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

PRO-BES项目(开创性的生物电化学实时观察系统)将在英国各地的废水处理厂进行实时水质生物传感器的同步现场试验。这些生物传感器结合了微生物燃料电池(MFC)，这是一种BES技术，其特点是一个电极，细菌在电极上产生少量的电力，相对于它们在废水中的有机污染的消耗。该项目是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公司、诺森布里安水公司和芝华士兄弟公司的支持，现场试验将在那里进行。在BBSRC先前资金的基础上，生物传感器将从实验室概念验证阶段发展到完全实现的商业设备，为部署和扩大制造做准备。了解生物膜微生物群落对关键操作因素(温度、流速、外部阻力)的响应，以及生物膜动力学/活性的变化如何影响传感器的响应。BES生物膜将使用威尔士和英格兰东北部自来水公司的不同废水和苏格兰的威士忌蒸馏废水进行生长。在这些试验中对生物传感器的分析将使人们能够从根本上了解这些设备的微生物学和生物电化学，并为未来的研究、开发和优化提供有价值的见解。

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.