Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Microbial Fuel Cells

Microbial Fuel Cells

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are bioelectrochemical devices that generate electricity by exploiting the metabolic processes of electrogenic bacteria. These systems provide a renewable energy source and serve as an innovative method for treating organic waste, such as wastewater.A typical MFC consists of two chambers: an anoxic (oxygen-free) compartment that houses the bacteria and an oxic (oxygen-rich) compartment that contains oxygen as the terminal electron acceptor. Many MFCs use proton...

Microbial Biosensors

Microbial Biosensors

Microbial biosensors are analytical devices that utilize living microbes to detect specific substances through measurable signals. These devices consist of two main components: biosensing organisms and signal-transducing elements. Biosensing organisms, such as Escherichia coli or Saccharomyces cerevisiae, are typically housed in multiwell plates connected to transducers, enabling rapid, real-time detection of target analytes.Signal Generation MechanismWhen a target analyte—such as...

Microbial Wastewater Treatment

Microbial Wastewater Treatment

Microbial communities in aquatic ecosystems play a key role in the natural breakdown of contaminants introduced through domestic and industrial effluents. Acting as biological catalysts, these microbes change and mineralize a wide range of organic and inorganic pollutants under different redox conditions.In oxygen-rich surface waters, aerobic heterotrophs lead organic matter breakdown, using oxygen as the terminal electron acceptor to efficiently oxidize substrates to carbon dioxide and water.

Environmental Applications of Microorganisms

Environmental Applications of Microorganisms

Microorganisms play a pivotal role in maintaining ecosystem balance by recycling essential elements such as carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus, as well as supporting processes like bioremediation, wastewater treatment, and biofuel production.Microbes in Elemental CyclesIn the carbon cycle, microorganisms decompose organic matter, releasing carbon dioxide via aerobic respiration. This carbon dioxide is subsequently used by photosynthetic organisms to synthesize organic compounds, closing the...

Biofuels

Biofuels

The microbial conversion of organic matter into biofuels holds potential as a renewable energy source. Among biofuel sources, microalgae are recognized as a highly efficient and adaptable feedstock for biodiesel production, owing to their rapid biomass accumulation, elevated lipid productivity, and capacity to proliferate in diverse aquatic systems, including freshwater, marine, and wastewater habitats. Unlike terrestrial crops, microalgae do not compete for land and can achieve significantly...

Bioremediation

Bioremediation

Bioremediation is the use of prokaryotes, fungi, or plants to remove pollutants from the environment. This process has been used to remove harmful toxins in groundwater as a byproduct of agricultural run-off and also to clean up oil spills.

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Role of degree of polymerization of cellulose in governing anisotropy and texture of high-moisture meat analogs.

Food science and biotechnology·2026

Same author

Correction: Pain and overall quality of life in palliatively treated colorectal cancer patients 1 year after diagnosis- results from the EDIUM cohort.

Journal of cancer research and clinical oncology·2026

Same author

Damage control surgery in perforated diverticulitis reduces the stoma rate: A multicentre international retrospective cohort study.

Colorectal disease : the official journal of the Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland·2026

Same author

Investigating the role of sulphate-group variation in kappa and iota carrageenan on the structural properties of pea protein-based high-moisture meat analogues.

Food chemistry·2025

Same author

[Surgery of rectal prolapse : Which treatment procedure for which patient?]

Chirurgie (Heidelberg, Germany)·2025

Same author

Impact of preoperative radiotherapy on patient-reported outcomes in rectal cancer.

Colorectal disease : the official journal of the Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 9, 2026

Self-standing Electrochemical Set-up to Enrich Anode-respiring Bacteria On-site

Self-standing Electrochemical Set-up to Enrich Anode-respiring Bacteria On-site

Published on: July 24, 2018

A novel biomonitoring system using microbial fuel cells.

Mia Kim¹, Moon Sik Hyun, Geoffrey M Gadd

¹Research Institute, KORBI co. Ltd, Doosan Venture Digm #826, 126-1 Pyeongchon-dong, Dongan-gu, Anyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, 431-070, South Korea. hyungkim@konkuk.ac.kr.

Journal of Environmental Monitoring : JEM

|December 1, 2007

Summary

A new microbial fuel cell system effectively detects toxic substances in water. This biomonitoring tool shows rapid current decreases when pollutants like heavy metals are introduced, enabling on-site water quality assessment.

More Related Videos

Waste Water Derived Electroactive Microbial Biofilms: Growth, Maintenance, and Basic Characterization

Waste Water Derived Electroactive Microbial Biofilms: Growth, Maintenance, and Basic Characterization

Published on: December 29, 2013

Bioreactor Assembly for Continuous Culture of Complex Fecal Communities

Bioreactor Assembly for Continuous Culture of Complex Fecal Communities

Published on: April 25, 2025

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 9, 2026

Self-standing Electrochemical Set-up to Enrich Anode-respiring Bacteria On-site

Self-standing Electrochemical Set-up to Enrich Anode-respiring Bacteria On-site

Published on: July 24, 2018

Waste Water Derived Electroactive Microbial Biofilms: Growth, Maintenance, and Basic Characterization

Waste Water Derived Electroactive Microbial Biofilms: Growth, Maintenance, and Basic Characterization

Published on: December 29, 2013

Bioreactor Assembly for Continuous Culture of Complex Fecal Communities

Bioreactor Assembly for Continuous Culture of Complex Fecal Communities

Published on: April 25, 2025

Area of Science:

Environmental Science
Biotechnology
Analytical Chemistry

Background:

Effective biomonitoring of water systems is crucial for detecting toxic substances.
Traditional methods may not provide on-site and real-time detection capabilities.
Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) offer a promising platform for biosensing applications.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop and evaluate a novel biomonitoring system using MFCs for on-site and on-line detection of toxic substances in water.
To assess the system's response to various toxic compounds, including heavy metals and organic pollutants.
To validate the MFC system's performance using real wastewater samples.

Main Methods:

Utilized electrochemically-active bacteria within a microbial fuel cell format.
Employed a computer-controlled potentiometer to monitor electric current generation.
Introduced specific toxic substances (organophosphorus compound, Pb, Hg, PCBs, Cd) at controlled concentrations to assess current inhibition.
Tested the system with real wastewater from a treatment plant.

Main Results:

Observed rapid decreases in electric current upon the addition of toxic substances.
Quantified inhibition ratios for tested pollutants (e.g., 61% for organophosphorus, 46% for Pb, 28% for Hg, 38% for PCBs at 1 mg l(-1)).
Demonstrated higher inhibition ratios and more significant current decreases with real wastewater samples, such as 76% for a Cd and Pb mixture.

Conclusions:

The developed MFC-based biomonitoring system is effective for on-site and on-line detection of toxic substances in water.
The system shows sensitivity to a range of pollutants, with responses generally correlating with toxicant concentration and exposure time.
MFCs represent a viable technology for practical pollutant biomonitoring in environmental and industrial settings.