{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,9]],"date-time":"2026-03-09T02:09:20Z","timestamp":1773022160471,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":34,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"11","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2017,10,27]],"date-time":"2017-10-27T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1509062400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Ministry of Science and Technology, R.O.C.","award":["MOST 104-2313-B-157-001-MY3"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["MOST 104-2313-B-157-001-MY3"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Sensors"],"abstract":"<jats:p>The extensive use of Cr(VI) in many industries and the disposal of Cr(VI)-containing wastes have resulted in Cr(VI)-induced environmental contamination. Cr(VI) compounds are associated with increased cancer risks; hence, the detection of toxic Cr(VI) compounds is crucial. Various methods have been developed for Cr(VI) measurement, but they are often conducted offsite and cannot provide real-time toxicity monitoring. A microbial fuel cell (MFC) is an eco-friendly and self-sustaining device that has great potential as a biosensor for in situ Cr(VI) measurement, especially for wastewater generated from different electroplating units. In this study, Exiguobacterium aestuarii YC211, a facultatively anaerobic, Cr(VI)-reducing, salt-tolerant, and exoelectrogenic bacterium, was isolated and inoculated into an MFC to evaluate its feasibility as a Cr(VI) biosensor. The Cr(VI) removal efficiency of E. aestuarii YC211 was not affected by the surrounding environment (pH 5\u20139, 20\u201335 \u00b0C, coexisting ions, and salinity of 0\u201315 g\/L). The maximum power density of the MFC biosensor was 98.3 \u00b1 1.5 mW\/m2 at 1500 \u03a9. A good linear relationship (r2 = 0.997) was observed between the Cr(VI) concentration (2.5\u201360 mg\/L) and the voltage output. The developed MFC biosensor is a simple device that can accurately measure Cr(VI) concentrations in the actual electroplating wastewater that is generated from different electroplating units within 30 min with low deviations (\u22126.1% to 2.2%). After treating the actual electroplating wastewater with the MFC, the predominant family in the biofilm was found to be Bacillaceae (95.3%) and was further identified as the originally inoculated E. aestuarii YC211 by next generation sequencing (NGS). Thus, the MFC biosensor can measure Cr(VI) concentrations in situ in the effluents from different electroplating units, and it can potentially help in preventing the violation of effluent regulations.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/s17112461","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2017,10,27]],"date-time":"2017-10-27T11:33:28Z","timestamp":1509104008000},"page":"2461","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":42,"title":["A Green Microbial Fuel Cell-Based Biosensor for In Situ Chromium (VI) Measurement in Electroplating Wastewater"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"17","author":[{"given":"Li-Chun","family":"Wu","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Logistics Engineering, Dongguan Polytechnic, Dongguan 523808, Guangdong, China"}]},{"given":"Teh-Hua","family":"Tsai","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei 10608, Taiwan"}]},{"given":"Man-Hai","family":"Liu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Food Science, China University of Science and Technology, Taipei 11581, Taiwan"}]},{"given":"Jui-Ling","family":"Kuo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biological Science and Technology, China University of Science and Technology, Taipei 11581, Taiwan"}]},{"given":"Yung-Chu","family":"Chang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biological Science and Technology, China University of Science and Technology, Taipei 11581, Taiwan"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0425-5444","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ying-Chien","family":"Chung","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biological Science and Technology, China University of Science and Technology, Taipei 11581, Taiwan"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2017,10,27]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"58","DOI":"10.1016\/j.snb.2013.02.105","article-title":"A critical comparison of cell-based sensor systems for the detection of Cr(VI) in aquatic environment","volume":"182","author":"Bohrn","year":"2013","journal-title":"Sens. Actuators B Chem."