Enhancement of gaseous chlorobenzene biodegradation and power generation in a microbial fuel cell by bifunctional Acinetobacter sp. HY-99C

The efficient biodegradation of volatile chlorinated hydrocarbons using microbial fuel cells (MFCs) offers a feasible approach for purifying waste gas and alleviating energy crises. However, power generation is limited by poor pollutant biodegradation and slow electron transfer. The bifunctional bacterium Acinetobacter sp. HY-99C was screened and used to improve the performance of a conventional MFC. The inoculation of strain HY-99C into the conventional MFC promoted the formation of a compact biofilm with high metabolic activity and an enriched bifunctional genus (Acinetobacter), which resulted in the accelerated decomposition of chlorinated aromatic compounds into biodegradable organic acids. This led to efficient chlorobenzene removal and power generation from the MFC, with a chlorobenzene elimination capacity of 70.8 g m−3 h−1 and power density of 89.6 mW m−2, which are improved over those of previously reported MFCs. This study provides novel insights into enhancing pollutant removal and power generation in MFCs. The inoculation of bifunctional Acinetobacter sp. HY-99C will promote the application of microbial fuel cell to simultaneously remove volatile chlorinated hydrocarbons and alleviate the energy crisis. [Display omitted] •Strain HY-99C achieved outstanding chlorobenzene removal and power generation.•Biofilm formation was accelerated in the microbial fuel cell with strain HY-99C.•Strain HY-99C inoculation chanced the metabolic activity and electron transfer.•Bifunctional (degrader & exoelectrogen) Acinetobacter was directionally enriched.•Niche competition between degrader & exoelectrogen was weakened by Acinetobacter.