Multi-walled carbon nanotubes accelerate interspecies electron transfer between Geobacter cocultures
Shiling Zheng1, Zeng Li2, Peng Zhang3
1Key Laboratory of Coastal Biology and Biological Resources Utilization, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No 17 Chunhui Road, Laishan District, Yantai 264003, Shandong, China.
Bioelectrochemistry (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
|November 10, 2019
Summary
Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) enhance bacterial metabolism by accelerating direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET) in cocultures. While beneficial at low concentrations, higher MWCNT levels show biotoxicity, impacting anaerobic wastewater treatment applications.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Materials Science
- Environmental Science
Background:
- Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are known to promote bacterial symbiotic metabolism.
- The mechanism of CNTs accelerating interspecies electron transfer (IET) requires further investigation in coculture systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) on direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET) in Geobacter cocultures.
- To evaluate the potential of MWCNTs in enhancing microbial metabolic rates.
Main Methods:
- Addition of MWCNTs to Geobacter coculture systems.
- Monitoring of metabolic rates and product formation (succinate).
- Assessment of biotoxicity effects at varying MWCNT concentrations.
Main Results:
- MWCNTs significantly accelerated the metabolic rate of Geobacter cocultures.
- Succinate production rate increased by 1.67 times with 1.0 g L-1 MWCNTs.
- Biotoxicity effects were observed at higher MWCNT concentrations.
Conclusions:
- MWCNTs can accelerate interspecies electron transfer in microbial cocultures.
- This study provides a theoretical basis for using MWCNTs in anaerobic wastewater treatment.
- Optimization of MWCNT concentration is crucial to avoid biotoxicity.
