Outward electron transfer by Saccharomyces cerevisiae monitored with a bi‐cathodic microbial fuel cell‐type activity sensor

A Janus head‐like bi‐cathodic microbial fuel cell was constructed to monitor the electron transfer from Saccharomyces cerevisiae to a woven carbon anode. The experiments were conducted during an ethanol cultivation of 170 g/l glucose in the presence and absence of yeast‐peptone medium. First, using a basic fuel‐cell type activity sensor, it was shown that yeast‐peptone medium contains electroactive compounds. For this purpose, 1% solutions of soy peptone and yeast extract were subjected to oxidative conditions, using a microbial fuel cell set‐up corresponding to a typical galvanic cell, consisting of culture medium in the anodic half‐cell and 0.5 M K₃Fe(CN)₆ in the cathodic half‐cell. Second, using a bi‐cathodic microbial fuel cell, it was shown that electrons were transferred from yeast cells to the carbon anode. The participation of electroactive compounds in the electron transport was separated as background current. This result was verified by applying medium‐free conditions, where only glucose was fed, confirming that electrons are transferred from yeast cells to the woven carbon anode. Knowledge about the electron transfer through the cell membrane is of importance in amperometric online monitoring of yeast fermentations and for electricity production with microbial fuel cells. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.