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Updated: Mar 2, 2026

Waste Water Derived Electroactive Microbial Biofilms: Growth, Maintenance, and Basic Characterization
Published on: December 29, 2013
Electrochemically applied potentials induce growth and metabolic shift changes in the hyperthermophilic bacterium
Shin-Ichi Hirano1, Norio Matsumoto1
1a Biotechnology Sector, Environmental Science Research Laboratory , Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry , Abiko-shi , Japan.
Abstract:
Bioelectrochemical systems are an attractive technology for regulating microbial activity. The effect of an applied potential on hydrolysis of starch in Thermotoga maritima as a model bacterium was investigated in this study. A cathodic potential (-0.6 and -0.8 V) induced 5-h earlier growth initiation of T. maritima with starch as the polymeric substrate than that without electrochemical regulation. Moreover, metabolic patterns of starch consumption were altered by the cathodic potential. While acetate, H2, and CO2 were the major products of starch consumption in the control experiment without electrolysis, lactate accumulation was detected rather than decreased acetate and H2 levels in the bioelectrochemical system experiments with the cathodic potential. These results indicate that the applied potential could control microbial activities related to the hydrolysis of polymeric organic substances and shift carbon and electron flux to a lactate-producing reaction in T. maritima.
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