Microbial fuel cells to monitor natural attenuation around groundwater plumes

Panagiotis Kirmizakis, Mark Cunningham, Deepak Kumaresan, Rory Doherty*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

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Abstract

This research presents a straightforward and economically efficient design for a microbial fuel cell (MFC) that can be conveniently integrated into a borehole to monitor natural attenuation in groundwater. The design employs conventional, transparent, and reusable PVC bailers with graphite tape and granular activated carbon to create high surface area electrodes. These electrodes are connected across redox environments in nested boreholes through a wire and variable resistor setup. The amended electrodes were installed in pre-existing boreholes surrounding a groundwater plume near a former gasworks facility. Among all the MFC locations tested, the MFC at the plume fringe exhibited the highest electrical response and displayed significant variations in the differential abundance of key bacterial and archaeal taxa between the anode and cathode electrodes. The other MFC configurations in the plume center and uncontaminated groundwater showed little to no electrical response, suggesting minimal microbial activity. This straightforward approach enables informed decision-making regarding effectively monitoring, enhancing, or designing degradation strategies for groundwater plumes. It offers a valuable tool for understanding and managing contaminant degradation in such environments.



Original languageEnglish
Number of pages16
JournalEnvironmental Science and Pollution Research
Early online date04 Jan 2025
DOIs
Publication statusEarly online date - 04 Jan 2025

Keywords

  • microbial fuel cell
  • natural attenuation

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