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Improved Microbial Fuel Cell Performance by Engineering E. coli for Enhanced Affinity to Gold

Author

Listed:
  • Justin P. Jahnke

    (DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory, Adelphi, MD 20783, USA)

  • Deborah A. Sarkes

    (DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory, Adelphi, MD 20783, USA)

  • Jessica L. Liba

    (DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory, Adelphi, MD 20783, USA)

  • James J. Sumner

    (DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory, Adelphi, MD 20783, USA)

  • Dimitra N. Stratis-Cullum

    (DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory, Adelphi, MD 20783, USA)

Abstract

Microorganism affinity for surfaces can be controlled by introducing material binding motifs into proteins such as fimbrial tip and outer membrane proteins. Here, controlled surface affinity is used to manipulate and enhance electrical power production in a typical bioelectrochemical system, a microbial fuel cell (MFC). Specifically, gold-binding motifs of various affinity were introduced into two scaffolds in Escherichia coli : eCPX, a modified version of outer membrane protein X (OmpX), and FimH, the tip protein of the fimbriae. The behavior of these strains on gold electrodes was examined in small-scale (240 µL) MFCs and 40 mL U-tube MFCs. A clear correlation between the affinity of a strain for a gold surface and the peak voltage produced during MFC operation is shown in the small-scale MFCs; strains displaying peptides with high affinity for gold generate potentials greater than 80 mV while strains displaying peptides with minimal affinity to gold produce potentials around 30 mV. In the larger MFCs, E. coli strains with high affinity to gold exhibit power densities up to 0.27 mW/m 2 , approximately a 10-fold increase over unengineered strains lacking displayed peptides. Moreover, in the case of the modified FimH strains, this increased power production is sustained for five days.

Suggested Citation

  • Justin P. Jahnke & Deborah A. Sarkes & Jessica L. Liba & James J. Sumner & Dimitra N. Stratis-Cullum, 2021. "Improved Microbial Fuel Cell Performance by Engineering E. coli for Enhanced Affinity to Gold," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-15, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:17:p:5389-:d:625335
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Venkata Mohan, S. & Velvizhi, G. & Annie Modestra, J. & Srikanth, S., 2014. "Microbial fuel cell: Critical factors regulating bio-catalyzed electrochemical process and recent advancements," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 40(C), pages 779-797.
    2. Dahyun Oh & Jifa Qi & Yi-Chun Lu & Yong Zhang & Yang Shao-Horn & Angela M. Belcher, 2013. "Biologically enhanced cathode design for improved capacity and cycle life for lithium-oxygen batteries," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 4(1), pages 1-8, December.
    3. Tanya Tschirhart & Eunkyoung Kim & Ryan McKay & Hana Ueda & Hsuan-Chen Wu & Alex Eli Pottash & Amin Zargar & Alejandro Negrete & Joseph Shiloach & Gregory F. Payne & William E. Bentley, 2017. "Electronic control of gene expression and cell behaviour in Escherichia coli through redox signalling," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 1-11, April.
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    1. Carolina Montoya-Vallejo & Jorge Omar Gil Posada & Juan Carlos Quintero-Díaz, 2023. "Effect of Glucose and Methylene Blue in Microbial Fuel Cells Using E. coli," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(23), pages 1-12, December.

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