Enhancement of gaseous chlorobenzene biodegradation and power generation in a microbial fuel cell by bifunctional Acinetobacter sp. HY-99C

The efficient biodegradation of volatile chlorinated hydrocarbons using microbial fuel cells (MFCs) offers a feasible approach for purifying waste gas and alleviating energy crises. However, power generation is limited by poor pollutant biodegradation and slow electron transfer . The bifunctional bacterium Acinetobacter sp. HY-99C was screened and used to improve the performance of a conventional MFC. The inoculation of strain HY-99C into the conventional MFC promoted the formation of a compact biofilm with high metabolic activity and an enriched bifunctional genus ( Acinetobacter ), which resulted in the accelerated decomposition of chlorinated aromatic compounds into biodegradable organic acids. This led to efficient chlorobenzene removal and power generation from the MFC, with a chlorobenzene elimination capacity of 70.8 g m −3 h −1 and power density of 89.6 mW m −2 , which are improved over those of previously reported MFCs. This study provides novel insights into enhancing pollutant removal and power generation in MFCs.