ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Preliminary Study of Electricity Generation
and Sulfate Removal Performance in a Novel
Air-Cathode Microbial Fuel Cell (AC-MFC)
Using Laccase-Producing Yeast
as a Biocatalyst
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1
Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Thaksin University, Phatthalung, Thailand
2
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, College of Science and Engineering,
Idaho State University, Idaho, United States
3
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Thaksin University, Phatthalung,Thailand
4
Department of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Agro and Bio Industry,
Thaksin University, Phatthalung, Thailandchaijak
Submission date: 2018-05-23
Final revision date: 2018-07-23
Acceptance date: 2018-08-02
Online publication date: 2019-04-29
Publication date: 2019-05-28
Corresponding author
Pimprapa Chaijak
Thaksin University, 222 Banprao, Paphayom, 93210 Phathalung, Thailand
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2019;28(5):3099-3104
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ABSTRACT
Fungi produce various types of extracellular enzymes, including the copper-containing oxidative
enzyme laccase. This enzyme uses gaseous oxygen (O2) as an electron acceptor to catalyze oxidation
of phenolic compounds, and therefore it can act as a cathode biocatalyst in a microbial fuel cell (MFC).
In this study, a new model of the air-cathode microbial fuel cell (AC-MFC) was constructed. For its
design, the laccase-producing yeast Galactomyces reessii cultured in potato dextrose agar was grown
in the cathode chamber, and an anaerobic microbial community was maintained in the anode chamber
in order to carry out sulfate removal and, simultaneously, generate electricity. Results showed that
the cathode with G. reessii outperformed the cathode with sterile gel (negative control), yielding the
maximum open circuit voltage of 550.65±14.92 mV, the maximum power density of 0.35±0.01 mW/m3,
the maximum current density of 225.69±17.25 mA/m3 and sulfate removal of 73.29±1.31%. This study
demonstrated the feasibility of using a yeast culture for continuous laccase production in the cathode
chamber of the AC-MFC in order to improve their electricity generation and sulfate removal.