Electrokinetic analyses in biofilm anodes: Ohmic conduction of extracellular electron transfer

Abstract

This review explores electron transfer kinetics from an electron donor to the anode in electrically conductive biofilm anodes. Intracellular electron transfer (IET) from the donor to the anode is well described with the Monod equation. In comparison, mechanisms of extracellular electron transfer (EET) conduction are unclear yet, complicating EET kinetics. However, in biofilm anodes where potential gradient to saturated current density is less than ∼300 mV, Ohmic conduction successfully describe conductive EET mainly with biofilm conductivity (K_bio) and biofilm thickness (L_f). High K_bio essential for production of high current density is found in Geobacter pure or enriched biofilm anodes, but other exoelectrogens could make biofilms electrically conductive. IET is rate-limiting for current density in conductive biofilms, and biofilm density of active exoelectrogens and L_f are operating parameters that can be optimized further to improve current density.

Keywords: Biofilm conductivity; Biofilm density; Biofilm thickness; Electron transfer; Ohmic conduction.