ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF CELLULOSE DEGRADING MICROORGANISMS GENERATING ELECTRICITY USING MICROBIAL FUEL CELL

Authors

Lama Fayad, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Beirut Arab UniversityFollow
Rania Amer, Department of Environmental Biotechnology, City of Scientific Research and Technology Applications (SRTA-City), GEBRIFollow
Ahmad Abd El Nabi, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Alexandria UniversityFollow
Ali Hammoud, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Beirut Arab UniversityFollow
Hoda Yusef, Department of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Alexandria UniversityFollow

Keywords

Microbial fuel cell, Cellulose, Bioelectricity, Streptomyces fimicarius

Disciplines

Biology | Cell and Developmental Biology | Ecology and Evolutionary Biology | Engineering | Genetics and Genomics | Life Sciences | Microbiology | Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Abstract

Global warming and the accumulation of organic waste constitute a serious environmental problem. Therefore, microbial fuel cells (MFC) are an eco-friendly device that have significant capability for the production of electricity using biodegradable waste as fuel. Microorganisms used as catalysts in the anode compartment, execute a principal function in operating MFCs. The present study was conducted to isolate and to screen potential bioelectricity generating microorganisms from dumpsite soil samples and also to construct a domestic dual-chambered microbial fuel cell (MFC). Streptomyces fimicarius was found to be the best isolate for the degradation of cellulose and the production of bioelectricity. The bacterial isolate was identified based on morphological characteristics, biochemical characteristics and molecular identification using 16S rRNA. Double-chambered MFC was constructed by using two polypropylene plastic containers of 1.4 L volume each. The two chambers were joined by using an agar salt bridge and carbon rods were utilized as electrodes. The generation of electricity by the isolate was compared using glucose and cellulose as sole carbon source in a minimal medium. The maximum voltage was found to be 322 mV in the presence of cellulose used as substrate after 5 days of incubation at room temperature and last for 10 days.

Author ORCID Identifier

Lama Fayad https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7938-7524

Rania Amer https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2685-8545

Ali Hammoud https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8771-1515

Hoda Yusef https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8388-7089

Recommended Citation

Fayad, Lama; Amer, Rania; Abd El Nabi, Ahmad; Hammoud, Ali; and Yusef, Hoda (2022) "ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF CELLULOSE DEGRADING MICROORGANISMS GENERATING ELECTRICITY USING MICROBIAL FUEL CELL," BAU Journal - Science and Technology: Vol. 4: Iss. 1, Article 5.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.54729/ROGR4946

ISSN

2959-331X