Soil-based microbial fuel cells for the detection of DDT and its derivatives: a potential bioelectrochemical sensor

Pesticides are chemical substances used especially in agriculture. The widespread nature of DDT (1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)ethane), one of the key environmental pollutants, creates serious problems for both ecosystems and human health. In this study, the effects of DDT, one of the selected pesticides in soil-based microbial fuel cells, on the performance of microbial fuel cells were investigated. Voltage generation by soil based microbial fuel cells was monitored over time. DDT was monitored for electricity production in soil-based microbial fuel cells for a period of several months. DDT and its derivatives (DDE and DDD) were extracted from the soil and concentration was determined by gas chromatography mass spectrometry. Determination of degradation and physicochemical parameters of these pesticides were investigated with computational chemistry analyses and evaluated together with electricity production data. As a result of this study, the effects of DDT, an important pollutant pesticide, on electricity production in soil-based microbial fuel cells were revealed. With this proposed approach, a soil-based microbial fuel cell will be developed for both bioremediation and sensitive detection of DDT.