Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 9, 2026

Waste Water Derived Electroactive Microbial Biofilms: Growth, Maintenance, and Basic Characterization
Published on: December 29, 2013
Iron-based materials maintain biofilm equilibrium and function as external capacitors to minimize electron loss under
Changqing Liu1, Shenghan Yan2, Xingguang Luo3
1College of Geographical Sciences, College of Carbon Neutral Future Technology, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou 350007, China; Fujian College and University Engineering Research Center for Municipal Solid Waste Resuscitation and Management, Fuzhou 350007, Fujian, China.
Abstract:
Microbial electrolysis cell-anaerobic digestion (MEC-AD) is a cost-effective approach for methane (CH₄) recovery from food waste, but its CH₄ conversion efficiency requires improvement. To address this, a MIL-100(Fe)-modified carbon cloth anode was developed to enhance anodic biofilm formation and CH₄ bioconversion efficiency. At an applied voltage of 0.8 V, the highest daily CH₄ yield reached 141.6 mL/g COD/d, a 61 % increase, and increased further to 227.5 mL/g COD/d under intermittent power supply. By facilitating extracellular electron transfer (EET) in electrogenic bacteria, MIL-100(Fe) regulated biofilm thickness and maintained dynamic biofilm equilibrium. Additionally, as an external capacitor, MIL-100(Fe) functioned as a "temporary storage site" for electrons under intermittent power supply, reducing bioelectron loss. Metagenomic analysis revealed that MIL-100(Fe) significantly enriched Bacteroidia and Methanosarcina, promoting carbohydrate metabolism and CH₄ production. Under intermittent power supply, MIL-100(Fe) further enriched Geobacter, enhancing electron transfer efficiency. This study demonstrates that iron-based anode modification effectively enhances CH₄ production from food waste by optimizing biofilm structure and metabolic pathways, providing a promising strategy for improving MEC-AD performance.
Related Concept Videos
Microbial Nutrition
Metabolism of Chemolithotrophs
Microbes and Other Elemental Cycles
Microbial Leaching
Microbial Corrosion
Microbial Fuel Cells

