Electrochemical analysis of Clostridium propionicum and its acrylic acid production in microbial fuel cells

Currently, acrylic acid is produced at a low yield by the resting cells of Clostridium propionicum with the supplement of extra electron acceptors. As an alternative way, acrylic acid production coupled with electricity generation was achieved by C. propionicum-based microbial fuel cells (MFCs). Electricity was generated in the salt-bridge MFCs with cysteine and resazurin in the anode chamber as mediators, and K(3)Fe(CN)(6) as the cathode electron acceptor. Power generation was 21.78 mW/m(2) with an internal resistance of 9809 Omega. Cyclic voltammograms indicated the main mechanism of power production was the electron transfer facilitated by mediators in the system. In the salt-bridge MFC system, 0.694 mM acrylic acid was produced together with electricity generation.