Determining incremental coulombic efficiency and physiological parameters of early stage Geobacter spp. enrichment biofilms

Geobacterspp. enrichment biofilms were cultivated in batch using one-chamber and two-chamber bioelectrochemical reactors. Time-resolved substrate quantification was performed to derive physiological parameters as well as incremental coulombic efficiency (i.e., coulombic efficiency during one batch cycle, here every 6h) during early stage biofilm development. The results of one-chamber reactors revealed an intermediate acetate increase putatively due to the presence of acetogens. Total coulombic efficiencies of two-chamber reactors were considerable lower (19.6 +/- 8.3% and 49.3 +/- 13.2% for 1(st)and 2(nd)batch cycle, respectively) compared to usually reported values of matureGeobacterspp. enrichment biofilms presumably reflecting energetic requirements for biomass production (i.e., cells and extracellular polymeric substances) during early stages of biofilm development. The incremental coulombic efficiency exhibits considerable changes during batch cycles indicating shifts between phases of maximizing metabolic rates and maximizing biomass yield. Analysis based on Michaelis-Menten kinetics yielded maximum substrate uptake rates (v(max,Ac),v(max,I)) and half-saturation concentration coefficients (K-M,K-Ac,K-M,K-I) based on acetate uptake or current production, respectively. The latter is usually reported in literature but neglects energy demands for biofilm growth and maintenance as well as acetate and electron storage. From 1(st)to 2(nd)batch cycle,v(max,Ac)andK(M,Ac), decreased from 0.0042-0.0051 mmol Ac(-)h(-1)cm(-2)to 0.0031-0.0037 mmol Ac(-)h(-1)cm(-2)and 1.02-2.61 mM Ac(-)to 0.28-0.42 mM Ac-, respectively. Furthermore, differences betweenK(M,Ac)/K(M,I)andv(max,Ac)/v(max,I)were observed providing insights into the physiology ofGeobacterspp. enrichment biofilms. Notably,K(M,I)considerably scattered whilev(max,Ac)/v(max,I)andK(M,Ac)remained rather stable indicating that acetate transport within biofilm only marginally affects reaction rates. The observed data variation mandates the requirement of a more detailed analysis with an improved experimental system, e.g., using flow conditions and a comparison withGeobacterspp. pure cultures.