Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 22, 2026

Waste Water Derived Electroactive Microbial Biofilms: Growth, Maintenance, and Basic Characterization
Published on: December 29, 2013
Effect of Substrate Conversion on Performance of Microbial Fuel Cells and Anodic Microbial Communities
Yang-Guo Zhao1, Yi Zhang1, Zonglian She1
1Key Laboratory of Marine Environment and Ecology, Ministry of Education, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Environment and Geological Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China.
Abstract:
Performance of microbial fuel cells (MFCs) was monitored during the influent nutrient change from lactate to glucose/acetate/propionate and then to lactate. Meanwhile, anodic microbial communities were characterized by culture-independent molecular biotechnologies. Results showed MFC performance recovered rapidly when the lactate was replaced by one of its metabolic intermediates acetate, while it needed a longer time to recover if lactate substrate was converted to glucose/propionate or acetate to lactate. Secondary lactate feed enhanced the enrichment of bacterial populations dominating in first lactate feed. Electricity-producing bacteria, Geobacter spp., and beneficial helpers, Anaeromusa spp. and Pseudomonas spp., revived from a low abundance as lactate secondary supply, but microbial communities were hard to achieve former profiles in structure and composition. Hence, microbial community profiles tended to recover when outside environmental condition were restored. Different substrates selected unique functional microbial populations.
Related Concept Videos
Environmental Applications of Microorganisms
Metabolism of Chemolithotrophs
Microbial Fermentation
Microbial Nutrition
Fates of Pyruvate
In aerobic organisms, pyruvate is metabolized via the citric acid cycle to produce reduced coenzymes NADH and FADH2. These coenzymes are then oxidized in the electron transport chain to produce ATP and, in the process, regenerate the NAD+ and FAD. As seen in some cell types and organisms, fermentation...
Amino Acid Catabolism

