Sedky H.A. Hassan

Power generation from cellulose using mixed and pure cultures of cellulose-degrading bacteria in a microbial fuel cell

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) have been used to generate electricity from various organic compounds such as acetate, glucose, and lactate. We demonstrate here that electricity can be produced in an MFC using cellulose as the electron donor source. Tests were conducted using two-chambered MFCs, the anode medium was inoculated with mixed or pure culture of cellulose-degrading bacteria Nocardiopsis sp. KNU (S strain) or Streptomyces enissocaesilis KNU (K strain), and the catholyte in the cathode compartment was 50mM ferricyanide as catholyte. The power density for the mixed culture was 0.188 mW (188 mW/m(2)) at a current of 0.5mA when 1g/L cellulose was used. However, the power density decreased as the cellulose concentration in the anode compartment decreased. The columbic efficiencies (CEs) ranged from 41.5 to 33.4%, corresponding to an initial cellulose concentration of 0.1-1.0 g/L. For the pure culture, cellobioase enzyme was added to increase the conversion of cellulose to simple sugars, since electricity production is very low. The power densities for S and K strain pure cultures with cellobioase were 162 mW/m(2) and 145 mW/m(2), respectively. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) experiments showed the presence of peaks at 380, 500, and 720 mV vs. Ag/AgCl for the mixed bacterial culture, indicating its electrochemical activity without an external mediator. Furthermore, this MFC system employs a unique microbial ecology in which both the electron donor (cellulose) and the electron acceptor (carbon paper) are insoluble.

Isolation, characterization of heavy metal resistant strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from polluted sites in Assiut city, Egypt

Sixty six isolates of Pseudomonas spp. were isolated from wastewater of El‐Malah canal located in Assiut, Egypt and were checked for their heavy metal tolerance. One isolate has tested for its multiple metal resistances and found to be plasmid mediated with molecular weight 27 Kb for nickel and lead. It was identified as Pseudomonas aeruginosa ASU 6a. Its minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) for Cu2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Zn2+, Cr3+, Cd2+and Pb2+ were 6.3, 5.9, 6.8, 9.2, 5.8, 4.4, and 3.1 mM, respectively. Growth kinetics and the maximum adsorption capacities were determined under Ni2+ and Pb2+ stress. The latter heavy metals induced potassium efflux and were used as indicator for plasma membrane permeabilization. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

Isolation and characterization of Acidithiobacillus caldus from a sulfur-oxidizing bacterial biosensor and its role in detection of toxic chemicals

A novel toxicity detection methodology based on sulfur-oxidizing bacteria (SOB) has been developed for the rapid and reliable detection of toxic chemicals in water. The methodology exploits the ability of SOB to oxidize sulfur particles in the presence of oxygen to produce sulfuric acid. The reaction results in an increase in electrical conductivity (EC) and a decrease in pH. The assay is based on the inhibition of SOB in the presence of toxic chemicals by measuring changes in EC and pH. We found that SOB biosensor can detect toxic chemicals, such as heavy metals and CN-, in the 5-2000ppb range. One bacterium was isolated from an SOB biosensor and the 16S rRNA gene of the bacterial strain has 99% and 96% sequence similarity to Acidithiobacillus sp. ORCS6 and Acidithiobacillus caldus DSM 8584, respectively. The isolate was identified as A. caldus SMK. The SOB biosensor is ideally suited for monitoring toxic chemicals in water having the advantages of high sensitivity and quick detection.

Synthesis and application of polypyrrole/carrageenan nano-bio composite as a cathode catalyst in microbial fuel cells

A novel nano-bio composite polypyrrole (PPy)/kappa-carrageenan(KC) was fabricated and characterized for application as a cathode catalyst in a microbial fuel cell (MFC). High resolution SEM and TEM verified the bud-like shape and uniform distribution of the PPy in the KC matrix. X-ray diffraction (XRD) has approved the amorphous structure of the PPy/KC as well. The PPy/KC nano-bio composites were then studied as an electrode material, due to their oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) ability as the cathode catalyst in the MFC and the results were compared with platinum (Pt) as the most common cathode catalyst. The produced power density of the PPy/KC was 72.1 mW/m(2) while it was 46.8 mW/m(2) and 28.8 mW/m(2) for KC and PPy individually. The efficiency of the PPy/KC electrode system is slightly lower than a Pt electrode (79.9 mW/m(2)) but due to the high cost of Pt electrodes, the PPy/KC electrode system has potential to be an alternative electrode system for MFCs.

Improved detection of toxic chemicals by Photobacterium phosphoreum using modified Boss medium.

A bioluminescent bacterium Photobacterium phosphoreum has been used widely as an indicator of pollutants where the presence of toxic chemicals decreases light output. The optimum conditions for the growth and bioluminescence of P. phosphoreum KCTC 2852 were investigated using modified Boss medium and two environmental conditions (pH and temperature). Optimized conditions that supported growth of P. phosphoreum with high bioluminescence intensities were: NaCl (20 g/L), glycerol (2.5 g/L), peptone (1.0 g/L), and yeast extract (1.0 g/L). Growth and bioluminescence gradually increased as pH increased reaching a maximum at pH 7.0. The maximum temperature for growth and bioluminescence was 20 degrees C. Based on these optimum conditions for bioluminescence, a continuous culture reactor of P. phosphoreum was operated. During the continuous operation, the optimized medium maintained bioluminescence with a high relative light unit (RLU) around 13,600 for more than 120 h. When zinc (0.5 mg/L) was added to the reactor, an EC(50) was observed in 15 min. The detection limit was improved by using the modified Boss medium since the modified Boss medium contained less organic matter which minimizes the complexation and precipitation of heavy metals compared to other enrichment media with high levels of organic matter.

