Effects of surface charge and hydrophobicity on anodic biofilm formation, community composition, and current generation in bioelectrochemical systems

Abstract

The focus of this study was to investigate the effects of surface charge and surface hydrophobicity on anodic biofilm formation, biofilm community composition, and current generation in bioelectrochemical systems (BESs). Glassy carbon surfaces were modified with -OH, -CH3, -SO3 -, or -N+(CH3)3 functional groups by electrochemical reduction of aryl diazonium salts and then used as anodes with poised potential of -0.2 V (vs Ag/AgCl). The average startup times and final current densities for the -N+(CH3)3, -OH, -SO3-, and -CH3, electrodes were (23 d, 0.204 mA/cm2), (25.4 d, 0.149 mA/cm2), (25.9 d, 0.114 mA/cm 2), and (37.2 d, 0.048 mA/cm2), respectively. Biofilms on different surfaces were anal..