Five dual chamber microbial fuel cell reactors were inoculated with a mixed culture of sulfate-reducing bacteria and fed with artificial wastewater containing lactate and sulfate. A negative poised anode potential enhanced the performance of this fuel cell while a positive poised anode potential or no anode potential had no effect on performance. The effect of this anode potential promoted microbial colonization on the anode surface (biofilm) thereby presenting an effective and successful way for the start-up of a sulfate reducing bacterial microbial fuel cell. Copyright (C) 2013, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.