechanisms to transfer electrons from intracellular electron donors to extracellular electron acceptors because microbial cells are insulated by cell membrane and extracellular structures. Extensive studies have been performed to understand the mechanisms underlying extracellular electron transfer (EET), revealing that some current-generating microbes have intrinsic EET pathways that consist of conductive membrane proteins. Studies have also demonstrated that low potential-poised electrodes can supply electrons into microbial cells via EET pathways, thereby promoting intracellular reductive reactions for chemical production. These studies suggest the wide applicability of microbial EET reactions for valuable biotechnological processes.
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