Development of microbial fuel cells for bioconversion of glycerol

NSERC资助的这项研究计划的主要目标是继续开发微生物燃料电池(MFC)技术，以甘油为平台燃料，用于废物处理和发电。甘油是生物柴油生产的大量副产品；然而，现有市场的甘油供应是稳固的，因此生物柴油产量的增加导致作为一种商品的甘油贬值。因此，新的甘油转化技术可能会产生重大的经济影响。该项目之前的工作表明，甘油可以通过几种不同的细菌培养物在MFC中用作燃料。所鉴定的培养物对粗甘油中的污染物也具有耐受性，使其成为工艺开发的极佳候选者。这项提议超越了已完成的概念验证工作，其研究目标是解释允许燃料电池运行的生化现象。建议的项目是研究外部电子转移的机制；MFC中代谢物分布的变化；以及混合生物催化剂培养中的社区相互作用。在MFC研究中，这些也是人们感兴趣但知之甚少的基本问题。

The primary objective of this NSERC-funded research program is the continued development of microbial fuel cell (MFC) technology for waste treatment and power generation, using glycerol as the platform fuel. Glycerol is a high-volume co-product of biodiesel production; however, the supply of glycerol for existing markets is well-established, so increases in biodiesel production are leading to the devaluation of glycerol as a commodity. Novel glycerol conversion technologies could therefore have a significant economic impact. Previous work in this program has shown that glycerol can be used as a fuel in MFCs by several different bacterial cultures. The cultures identified are also tolerant to the contaminants in crude glycerol, making them excellent candidates for process development. This proposal goes beyond the completed proof-of-concept work, with research goals aiming to explain the biochemical phenomena allowing fuel cell operation. Projects are proposed investigating mechanisms of external electron transfer; shifts in metabolite profiles in the MFCs; and community interactions in mixed biocatalyst cultures. These are also fundamental questions that are of interest, but poorly understood, in MFC research.