Effects of the anionactive surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate on the adhesion of cells of the strain <i>Micrococcus luteus</i> 1-i to the surface of carbon materials

Abstract

The adhesion of microorganisms on various surfaces plays a crucial role in many biotechnological processes. A widespread component of wastewater is the anion-active surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). Surfactants have a significant influence on all interfacial reactions, including those occurring in microbial fuel-cell technology. The work set out to study the effect of sodium dodecyl sulfate on the sorption of cells of the Micrococcus luteus 1 strain (which has electrogenic activity in microbial fuel cells) on the surface of various carbon-containing electrode materials used in biological fuel cell technology: 1) carbon tissue; 2) carbon felt; 3) crushed graphite contact trolleybus inserts (summer); 4) birch activated carbon. Using spectrophotometry and microscopy methods, the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate in the concentration range of 10–200 mg/l was shown to increase the sorption of Micrococcus luteus 1-i cells on the surfaces of the tested carbon materials under experimental conditions. The maximum increase in sorption during 2 hours of exposure was detected when 100 mg/l of this surfactant was applied: for birch activated carbon – 21%; for carbon fabric – 26%; for carbon felt relative to the control (without surfactant) – 24%. The results demonstrate a sufficiently effective adhesion of Micrococcus luteus 1-i cells to various carbon materials, including in the presence of fairly high concentrations of sodium dodecyl sulfate, confirming the prospects of this strain for use in various types of microbial fuel cells.