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Hydrogel Coatings for Protection of Electroactive Bacteria Against Chemical Shocks
(Left) Protective hydrogel coatings over electroactive bacteria on an anode in a microbial electrolysis cell. (Right) Modeling mass transfer of small molecules through coatings.
Bioelectrochemical systems can provide a sustainable approach to remediation of wastewater streams while recovering energy in the form of bioelectricity and producing valued-added chemicals. These systems also have potential for use as sensors in soil, aquatic, and wastewater environments. BESs rely on electroactive microorganisms to produce electricity through biomass conversion. A critical limitation in these systems is loss of microbial activity due to biofouling, chemical shocks, and other environmental stressors. We are using hydrogels to develop protective coatings over electroactive bacteria to protect them from environmental stress factors. Our current work investigates the use of hydrogel coatings to provide temporary protection from ammonia shock.
Publications:
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N. Fattahi, J. Reed, E. Heronemus, P. Fernando, R. Hansen, P. Parameswaran, “Polyethylene glycol hydrogel coatings for protection of electroactive bacteria against chemical shocks”, Bioelectrochemistry, 156, 108595 (2024). doi:10.1016/j.bioelechem.2023.108595