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Singh NK, Mathuriya AS, Mehrotra S, Pandit S, Singh A, Jadhav D. Advances in bioelectrochemical systems for bio-products recovery. ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY 2024; 45:3853-3876. [PMID: 37491760 DOI: 10.1080/09593330.2023.2234676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023]
Abstract
Bioelectrochemical systems (BES) have emerged as a sustainable and highly promising technology that has garnered significant attention from researchers worldwide. These systems provide an efficient platform for the removal and recovery of valuable products from wastewater, with minimal or no net energy loss. Among the various types of BES, microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are a notable example, utilizing microbial biocatalytic activities to generate electrical energy through the degradation of organic matter. Other BES variants include microbial desalination cells (MDCs), microbial electrolysis cells (MECs), microbial electrosynthesis cells (MXCs), microbial solar cells (MSCs), and more. BESs have demonstrated remarkable potential in the recovery of diverse products such as hydrogen, methane, volatile fatty acids, precious nutrients, and metals. Recent advancements in scaling up BESs have facilitated a more realistic assessment of their net energy recovery and resource yield in real-world applications. This comprehensive review focuses on the practical applications of BESs, from laboratory-scale developments to their potential for industrial commercialization. Specifically, it highlights successful examples of value-added product recovery achieved through various BES configurations. Additionally, this review critically evaluates the limitations of BESs and provides suggestions to enhance their performance at a larger scale, enabling effective implementation in real-world scenarios. By providing a thorough analysis of the current state of BES technology, this review aims to emphasize the tremendous potential of these systems for sustainable wastewater treatment and resource recovery. It underscores the significance of bridging the gap between laboratory-scale achievements and industrial implementation, paving the way for a more sustainable and resource-efficient future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neeraj Kumar Singh
- Bio-POSITIVE, Department of Life Sciences, School of Basic Sciences and Research, Sharda University, Greater Noida, India
| | - Abhilasha Singh Mathuriya
- Bio-POSITIVE, Department of Life Sciences, School of Basic Sciences and Research, Sharda University, Greater Noida, India
- Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, New Delhi, India
| | - Smriti Mehrotra
- Bio-POSITIVE, Department of Life Sciences, School of Basic Sciences and Research, Sharda University, Greater Noida, India
| | - Soumya Pandit
- Bio-POSITIVE, Department of Life Sciences, School of Basic Sciences and Research, Sharda University, Greater Noida, India
| | - Anoop Singh
- Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR), Government of India, New Delhi, India
| | - Deepak Jadhav
- Department of Agricultural Engineering, Maharashtra Institute of Technology Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India
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Electricity production and key exoelectrogens in a mixed-culture psychrophilic microbial fuel cell at 4 °C. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2022; 106:4801-4811. [PMID: 35759034 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-022-12042-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
The electricity production via psychrophilic microbial fuel cell (PMFC) for wastewater treatment in cold regions offers an alternative to avoid the unwanted methane dissolution of traditional anaerobic fermentation. But, it is seldom reported by mixed-culture, especially closed to 0 °C. Thus, a two-chamber mixed-culture PMFC at 4 °C was successfully operated in this study using acetate as an electron donor. The main results demonstrated a good performance of PMFC, including the maximum voltage of 513 mV at 1000 Ω, coulombic efficiency of 53%, and power density of 689 mW/m2. The cyclic voltammetry curves of enriched biofilm showed a direct electron transfer pathway. These good performances of mixed-culture PMFC were due to the high psychrophilic activity of enriched biofilm, including exoelectrogens genera of Geobacter (6.1%), Enterococcus (17.5%), and Clostridium_sensu_stricto_12 (3.8%). Consequently, a mixed-culture PMFC provides a reasonable strategy to enrich exoelectrogens with high activity. For low-temperature regions, the mixed-culture PMFC involved biotechnologies shall benefit energy generation and valuable chemical production in the future. KEY POINTS: • PMFC showed a maximum voltage of around 513 mV under a resistance of 1000 Ω. • The coulombic efficiency was 53% and the max power density was 689 mW/m2. • Geobacter, Enterococcus, and Clostridium_sensu_stricto_12 were key exoelectrogens.
