Immobilization of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in Agar Polymer Matrix to Improves The Performance of A Yeast Microbial Fuel Cell

Abstract

Encapsulation of yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae in agar and its electrochemical characteristic of single cell with immobilized yeast S. cerevisiae were examined in this study. Yeast entrapped on agar matrix at varied concentrations was manufactured using a conventional method. The potential of yeast S. cerevisiae to produce and transmit extracellular electrons without the need of an external mediator has important implications for the construction of microbial fuel cells. With an agar concentration of 11.7 mg/mL, the current density reached 7 mA/m2 in 23 hours, resulting in an MPD of 0.91 mW/m2. The result of Km was 9.15 1.01 mg/mL, while sensitivity and Jmax were 0,39 ± 0,03 (mA/m2)/(mg/mL) and 3,53 ± 0,16 mA/m2, respectively. This demonstrates that yeast immobilization on agar as a matrix has high potential and is beneficial to MFC growth in terms of sustainability.