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Branco, R., Cristovao, A., and Morais, P.V. (2013). Highly sensitive, highly specific whole-cell bioreporters for the detection of chromate in environmental samples. PLoS ONE, 8.","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0054005"},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"317","DOI":"10.1016\/j.geoderma.2004.01.019","article-title":"Influence of different oxidation states of chromium (VI, III) on soil urease activity","volume":"122","author":"Samborska","year":"2004","journal-title":"Geoderma"},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"62","DOI":"10.1016\/j.chemosphere.2014.12.026","article-title":"Evaluation of bacterial biosensors to determine chromate bioavailability and to assess ecotoxicity of soils","volume":"128","author":"Coelho","year":"2015","journal-title":"Chemosphere"},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"79","DOI":"10.1016\/j.taap.2006.10.017","article-title":"In vivo and in vitro effects of chromium VI on anterior pituitary hormone release and cell viability","volume":"218","author":"Quinteros","year":"2007","journal-title":"Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"321","DOI":"10.1007\/s10534-007-9121-8","article-title":"Mechanisms of bacterial resistance to chromium compounds","volume":"21","author":"Vargas","year":"2008","journal-title":"Biometals"},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Wang, G.H., Cheng, C.Y., Liu, M.H., Chen, T.Y., Hsieh, M.C., and Chung, Y.C. (2016). Utility of Ochrobactrum anthropi YC152 in a microbial fuel cell as an early warning device for hexavalent chromium determination. Sensors, 16.","DOI":"10.3390\/s16081272"},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"289","DOI":"10.1002\/jccs.200900042","article-title":"Determination of Cr(VI) with selective sensing of Cr(VI) anions by a PVC-membrane electrode based on quinaldine red","volume":"56","author":"Yari","year":"2009","journal-title":"J. Chin. Chem. Soc."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"285","DOI":"10.1016\/j.bios.2006.01.007","article-title":"Cr(VI) quantification using an amperometric enzyme-based sensor: Interference and physical and chemical factors controlling the biosensor response in ground waters","volume":"22","author":"Michel","year":"2006","journal-title":"Biosens. Bioelectron."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"377","DOI":"10.1080\/13102818.2007.10817477","article-title":"Biosensor to detect chromium in wastewater","volume":"21","author":"Nepomuscene","year":"2007","journal-title":"Biotechnol. Biotechnol. Equip."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"110","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jenvman.2012.04.010","article-title":"Semi-continuous detection of toxic hexavalent chromium using a sulfur-oxidizing bacteria biosensor","volume":"106","author":"Gurung","year":"2012","journal-title":"J. Environ. Manag."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"244","DOI":"10.1016\/j.biortech.2015.08.081","article-title":"Flat microliter membrane-based microbial fuel cell as \u201con-line sticker sensor\u201d for self-supported in situ monitoring of wastewater shocks","volume":"197","author":"Xu","year":"2015","journal-title":"Bioresour. Technol."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Hsieh, M.C., Cheng, C.Y., Liu, M.H., and Chung, Y.C. (2016). Effects of operating parameters on measurements of biochemical oxygen demand using a mediatorless microbial fuel cell biosensor. Sensors, 16.","DOI":"10.3390\/s16010035"},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Chaturvedi1, V., and Verma, P. (2016). Microbial fuel cell: A green approach for the utilization of waste for the generation of bioelectricity. Bioresour. Bioprocess., 3, 38.","DOI":"10.1186\/s40643-016-0116-6"},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"483","DOI":"10.1016\/j.biortech.2014.08.033","article-title":"Bioelectricity generation in an integrated system combining microbial fuel cell and tubular membrane reactor: Effects of operation parameters performing amicrobial fuel cell-based biosensor for tubular membrane bioreactor","volume":"170","author":"Wang","year":"2014","journal-title":"Bioresour. Technol."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"189","DOI":"10.1016\/j.bios.2012.05.032","article-title":"A simple and rapid method for monitoring dissolved oxygen in water with a submersible microbial fuel cell (SBMFC)","volume":"38","author":"Zhang","year":"2012","journal-title":"Biosens. Bioelectron."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"4422","DOI":"10.1021\/acs.est.5b05267","article-title":"Microbial electrochemical monitoring of volatile fatty acids during anaerobic digestion","volume":"50","author":"Jin","year":"2016","journal-title":"Environ. Sci. Technol."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"74","DOI":"10.1016\/j.watres.2016.12.045","article-title":"Bio-electrolytic sensor for rapid monitoring of volatile fatty acids in anaerobic digestion process","volume":"111","author":"Jin","year":"2017","journal-title":"Water Res."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"308","DOI":"10.1016\/j.bios.2014.06.051","article-title":"A batch-mode cube microbial fuel cell based \u201cshock\u201d biosensor for wastewater quality monitoring","volume":"62","author":"Liu","year":"2014","journal-title":"Biosens. Bioelectron."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"307","DOI":"10.1590\/S1517-83822013000100045","article-title":"Hexavalent chromium reduction by aerobic heterotrophic bacteria indigenous to chromite mine overburden","volume":"44","author":"Dey","year":"2013","journal-title":"Braz. J. Microbiol."