Objective
Electroactive biofilms are capable of extracellular electron transfer and are therefore relevant to geochemistry, biocatalysis, and energy production. Although electroactive biofilms are widely applied in microbial fuel cells (MFCs) for renewable electricity production, where they transfer electrons to solid electrodes, the extracellular electron transfer chain is not completely understood. This lack of knowledge is an obstacle to the development of efficient bioelectrochemical devices, such as biosensors, biocatalyst and innovative MFCs. In order to solve this problem, we will grow known electroactive biofilms in multiple electrochemical cells with potentiostat control and determine the limiting steps in the extracellular electron transfer chain. We will use a combination of electrochemical and biochemical methods to characterize the electrode-biofilm interface. We will then screen environmental samples from metal-contaminated subsurface environments using a combination of enrichment methods, metal-reduction assay and electrochemical methods. By this token, we expect to identify microbial consortia which possess higher efficiency in extracellular electron transfer. The best electroactive biofilms will be grown in MFCs. We expect to increase 10-fold the electrical power output and to make MFCs applicable to a wider range of electrical and electronic systems. Lastly, we will develop the first amperometric biosensor for environmental monitoring of acetate based on electroactive biofilms. The proposed project will produce innovative research in two strategic European areas of applied biotechnology, namely renewable energy sources and industrial biosensors. During the four years of research, we will collaborate with engineers, microbiologists, and electrochemists from research institutions across Europe and the USA. In the last part of the project we expect to patent our innovative biosensor technology and find industrial partners interested to its realization.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences earth and related environmental sciences geochemistry
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electronic engineering sensors biosensors
- engineering and technology environmental engineering energy and fuels renewable energy
- natural sciences chemical sciences catalysis biocatalysis
- engineering and technology environmental engineering energy and fuels fuel cells
You need to log in or register to use this function
We are sorry... an unexpected error occurred during execution.
You need to be authenticated. Your session might have expired.
Thank you for your feedback. You will soon receive an email to confirm the submission. If you have selected to be notified about the reporting status, you will also be contacted when the reporting status will change.
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
FP7-PEOPLE-IRG-2008
See other projects for this call
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Coordinator
9 Dublin
Ireland
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.