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Li Y, Ma Y, Zhan J, Zhang Y, Zhao Z, Zhao Z. Combining metal-microbe and microbe-microbe dual direct electron transfer on Fe(0)-cathode of bio-electrochemical system to enhance anaerobic digestion of cellulose wastewater. CHINESE CHEM LETT 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cclet.2021.09.097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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Wang H, Liu Y, Du H, Zhu J, Peng L, Yang C, Luo F. Exploring the effect of voltage on biogas production performance and the methanogenic pathway of microbial electrosynthesis. Biochem Eng J 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bej.2021.108028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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Lee SY, Oh YK, Lee S, Fitriana HN, Moon M, Kim MS, Lee J, Min K, Park GW, Lee JP, Lee JS. Recent developments and key barriers to microbial CO 2 electrobiorefinery. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2021; 320:124350. [PMID: 33186841 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2020.124350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2020] [Revised: 10/25/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The electrochemical conversion of CO2 can include renewable surplus electricity storage and CO2 utilisation. This review focuses on the microbial CO2 electrobiorefinery based on microbial electrosynthesis (MES) which merges electrochemical and microbial conversion to produce biofuels and higher-value chemicals. In this review, recent developments are discussed about bioelectrochemical conversion of CO2 into biofuels and chemicals in MES via microbial CO2-fixation and electricity utilisation reactions. In addition, this review examines technical approaches to overcome the current limitations of MES including the following: engineering of the biocathode, application of electron mediators, and reactor optimisation, among others. An in-depth discussion of strategies for the CO2 electrobiorefinery is presented, including the integration of the biocathode with inorganic catalysts, screening of novel electroactive microorganisms, and metabolic engineering to improve target productivity from CO2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soo Youn Lee
- Gwangju Bio/Energy R&D Center, Korea Institute of Energy Research, Gwangju 61003, Republic of Korea
| | - You-Kwan Oh
- School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea
| | - Sangmin Lee
- Gwangju Bio/Energy R&D Center, Korea Institute of Energy Research, Gwangju 61003, Republic of Korea
| | - Hana Nur Fitriana
- Gwangju Bio/Energy R&D Center, Korea Institute of Energy Research, Gwangju 61003, Republic of Korea; Renewable Energy Engineering Department, Korea Institute of Energy Research Campus, University of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34113, South Korea
| | - Myounghoon Moon
- Gwangju Bio/Energy R&D Center, Korea Institute of Energy Research, Gwangju 61003, Republic of Korea
| | - Min-Sik Kim
- Energy Resources Upcycling Research Laboratory, Korea Institute of Energy Research, Daejeon 34129, Republic of Korea
| | - Jiye Lee
- Gwangju Bio/Energy R&D Center, Korea Institute of Energy Research, Gwangju 61003, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyoungseon Min
- Gwangju Bio/Energy R&D Center, Korea Institute of Energy Research, Gwangju 61003, Republic of Korea
| | - Gwon Woo Park
- Gwangju Bio/Energy R&D Center, Korea Institute of Energy Research, Gwangju 61003, Republic of Korea
| | - Joon-Pyo Lee
- Gwangju Bio/Energy R&D Center, Korea Institute of Energy Research, Gwangju 61003, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin-Suk Lee
- Gwangju Bio/Energy R&D Center, Korea Institute of Energy Research, Gwangju 61003, Republic of Korea.
