The different behaviour of Thermotoga neapolitana in the anodic and cathodic compartment of a bioelectrochemical system

¹ Ricerca sul Sistema Energetico - RSE S.p.A., 20134 Milano, Italy
² Politecnico di Milano, Department of Chemistrty Materials and Chemical Engineering, 20131 Milano, Italy
³ Institute of Biomolecular Chemsitry (ICB), National Research Council (CNR), Pozzuoli, 80078, Na, Italy

Abstract

Thermotoga neapolitana is a hyperthermophilic bacterium that can metabolize glucose and several organic wastes in hydrogen and lactate at a temperature of 80°C. Their high performance in producing hydrogen at so high a temperature as 80°C suggests a potential energy application of them where hydrogen is an important element of the process. In this view, experimentation of a T.neapolitana strain is carried out in double-chamber electrochemical systems. The aim is to explore the interaction of these bacteria with the anode and the cathode, stressing their capability to survive in presence of a polarized electrode which can drastically change the pH of the media. A culture enriched of 5 g/L of glucose, under CO2 pressure (80 °C) was used to fill both the anodic and cathodic compartments of the electrochemical system, applying a voltage of 1.5 V between the anode and the cathode. The test lasted ten days. Results clearly indicate that bacteria colonize both electrodes, but the glucose metabolism is completely inhibited in the anodic compartments. On the contrary, metabolism is stimulated in the cathodic compartment. Bacteria are alive on the electrodes in the pH interval of 3 - 9.