Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Biofuels01:25

Biofuels

107
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...
107
Environmental Applications of Microorganisms01:30

Environmental Applications of Microorganisms

1.5K
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...
1.5K
Microbial Bioremediation of Plastics01:28

Microbial Bioremediation of Plastics

131
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a synthetic polymer widely utilized in the packaging industry, particularly for bottles and containers. Due to its chemical stability and durability, PET accumulates in the environment, contributing significantly to plastic pollution. It comprises repeating units of terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol, resulting in a semi-crystalline structure that is resistant to natural degradation processes.A notable breakthrough in plastic biodegradation came with the...
131
Microbial Bioremediation of Hydrocarbons01:26

Microbial Bioremediation of Hydrocarbons

150
Bioremediation is an environmentally sustainable process that employs living organisms—primarily microorganisms—to degrade or neutralize pollutants from contaminated environments. In oil spills and hydrocarbon pollution, bioremediation involves the use of hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria to transform toxic compounds into less harmful substances. This approach leverages natural microbial metabolic processes and is considered both cost-effective and ecologically favorable compared to...
150
Microbial Fermentation01:23

Microbial Fermentation

1.8K
Fermentation is a crucial anaerobic metabolic process that enables microbes to derive energy from sugar without relying on oxygen or an electron transport chain. This process is fundamental to various biological and industrial applications and is classified based on the metabolic products generated.Role of Pyruvate in FermentationPyruvate and its derivatives serve as key electron acceptors in fermentative pathways. The oxidation of NADH to regenerate NAD+ is essential for the continuation of...
1.8K
Microbes and Methanogenesis01:26

Microbes and Methanogenesis

91
Methanogenesis is a critical microbial process in anaerobic ecosystems responsible for the biological production of methane, a potent greenhouse gas and valuable biofuel. This metabolic pathway is primarily facilitated by methanogenic archaea, which thrive in anoxic environments such as wetlands, sediments, and animal gastrointestinal tracts. The absence of oxygen in these habitats prevents aerobic respiration, thereby favoring alternative biochemical pathways for organic matter degradation.In...
91

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Early microbial colonization study of daily-use plastics exposed to river water.

World journal of microbiology & biotechnology·2026
Same author

Distribution and characterization of microplastics in Narmada River: Insights from differently impacted anthropogenic zones of upper and middle basin in Central India.

Ecotoxicology and environmental safety·2026
Same author

Optimizing exposure duration and material selection for Passive Samplers for an improved wastewater surveillance of faecal pollution.

Journal of environmental management·2026
Same author

Phenolic profile and antioxidant properties of thirty one apple cultivars grown under the same edaphoclimatic conditions.

Food chemistry·2025
Same author

Antimicrobial agents based on metal-ion zeolite materials: a multivariate approach to microbial growth inhibition.

RSC advances·2025
Same author

Conductive materials change the composition and activity of butyrate-degrading enrichment cultures with hydrogen as the main electron shuttle.

Journal of environmental sciences (China)·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 4, 2026

Waste Water Derived Electroactive Microbial Biofilms: Growth, Maintenance, and Basic Characterization
11:58

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

Published on: December 29, 2013

16.3K

A flat microbial fuel cell for decentralized wastewater valorization: process performance and optimization potential.

Luciana Peixoto1, Alexandrina L Rodrigues2, Gilberto Martins2

  • 1IBB-Institute for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal. luciana.peixoto@deb.uminho.pt

Environmental Technology
|December 20, 2013
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

This study demonstrates a compact microbial fuel cell (MFC) for wastewater treatment and electricity generation. The MFC achieved significant carbon removal and high power density, showing promise for decentralized systems.

More Related Videos

Electrochemically and Bioelectrochemically Induced Ammonium Recovery
09:50

Electrochemically and Bioelectrochemically Induced Ammonium Recovery

Published on: January 22, 2015

12.4K
Author Spotlight: Advancing Anaerobic Microbiota Research Using a Novel Respirometry Protocol
06:11

Author Spotlight: Advancing Anaerobic Microbiota Research Using a Novel Respirometry Protocol

Published on: April 26, 2024

2.3K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 4, 2026

Waste Water Derived Electroactive Microbial Biofilms: Growth, Maintenance, and Basic Characterization
11:58

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

Published on: December 29, 2013

16.3K
Electrochemically and Bioelectrochemically Induced Ammonium Recovery
09:50

Electrochemically and Bioelectrochemically Induced Ammonium Recovery

Published on: January 22, 2015

12.4K
Author Spotlight: Advancing Anaerobic Microbiota Research Using a Novel Respirometry Protocol
06:11

Author Spotlight: Advancing Anaerobic Microbiota Research Using a Novel Respirometry Protocol

Published on: April 26, 2024

2.3K

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Science
  • Electrochemistry
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Decentralized wastewater treatment systems require sustainable and autonomous solutions.
  • Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) offer a promising technology for simultaneous wastewater treatment and energy generation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate a compact flat microbial fuel cell (MFC) for its efficiency in treating municipal wastewater and producing electricity.
  • To assess the MFC's performance under sequencing batch reactor mode with recirculation for potential autonomous applications.

Main Methods:

  • A compact flat MFC with 64 cm² anode/cathode surface area and 1 cm³ chambers was utilized.
  • The MFC was operated with municipal wastewater in a sequencing batch reactor mode with recirculation.
  • Anode biofilm characteristics and microbial communities (Shewanellaceae, Geobacteraceae) were analyzed using DNA-based methods.

Main Results:

  • The MFC achieved a high current density of up to 407 W/m³ and 83% carbon removal.
  • Power density was slightly affected by operational interruptions but not by the recirculation ratio.
  • The anode biofilm exhibited high conductivity, activity, and microbial diversity.

Conclusions:

  • The compact MFC is effective for wastewater treatment and simultaneous electricity generation.
  • The technology shows potential for autonomous operation in decentralized wastewater treatment systems.
  • The anode biofilm's robust microbial community contributes to the MFC's performance.