Single-Chamber Microbial Fuel Cell with an Innovative Sensing Component for Real-Time Continual Monitoring of a Wide Range of Cr(VI) Concentrations in Wastewater
Hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) is toxic, carcinogenic, and harmful to biological systems. Common detection methods, such as colorimetry, atomic absorption spectrometry, ion chromatography, and biological systems, can only be used in the laboratory and do not provide real-time feedback. To address thes...
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MDPI AG
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Biosensors |
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| author | Guey-Horng Wang Jong-Tar Kuo Chiu-Yu Cheng Ying-Chien Chung |
| author_facet | Guey-Horng Wang Jong-Tar Kuo Chiu-Yu Cheng Ying-Chien Chung |
| author_sort | Guey-Horng Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) is toxic, carcinogenic, and harmful to biological systems. Common detection methods, such as colorimetry, atomic absorption spectrometry, ion chromatography, and biological systems, can only be used in the laboratory and do not provide real-time feedback. To address these limitations, the current study cloned the <i>ChrB</i> gene, which exhibits high specificity in detecting Cr(VI), and the <i>ChrA</i> gene, which exhibits high Cr(VI) tolerance, into <i>Escherichia coli</i>. This recombinant strain, <i>ChrA–ChrB–E. coli</i>, was integrated into a single-chamber microbial fuel cell for accurate continual monitoring over a wide range of Cr(VI) concentrations. <i>ChrA–ChrB–E. coli</i> thrived in temperatures from 25 °C to 45 °C and pH levels between 5 and 8. Its ability to reduce Cr(VI) remained consistent across Cr(VI) forms, carbon sources, and oxyanions. Cyclic voltammetry was employed to verify the electrical activity of the biosensor. The biosensor exhibited a detection limit of 0.0075 mg/L. Under conditions simulating the regulatory emission limit for Cr(VI) of 0.5 mg/L in industrial wastewater, the biosensor achieved a response time of 20 s during continual operation. When tested with synthetic wastewater containing Cr(VI) concentrations from 0.02 to 150 mg/L, the system exhibited high adaptability and facilitated stable monitoring (relative standard deviation ≤ 2.7%). Additionally, the biosensor’s accuracy (−1.73% to 2.5%) matched that of traditional batch methods, highlighting its suitability for real-time Cr(VI) monitoring in aquatic environments. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-73e125fff3934669adebd1716c2c092b |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2079-6374 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biosensors |
| spelling | doaj-art-73e125fff3934669adebd1716c2c092b2025-08-20T02:42:42ZengMDPI AGBiosensors2079-63742025-03-0115315810.3390/bios15030158Single-Chamber Microbial Fuel Cell with an Innovative Sensing Component for Real-Time Continual Monitoring of a Wide Range of Cr(VI) Concentrations in WastewaterGuey-Horng Wang0Jong-Tar Kuo1Chiu-Yu Cheng2Ying-Chien Chung3Research Center of Natural Cosmeceuticals Engineering, Xiamen Medical College, Xiamen 361008, ChinaDepartment of Biological Science and Technology, China University of Science and Technology, Taipei 115, TaiwanDepartment of Biological Science and Technology, China University of Science and Technology, Taipei 115, TaiwanDepartment of Biological Science and Technology, China University of Science and Technology, Taipei 115, TaiwanHexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) is toxic, carcinogenic, and harmful to biological systems. Common detection methods, such as colorimetry, atomic absorption spectrometry, ion chromatography, and biological systems, can only be used in the laboratory and do not provide real-time feedback. To address these limitations, the current study cloned the <i>ChrB</i> gene, which exhibits high specificity in detecting Cr(VI), and the <i>ChrA</i> gene, which exhibits high Cr(VI) tolerance, into <i>Escherichia coli</i>. This recombinant strain, <i>ChrA–ChrB–E. coli</i>, was integrated into a single-chamber microbial fuel cell for accurate continual monitoring over a wide range of Cr(VI) concentrations. <i>ChrA–ChrB–E. coli</i> thrived in temperatures from 25 °C to 45 °C and pH levels between 5 and 8. Its ability to reduce Cr(VI) remained consistent across Cr(VI) forms, carbon sources, and oxyanions. Cyclic voltammetry was employed to verify the electrical activity of the biosensor. The biosensor exhibited a detection limit of 0.0075 mg/L. Under conditions simulating the regulatory emission limit for Cr(VI) of 0.5 mg/L in industrial wastewater, the biosensor achieved a response time of 20 s during continual operation. When tested with synthetic wastewater containing Cr(VI) concentrations from 0.02 to 150 mg/L, the system exhibited high adaptability and facilitated stable monitoring (relative standard deviation ≤ 2.7%). Additionally, the biosensor’s accuracy (−1.73% to 2.5%) matched that of traditional batch methods, highlighting its suitability for real-time Cr(VI) monitoring in aquatic environments.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6374/15/3/158chromate reductase genecyclic voltammetryhexavalent chromiummicrobial fuel cellpolarization curve |
| spellingShingle | Guey-Horng Wang Jong-Tar Kuo Chiu-Yu Cheng Ying-Chien Chung Single-Chamber Microbial Fuel Cell with an Innovative Sensing Component for Real-Time Continual Monitoring of a Wide Range of Cr(VI) Concentrations in Wastewater Biosensors chromate reductase gene cyclic voltammetry hexavalent chromium microbial fuel cell polarization curve |
| title | Single-Chamber Microbial Fuel Cell with an Innovative Sensing Component for Real-Time Continual Monitoring of a Wide Range of Cr(VI) Concentrations in Wastewater |
| title_full | Single-Chamber Microbial Fuel Cell with an Innovative Sensing Component for Real-Time Continual Monitoring of a Wide Range of Cr(VI) Concentrations in Wastewater |
| title_fullStr | Single-Chamber Microbial Fuel Cell with an Innovative Sensing Component for Real-Time Continual Monitoring of a Wide Range of Cr(VI) Concentrations in Wastewater |
| title_full_unstemmed | Single-Chamber Microbial Fuel Cell with an Innovative Sensing Component for Real-Time Continual Monitoring of a Wide Range of Cr(VI) Concentrations in Wastewater |
| title_short | Single-Chamber Microbial Fuel Cell with an Innovative Sensing Component for Real-Time Continual Monitoring of a Wide Range of Cr(VI) Concentrations in Wastewater |
| title_sort | single chamber microbial fuel cell with an innovative sensing component for real time continual monitoring of a wide range of cr vi concentrations in wastewater |
| topic | chromate reductase gene cyclic voltammetry hexavalent chromium microbial fuel cell polarization curve |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6374/15/3/158 |
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