Protocol for bioelectrochemical enrichment, cultivation, and characterization of extreme electroactive microorganisms

Abstract

Electroactive microorganisms (EAMs) are a group of microbes that can access solid extracellular electron donors or acceptors via extracellular electron transfer processes. EAMs are useful in developing various microbial electrochemical technologies. This protocol describes the use of bioelectrochemical systems (BESs) to enrich EAMs at the cathode from an extreme haloalkaline habitat. It also provides information for a detailed characterization of enriched cathodic biofilms via various cross-disciplinary techniques, including electrochemical, analytical, microscopic, and gene sequencing techniques.