PRO-BES / Pioneering Real-time Observations with BioElectrochemical Systems

PRO-BES项目（先锋生物电化学系统实时观测）将在遍布英国的污水处理厂同时进行实时水质生物传感器的现场试验。生物传感器结合了微生物燃料电池（MFCs），这是一种BES技术，其特点是细菌在电极上产生少量的电力，相对于它们对废水中有机污染物的消耗。该项目推进了纽卡斯尔大学和南威尔士大学之间的创新合作，并得到了最终用户威尔士水务公司、诺森伯兰水务公司和芝华士兄弟公司的支持，这些公司将进行现场试验。在BBSRC之前的资助基础上，生物传感器将从实验室概念验证的原型阶段向完全实现的商业设备发展，准备部署和大规模生产。了解生物膜微生物群落如何响应关键操作因素（温度、流速、外部阻力），以及生物膜动力学/活性的变化如何影响传感器的响应。BES生物膜将使用来自威尔士和英格兰东北部自来水公司的各种废水以及苏格兰威士忌蒸馏废水来生长。在这些试验中对生物传感器进行分析，除了为未来的研究、开发和优化提供有价值的见解外，还将使人们对这些设备的微生物学和生物电化学有基本的了解。

The PRO-BES project (Pioneering Real-time Observations with BioElectrochemical Systems) will undertake simultaneous field trials of real-time water quality biosensors in wastewater treatment works spread across the UK. The biosensors incorporate Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs), a type of BES technology, which feature an electrode on which bacteria generate small amounts of electricity relative to their consumption of organic pollution in the wastewater.The project progresses an innovative collaboration between Newcastle University and University of South Wales, and is supported by end-users Welsh Water, Northumbrian Water and Chivas Brothers where the field trials will take place. Building upon prior BBSRC funding, the biosensor will advance from a laboratory proof-of-concept beyond prototype stage towards a fully realised commercial device ready for deployment and scaled-up manufacture. An understanding will be gained of how biofilm microbial communities respond to key operational factors (temperature, flow rate, external resistance) and how changes in biofilm dynamics/activity affect response of the sensor.BES biofilms will be grown using diverse wastewaters from water companies in Wales and North-East England and whisky distilling wastewater in Scotland. Analyses of the biosensors across these trials will enable fundamental understanding of the microbiology and bioelectrochemistry of these devices in addition to providing valuable insights for future research, development and optimisation.