Building efficient biocathodes with Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans for the high current generation

The development of biocathodes is highly fascinating in microbial electrochemical technologies research. In this study, iron-oxidizing bacterium Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans-based were developed under the constant polarization reactors at −0.2 V vs. Ag/AgCl with a pH 2. On 15th day 21-day batch experiment, A. biocathode produced maximum current density −38.61 ± 13.16 A m−2 when supplemented 125 mM Fe2+ ions as an electron donor and 9 citrate iron chelator to buffer iron-rich medium. Oxidation Fe3+ by ferrooxidans its regeneration cathode mainly responsible for high generation. Furthermore, presence iron, develop multi-layer biofilm on surface, which could potentially perform indirect transfer mechanism.