Simultaneous bioelectricity generation and decolorization of methyl orange in a two-chambered microbial fuel cell and bacterial diversity

The objectives of this study were to investigate the simultaneous bioelectricity generation and decolorization of methyl orange (MO) in the anode chamber of microbial fuel cells (MFCs) in a wide concentration range (from 50 to 800 mg L) and to reveal the microbial communities on the anode after the MFC was operated continuously for more than 6 months using MO-glucose mixtures as fuel. Interestingly, the added MO played an active role in the production of electricity. The maximum voltage outputs were 565, 658, 640, 629, 617, and 605 mV for the 1 g L glucose with 0, 50, 100, 200, 300, and 500 mg L of MO, respectively. The results of three groups of comparison experiments showed that accelerated decolorization of methyl orange (MO) was achieved in the MFC as compared to MFC in open circuit mode and MFC without extra carbon sources. The decolorization efficiency decreased with an increase of MO concentration in the studied concentration range for the dye load increased. A 454 high-throughput pyrosequencing revealed the microbial communities. Geobacter genus known to generate electricity was detected. Bacteroidia class, Desulfovibrio, and Trichococcus genus, which were most likely responsible for degrading methyl orange, were also detected.