Toxicity assessment using different bioassays and microbial biosensors

Toxicity assessment of water streams, wastewater, and contaminated sediments, is a very important part of environmental pollution monitoring. Evaluation of biological effects using a rapid, sensitive and cost effective method can indicate specific information on ecotoxicity assessment. Recently, different biological assays for toxicity assessment based on higher and lower organisms such as fish, invertebrates, plants and algal cells, and microbial bioassays have been used. This review focuses on microbial biosensors as an analytical device for environmental, food, and biomedical applications. Different techniques which are commonly used in microbial biosensing include amperometry, potentiometry, conductometry, voltammetry, microbial fuel cells, fluorescence, bioluminescence, and colorimetry. Examples of the use of different microbial biosensors in assessing a variety of environments are summarized.

Detecting endocrine disrupting compounds in water using sulfur-oxidizing bacteria.

For the rapid and reliable detection of endocrine disrupting compounds in water, a novel toxicity detection methodology based on sulfur-oxidizing bacteria (SOB) has been developed. The methodology exploits the ability of SOB to oxidize elemental sulfur to sulfuric acid in the presence of oxygen. The reaction results in an increase in electrical conductivity (EC) and a decrease in pH. When endocrine disrupting compounds were added to the system, the effluent EC decreased and the pH increased due to the inhibition of the SOB. We found that the system can detect these chemicals in the 50-200 ppb range, which is lower than many whole-cell biosensors to date. The SOB biosensor can detect toxicity on the order of min to h which can serve as an early warning so as to not pollute the environment and affect public health.

Detection of Cr6+ by the sulfur oxidizing bacteria biosensor: effect of different physical factors.

A biosensor based on sulfur-oxidizing bacteria (SOB) for detection of toxic chemicals in water was developed. SOB are acidophilic microorganisms that get their energy through the oxidation of reduced sulfur compounds in the presence of oxygen to produce sulfuric acid. The reaction results in an increase in electrical conductivity (EC) and a decrease in pH. The bioassay is based on the inhibition of SOB in the presence of toxic chemicals by measuring changes in EC and pH. The effect of different physical factors such as HRT, inorganic sulfur (S°) particle size, and temperature on detection of Cr(6+) was studied. The detection of Cr(6+) (50 ppb) was improved by decreasing the hydraulic retention time (HRT) from 30 to 10 min and increasing S° particle size from 1 to 4.75 mm. Detection time was shorter at 30 °C compared to 45 °C and the SOB were active over a wide range of temperatures with a maximum temperature for growth at 45 °C. This novel biosensor is simple, highly sensitive to low Cr(6+) concentrations (50 ppb), and also minimizes detection time. The present findings can be applied to the proper continuous screening of water ecosystem toxicity.

Detecting oxidized contaminants in water using sulfur-oxidizing bacteria.

For the rapid and reliable detection of oxidized contaminants (i.e., nitrite, nitrate, perchlorate, dichromate) in water, a novel toxicity detection methodology based on sulfur-oxidizing bacteria (SOB) has been developed. The methodology exploits the ability of SOB to oxidize elemental sulfur to sulfuric acid in the presence of oxygen. The reaction results in an increase in electrical conductivity (EC) and a decrease in pH. When oxidized contaminants were added to the system, the effluent EC decreased and the pH increased due to the inhibition of the SOB. We found that the system can detect these contaminants in the 5-50 ppb range (in the case of NO(3)(-), 10 ppm was detected), which is lower than many whole-cell biosensors to date. At low pH, the oxidized contaminants are mostly in their acid or nonpolar, protonated form which act as uncouplers and make the SOB biosensor more sensitive than other whole-cell biosensors which operate at higher pH values where the contaminants exist as dissociated anions. The SOB biosensor can detect toxicity on the order of minutes to hours which can serve as an early warning so as to not pollute the environment and affect public health.

Effect of organics and alkalinity on the sulfur oxidizing bacteria (SOB) biosensor

The environmental risk assessment of toxic chemicals in stream water requires the use of a low cost standardized toxicity bioassay. Here, a biosensor for detection of toxic chemicals in stream water was studied using sulfur oxidizing bacteria (SOB) in continuous mode. The biosensor depends on the ability of SOB to oxidize sulfur particles under aerobic conditions to produce sulfuric acid. The reaction results in an increase in electrical conductivity (EC) and a decrease in pH. The biosensor is based on the inhibition of SOB in the presence of toxic chemicals by measuring changes in EC and pH. We found that the SOB biosensor can detect Cr(6+)at a low concentration (50 ppb) which is lower than many whole-cell biosensors. The effect of organic material in real stream water on SOB activity was studied. Due to the presence of mixotrophic SOB, we found that the presence of organic matter increases SOB activity which decreases the biosensor start up period. Low alkalinity (22 mg L(-1) CaCO(3)) increased effluent EC and decreased effluent pH which is optimal for biosensor operation. While at high alkalinity (820 mg L(-1) CaCO(3), the activity of SOB little decreased. We found that system can detect 50 ppb of Cr(6+) at low alkalinity (22 mg L(-1) CaCO(3)) in few hours while, complete inhibition was observed after 35 h of operation at high alkalinity (820 mg L(-1) CaCO(3)).