Extracellular Polymeric Substances from Geobacter sulfurreducens Biofilms in Microbial Fuel Cells.

Bioelectrochemical systems (BESs) are hybrid systems using electroactive bacteria and solid electrodes, which serve as electron donor or acceptor for microorganisms. When forming a biofilm on the electrode, bacteria secrete extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs). However, EPS excretion of electroactive biofilms in BES has been rarely studied so far. Consequently, the aim of this study is to develop a routine including the electrochemical cultivation, biofilm harvesting, fractionation, and biochemical analysis of the EPS secreted by Geobacter sulfurreducens under electroactive conditions. G. sulfurreducens was cultivated in microbial fuel cell mode on graphite-based electrodes polarized to +400 mV versus Ag/AgCl for 8 d. A maximum current density of 172 ± 29 μA cm