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Liang T, Zhou L, Irfan M, Bai Y, Liu X, Zhang J, Wu Z, Wang W, Liu J, Cheng L, Yang S, Ye R, Gu J, Mu B. Assessment of Five Electron‐Shuttling Molecules in the Extracellular Electron Transfer of Electromethanogenesis by using
Methanosarcina barkeri. ChemElectroChem 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/celc.202000918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Tian‐Tian Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering and School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering East China University of Science and Technology 130 Meilong Road Shanghai 200237 P.R. China
| | - Lei Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering and School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering East China University of Science and Technology 130 Meilong Road Shanghai 200237 P.R. China
| | - Muhammad Irfan
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering and School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering East China University of Science and Technology 130 Meilong Road Shanghai 200237 P.R. China
- Department of Chemical, Polymer and Composite Materials Engineering University of Engineering & Technology, KSK Campus Lahore 54890 Pakistan
| | - Yang Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering and School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering East China University of Science and Technology 130 Meilong Road Shanghai 200237 P.R. China
| | - Xue‐Zhi Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering and School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering East China University of Science and Technology 130 Meilong Road Shanghai 200237 P.R. China
| | - Ji‐Liang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering and School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering East China University of Science and Technology 130 Meilong Road Shanghai 200237 P.R. China
| | - Zong‐Yang Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering and School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering East China University of Science and Technology 130 Meilong Road Shanghai 200237 P.R. China
| | - Wen‐Zhuo Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering and School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering East China University of Science and Technology 130 Meilong Road Shanghai 200237 P.R. China
| | - Jin‐Feng Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering and School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering East China University of Science and Technology 130 Meilong Road Shanghai 200237 P.R. China
| | - Lei Cheng
- Biogas Institute of Ministry of Agriculture No.75 Madao Street Chengdu 610041 P.R. China
| | - Shi‐Zhong Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering and School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering East China University of Science and Technology 130 Meilong Road Shanghai 200237 P.R. China
| | - Ru‐Qiang Ye
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering and School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering East China University of Science and Technology 130 Meilong Road Shanghai 200237 P.R. China
| | - Ji‐Dong Gu
- Environmental Engineering Guangdong Technion Israel Institute of Technology 241 Daxue Road, Shantou Guangdong 515063 P.R. China
| | - Bo‐Zhong Mu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering and School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering East China University of Science and Technology 130 Meilong Road Shanghai 200237 P.R. China
- Engineering Research Center of Microbial Enhanced Oil Recovery East China University of Science and Technology 130 Meilong Road Shanghai 200237 P. R. China
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Karthikeyan R, Singh R, Bose A. Microbial electron uptake in microbial electrosynthesis: a mini-review. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019; 46:1419-1426. [DOI: 10.1007/s10295-019-02166-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2018] [Accepted: 03/23/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Microbial electron uptake (EU) is the biological capacity of microbes to accept electrons from electroconductive solid materials. EU has been leveraged for sustainable bioproduction strategies via microbial electrosynthesis (MES). MES often involves the reduction of carbon dioxide to multi-carbon molecules, with electrons derived from electrodes in a bioelectrochemical system. EU can be indirect or direct. Indirect EU-based MES uses electron mediators to transfer electrons to microbes. Although an excellent initial strategy, indirect EU requires higher electrical energy. In contrast, the direct supply of cathodic electrons to microbes (direct EU) is more sustainable and energy efficient. Nonetheless, low product formation due to low electron transfer rates during direct EU remains a major challenge. Compared to indirect EU, direct EU is less well-studied perhaps due to the more recent discovery of this microbial capability. This mini-review focuses on the recent advances and challenges of direct EU in relation to MES.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rengasamy Karthikeyan
- grid.4367.6 0000 0001 2355 7002 Department of Biology Washington University in Saint Louis One Brookings Drive 63130 St. Louis MO USA
| | - Rajesh Singh
- grid.4367.6 0000 0001 2355 7002 Department of Biology Washington University in Saint Louis One Brookings Drive 63130 St. Louis MO USA
| | - Arpita Bose
- grid.4367.6 0000 0001 2355 7002 Department of Biology Washington University in Saint Louis One Brookings Drive 63130 St. Louis MO USA
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Irfan M, Bai Y, Zhou L, Kazmi M, Yuan S, Maurice Mbadinga S, Yang SZ, Liu JF, Sand W, Gu JD, Mu BZ. Direct microbial transformation of carbon dioxide to value-added chemicals: A comprehensive analysis and application potentials. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2019; 288:121401. [PMID: 31151767 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2019.121401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2019] [Revised: 04/27/2019] [Accepted: 04/29/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Carbon dioxide storage in petroleum and other geological reservoirs is an economical option for long-term separation of this gas from the atmosphere. Other options include applications through conversion to valuable chemicals. Microalgae and plants perform direct fixation of carbon dioxide to biomass, which is then used as raw material for further microbial transformation (MT). The approach by microbial transformation can achieve reduction of carbon dioxide and production of biofuels. This review addresses the research and technological processes related to direct MT of carbon dioxide, factors affecting their efficiency in operation and the review of economic feasibility. Additionally, some commercial plants making utilization of CO2 around the globe are also summarized along with different value-added chemicals (methane, acetate, fatty acids and alcohols) as reported in literature. Further information is also provided for a better understanding of direct CO2 MT and its future prospects leading to a sustainable and clean environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Irfan
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering and School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China; Department of Chemical, Polymer and Composite Materials Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology, KSK Campus, Lahore 54890, Pakistan
| | - Yang Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering and School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Lei Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering and School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Mohsin Kazmi
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering and School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China; Department of Chemical, Polymer and Composite Materials Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology, KSK Campus, Lahore 54890, Pakistan
| | - Shan Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering and School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Serge Maurice Mbadinga
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering and School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Shi-Zhong Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering and School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Jin Feng Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering and School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Wolfgang Sand
- Textile Pollution Controlling Engineering Center of Ministry of Environmental Protection, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China; Biofilm Centre, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Ji-Dong Gu
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China
| | - Bo-Zhong Mu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering and School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China; Engineering Research Center of MEOR, East China University of Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, Shanghai 200237, China.
