Feasibility of using microbial fuel cell technology for bioremediation of hydrocarbons in groundwater.

A single-cell microbial fuel cell (MFC) design was used to study anaerobic microbes that utilize petroleum contaminants as a sole substrate to produce power during remediation. Additionally, we tested various proton bridge designs to physically separate the anode and cathode chambers of a two-cell MFC by approximately 9 m (approximately 30 ft.). This separation enables the potential use of MFC technology for in situ bioremediation of petroleum hydrocarbons in the groundwater, in which oxygen is usually depleted and oxygen availability only exists at or near the surface. Sustained power generation (as high as 120 mW/m(2) cathode) was recorded for approximately 6 d in a single-cell MFC utilizing a mixture of refinery waste (containing various concentrations of hydrocarbon contaminants) and cell growth media. MFC cell potential (1KOmega external resistance) decreased by approximately 55% over the length of the 9 m proton bridge with a 6.9% decrease in potential per m of bridge. This preliminary data indicates that using MFC technology (with our modifications) may enhance bioremediation of petroleum contaminants in groundwater under anaerobic conditions. Because oxygen is eventually used as the terminal electron acceptor for anaerobic biodegradation inside an MFC, this technology may be a cost-effective innovation to enhanced biodegradation in groundwater, by substituting or eliminating conventional in situ aeration. To our knowledge, this is the first report on power generation from MFCs utilizing mixed hydrocarbon substrates. In addition, this study is the first to show the applicability of using extended proton bridges for the physical separation of anode and cathode chambers over extended distances that may be encountered in the field.