In the previous research, a biomonitoring system using two compartment microbial fuel cells was developed; electrochemically active bacteria in a microbial fuel cell could oxidize organic materials to simultaneously generate electric current without addition of any mediator. In this work, a novel membrane electrode assembly (MEA) type biomonitoring sensor was equipped to improve sensitivity of the biomonitoring system. The membrane electrode assembly (MEA) cathode was assembled with a proton exchange membrane and a cathode electrode by hot press method. Electrochemical active bacteria of the sensor were enriched with activated sludge. This electricity generation shows positive correlations with BOD concentration. In the presence of toxic material, such as Cu, Pb, Se and As metabolism of electrochemically active bacteria was inhibited and consequently decreased electricity generation from microbial fuel cell. If the patterns of electricity generation are compared according to the material added, the proposed method can be utilized to identify the presence of toxicity of water sample.

In the previous research, a biomonitoring system using two compartment microbial fuel cells was developed; electrochemically active bacteria in a microbial fuel cell could oxidize organic materials to simultaneously generate electric current without addition of any mediator. In this work, a novel membrane electrode assembly (MEA) type biomonitoring sensor was equipped to improve sensitivity of the biomonitoring system. The membrane electrode assembly (MEA) cathode was assembled with a proton exchange membrane and a cathode electrode by hot press method. Electrochemical active bacteria of the sensor were enriched with activated sludge. This electricity generation shows positive correlations with BOD concentration. In the presence of toxic material, such as Cu, Pb, Se and As metabolism of electrochemically active bacteria was inhibited and consequently decreased electricity generation from microbial fuel cell. If the patterns of electricity generation are compared according to the material added, the proposed method can be utilized to identify the presence of toxicity of water sample.

Microbial fuel cell, MFC, Bio-electrochemical, Biomonitoring, Membrane electrode assembly, MEA