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Ragab A, Katuri KP, Ali M, Saikaly PE. Evidence of Spatial Homogeneity in an Electromethanogenic Cathodic Microbial Community. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:1747. [PMID: 31417533 PMCID: PMC6685142 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.01747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2019] [Accepted: 07/15/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Microbial electrosynthesis (MES) has been gaining considerable interest as the next step in the evolution of microbial electrochemical technologies. Understanding the niche biocathode environment and microbial community is critical for further developing this technology as the biocathode is key to product formation and efficiency. MES is generally operated to enrich a specific functional group (e.g., methanogens or homoacetogens) from a mixed-culture inoculum. However, due to differences in H2 and CO2 availability across the cathode surface, competition and syntrophy may lead to overall variability and significant beta-diversity within and between replicate reactors, which can affect performance reproducibility. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the distribution and potential spatial variability of the microbial communities in MES methanogenic biocathodes. Triplicate methanogenic biocathodes were enriched in microbial electrolysis cells for 5 months at an applied voltage of 0.7 V. They were then transferred to triplicate dual-chambered MES reactors and operated at -1.0 V vs. Ag/AgCl for six batches. At the end of the experiment, triplicate samples were taken at different positions (top, center, bottom) from each biocathode for a total of nine samples for total biomass protein analysis and 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Microbial community analyses showed that the biocathodes were highly enriched with methanogens, especially the hydrogenotrophic methanogen family Methanobacteriaceae, Methanobacterium sp., and the mixotrophic Methanosarcina sp., with an overall core community representing > 97% of sequence reads in all samples. There was no statistically significant spatial variability (p > 0.05) observed in the distribution of these communities within and between the reactors. These results suggest deterministic community assembly and indicate the reproducibility of electromethanogenic biocathode communities, with implications for larger-scale reactors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ala'a Ragab
- Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, Water Desalination and Reuse Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Krishna P Katuri
- Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, Water Desalination and Reuse Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Muhammad Ali
- Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, Water Desalination and Reuse Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Pascal E Saikaly
- Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, Water Desalination and Reuse Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
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Microbial Electrosynthesis I: Pure and Defined Mixed Culture Engineering. ADVANCES IN BIOCHEMICAL ENGINEERING/BIOTECHNOLOGY 2019; 167:181-202. [PMID: 29071400 DOI: 10.1007/10_2017_17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
In the past 6 years, microbial bioelectrochemistry has strongly increased in attraction and audience when expanding from mainly environmental technology applications to biotechnology. In particular, the promise to combine electrosynthesis with microbial catalysis opens attractive approaches for new sustainable redox-cofactor recycling, redox-balancing, or even biosynthesis processes. Much of this promise is still not fulfilled, but it has opened and fueled entirely new research areas in this discipline. Activities in designing, tailoring, and applying specific microbial catalysts as pure or defined co-cultures for defined target bioproductions are greatly accelerating. This chapter gives an overview of the current progress as well as the emerging trends in molecular and ecological engineering of defined microbial biocatalysts to prepare them for evolving microbial electrosynthesis processes. In addition, the multitude of microbial electrosynthetic processes with complex undefined mixed cultures is covered by ter Heijne et al. (Adv Biochem Eng Biotechnol. https://doi.org/10.1007/10_2017_15 , 2017). Graphical Abstract.
