Full metadata
Title
Microbial electrochemical cells for selective enrichment and characterization of photosynthetic and haloalkaliphilic anode-respiring bacteria
Description
Microbial electrochemical cells (MXCs) are promising platforms for bioenergy production from renewable resources. In these systems, specialized anode-respiring bacteria (ARB) deliver electrons from oxidation of organic substrates to the anode of an MXC. While much progress has been made in understanding the microbiology, physiology, and electrochemistry of well-studied model ARB such as Geobacter and Shewanella, tremendous potential exists for MXCs as microbiological platforms for exploring novel ARB. This dissertation introduces approaches for selective enrichment and characterization of phototrophic, halophilic, and alkaliphilic ARB. An enrichment scheme based on manipulation of poised anode potential, light, and nutrient availability led to current generation that responded negatively to light. Analysis of phototrophically enriched communities suggested essential roles for green sulfur bacteria and halophilic ARB in electricity generation. Reconstruction of light-responsive current generation could be successfully achieved using cocultures of anode-respiring Geobacter and phototrophic Chlorobium isolated from the MXC enrichments. Experiments lacking exogenously supplied organic electron donors indicated that Geobacter could produce a measurable current from stored photosynthate in the dark. Community analysis of phototrophic enrichments also identified members of the novel genus Geoalkalibacter as potential ARB. Electrochemical characterization of two haloalkaliphilic, non-phototrophic Geoalkalibacter spp. showed that these bacteria were in fact capable of producing high current densities (4-8 A/m2) and using higher organic substrates under saline or alkaline conditions. The success of these selective enrichment approaches and community analyses in identifying and understanding novel ARB capabilities invites further use of MXCs as robust platforms for fundamental microbiological investigations.
Date Created
2013
Contributors
- Badalamenti, Jonathan P (Author)
- Krajmalnik-Brown, Rosa (Thesis advisor)
- Garcia-Pichel, Ferran (Committee member)
- Rittmann, Bruce E. (Committee member)
- Torres, César I (Committee member)
- Vermaas, Willem (Committee member)
- Arizona State University (Publisher)
Topical Subject
Resource Type
Extent
xvii, 128 p. : col. ill
Language
Copyright Statement
In Copyright
Primary Member of
Peer-reviewed
No
Open Access
No
Handle
https://hdl.handle.net/2286/R.I.18043
Statement of Responsibility
by Jonathan P. Badalamenti
Description Source
Retrieved on Dec. 6, 2013
Level of coding
full
Note
Partial requirement for: Ph.D., Arizona State University, 2013
Note type
thesis
Includes bibliographical references (p. 115-128)
Note type
bibliography
Field of study: Microbiology
System Created
- 2013-07-12 06:27:25
System Modified
- 2021-08-30 01:40:42
- 2 years 8 months ago
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