Bioaugmentation of microbial electrolysis cells with Geobacter sulfurreducens YM18 for enhanced hydrogen production from starch

Double-chamber microbial electrolysis cells (MECs) were operated using starch-based medium as an anolyte and rice paddy-field soil as an anode inoculum, and hydrogen production from the cathode chamber was examined. In order to improve current generation and hydrogen production, the anode chamber was bioaugmented with Geobacter sulfurreducens strain YM18, and its effects were evaluated based on the performances of non-bioaugmented controls. Results show that the bioaugmented MEC stably generated threefold greater current during one-month operation and produced sixfold greater amounts of hydrogen than those of the non-bioaugmented control. Quantitative PCR and metabarcoding analyses confirmed successful colonization of YM18 on anode surfaces, demonstrating the utility of bioaugmentation with YM18 for enhancing performances of bioelectrochemical systems, including MECs.