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"8","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ibiod.2006.05.002","article-title":"Mechanism of hexavalent chromium detoxification by microorganisms and bioremediation application potential: A review","volume":"59","author":"Cheung","year":"2007","journal-title":"Int. Biodeterior. Biodegrad."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"643","DOI":"10.3389\/fmicb.2017.00643","article-title":"An overview of electron acceptors in microbial fuel cell","volume":"8","author":"Ucar","year":"2017","journal-title":"Front. Microbiol."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"7460","DOI":"10.1128\/AEM.02043-14","article-title":"Origin and effect of alpha 2.2 Acetobacteraceae in honey bee larvae and description of Parasaccharibacter apium gen. nov., sp. nov.","volume":"80","author":"Snyder","year":"2014","journal-title":"Appl. Environ. Microbiol."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"502","DOI":"10.1080\/10934529.2015.1128731","article-title":"Hexavalent chromium removal and bioelectricity generation by Ochrobactrum sp. YC211 under different oxygen conditions","volume":"51","author":"Chen","year":"2014","journal-title":"J. Environ. Sci. Health Part A"},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"104345","DOI":"10.1039\/C6RA21040F","article-title":"Effect of the chemical composition of filter media on the microbial community in wastewater biofilms at different temperatures","volume":"6","author":"Naz","year":"2016","journal-title":"RSC Adv."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"885","DOI":"10.1099\/ijs.0.63308-0","article-title":"Exiguobacterium aestuarii sp. nov. and Exiguobacterium marinum sp. nov., isolated from a tidal flat of the Yellow Sea in Korea","volume":"55","author":"Kim","year":"2005","journal-title":"Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"731","DOI":"10.1080\/09593332308618367","article-title":"Reduction of Cr(VI) and bioaccumulation of chromium by Gram positive and Gram negative microorganisms not previously exposed to Cr-stress","volume":"23","author":"Pattanapipitpaisal","year":"2002","journal-title":"Environ. Technol."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"827","DOI":"10.2478\/s11756-012-0099-5","article-title":"Isolation and characterization of heavy metal tolerant Gram-positive bacteria with bioremedial properties from municipal waste rich soil of Kestopur canal (Kolkata), West Bengal, India","volume":"67","author":"Gupta","year":"2012","journal-title":"Biologia"},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"971","DOI":"10.3724\/SP.J.1145.2012.00971","article-title":"Characteristics of removal of Cr(VI) by Rhodococcus sp. Chr-9 and Exiguobacterium sp. Chr-43","volume":"18","author":"Xu","year":"2012","journal-title":"Chin. J. Appl. Environ. Biol."},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1571","DOI":"10.1007\/s10295-008-0399-5","article-title":"Bioremoval of hexavalent chromium from water by a salt tolerant bacterium, Exiguobacterium sp. GS1","volume":"35","author":"Okeke","year":"2008","journal-title":"J. Ind. Microbiol. Biotechnol."},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"661","DOI":"10.1089\/ees.2010.0431","article-title":"Chromium removal mechanisms and bacterial community in an integrated membrane bioreactor system","volume":"28","author":"Vyrides","year":"2011","journal-title":"Environ. Eng. Sci."},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"235","DOI":"10.1016\/j.biortech.2010.07.007","article-title":"Micro-sized microbial fuel cell: A mini-review","volume":"102","author":"Wang","year":"2011","journal-title":"Bioresour. Technol."},{"key":"ref_33","first-page":"45","article-title":"Mechanisms of hexavalent chromium resistance and removal by microorganisms","volume":"233","author":"Joutey","year":"2015","journal-title":"Rev. Environ. Contam. Toxicol."},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"4512","DOI":"10.1021\/es304606u","article-title":"Enhanced performance of hexavalent chromium reducing cathodes in the presence of Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 and lactate","volume":"47","author":"Xafenias","year":"2013","journal-title":"Environ. Sci. Technol."}],"container-title":["Sensors"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1424-8220\/17\/11\/2461\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,11]],"date-time":"2025-10-11T18:48:36Z","timestamp":1760208516000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1424-8220\/17\/11\/2461"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2017,10,27]]},"references-count":34,"journal-issue":{"issue":"11","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2017,11]]}},"alternative-id":["s17112461"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/s17112461","relation":{},"ISSN":["1424-8220"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1424-8220","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2017,10,27]]}}}