<i>Clostridium acetobutylicum</i> as a Bioagent in Biofuel Cells
The capacity of biofuel elements based on Clostridium acetobutylicum strain VKPM-B-4786 was determined and compared. A model of a two-chamber biofuel element made of plexiglas consisting of a hermetically sealed anodic and aerobic cathode chamber was used in the work. Access to the anolyte biofuel element during its continuous operation, without compromising sterility and anaerobic content (for sampling and depositing substrates and bioagents) was carried out through a special rubber plug in the side of the anode chamber. Carbon fabric URAL T-22P A (OJSC «Svetlogorsk Khimvolokno», Belarus) was used as electrodes. The anolyte in biofuel elements was a potato medium, a liquid medium for clostridium [8], model wastewater with the addition of various substrates and wastes (starch, peptone, glucose, cellulose, birch sawdust). The obtained experimental data made it possible to align the test media with the corresponding substrates in the next row (in terms of the power generated by Cl. acetobutylicum): a liquid medium for clostridium (10.4±1.2 μW/cm2) > potato medium (8.7±0.9 μW/cm2) > birch sawdust (6.2±0.7 μW/cm2) > cellulose (2.3±0.3 μW/cm2) > peptone (2.1±0.2 μW/cm2) > starch (1.1±0.1 mW/cm2) > glucose (0.3±0.09 mW/cm2). Generation of electricity in biofuel cells was accompanied by an increase in the number of cells Cl. acetobutylicum. The results of the experiments demonstrate the fundamental possibility of generating electricity in biofuel cells by the production strain Cl. acetobutylicum VKPM-B-4786 and allow us to recommend the use of this strain for producing electricity in biofuel technology when recycling potato waste and processing wood.