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Zhang Z, Song Y, Zheng S, Zhen G, Lu X, Kobayashi T, Xu K, Bakonyi P. Electro-conversion of carbon dioxide (CO 2) to low-carbon methane by bioelectromethanogenesis process in microbial electrolysis cells: The current status and future perspective. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2019; 279:339-349. [PMID: 30737066 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2019.01.145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2018] [Revised: 01/29/2019] [Accepted: 01/30/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Given the aggravated greenhouse effect caused by CO2 and the current energy shortage, CO2 capture and reuse has been gaining ever-increasing concerns. Microbial Electrolysis Cells (MECs) has been considered to be a promising alternative to recycle CO2 bioelectrochemically to low-carbon electrofuels such as CH4 by combining electroactive microorganisms with electrochemical stimulation, enabling both CO2 fixation and energy recovery. In spite of the numerous efforts dedicated in this field in recent years, there are still many problems that hinder CO2 bioelectroconversion technique from the scaling-up and potential industrialization. This review comprehensively summarized the working principles, extracellular electron transfers behaviors, and the critical factors limiting the wide-spread utilization of CO2 electromethanogenesis. Various characterization and electrochemical testing methods for helping to uncover the underlying mechanisms in CO2 electromethanogenesis have been introduced. In addition, future research needs for pushing forward the development of MECs technology in real-world CO2 fixation and recycling were elaborated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongyi Zhang
- Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, PR China
| | - Ying Song
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University, 6-6-06 Aramaki Aza Aoba, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8579, Japan
| | - Shaojuan Zheng
- Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, PR China
| | - Guangyin Zhen
- Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, PR China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, 1515 North Zhongshan Rd. (No. 2), Shanghai 200092, PR China.
| | - Xueqin Lu
- Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, PR China; Institute of Eco-Chongming (IEC), 3663 N. Zhongshan Rd., Shanghai 200062, PR China
| | - Takuro Kobayashi
- Center for Material Cycles and Waste Management Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8506, Japan
| | - Kaiqin Xu
- Center for Material Cycles and Waste Management Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8506, Japan
| | - Péter Bakonyi
- Research Institute on Bioengineering, Membrane Technology and Energetics, University of Pannonia, Egyetem ut 10, 8200 Veszprém, Hungary
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Enzmann F, Mayer F, Rother M, Holtmann D. Methanogens: biochemical background and biotechnological applications. AMB Express 2018; 8:1. [PMID: 29302756 PMCID: PMC5754280 DOI: 10.1186/s13568-017-0531-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 158] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2017] [Accepted: 12/19/2017] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Since fossil sources for fuel and platform chemicals will become limited in the near future, it is important to develop new concepts for energy supply and production of basic reagents for chemical industry. One alternative to crude oil and fossil natural gas could be the biological conversion of CO2 or small organic molecules to methane via methanogenic archaea. This process has been known from biogas plants, but recently, new insights into the methanogenic metabolism, technical optimizations and new technology combinations were gained, which would allow moving beyond the mere conversion of biomass. In biogas plants, steps have been undertaken to increase yield and purity of the biogas, such as addition of hydrogen or metal granulate. Furthermore, the integration of electrodes led to the development of microbial electrosynthesis (MES). The idea behind this technique is to use CO2 and electrical power to generate methane via the microbial metabolism. This review summarizes the biochemical and metabolic background of methanogenesis as well as the latest technical applications of methanogens. As a result, it shall give a sufficient overview over the topic to both, biologists and engineers handling biological or bioelectrochemical methanogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franziska Enzmann
- DECHEMA Research Institute, Industrial Biotechnology, Theodor-Heuss-Allee 25, 60486 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Florian Mayer
- DECHEMA Research Institute, Industrial Biotechnology, Theodor-Heuss-Allee 25, 60486 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Michael Rother
- Technische Universität Dresden, Institut für Mikrobiologie, Zellescher Weg 20b, 01217 Dresden, Germany
| | - Dirk Holtmann
- DECHEMA Research Institute, Industrial Biotechnology, Theodor-Heuss-Allee 25, 60486 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
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Reactors for Microbial Electrobiotechnology. ADVANCES IN BIOCHEMICAL ENGINEERING/BIOTECHNOLOGY 2018; 167:231-271. [PMID: 29651504 DOI: 10.1007/10_2017_40] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
From the first electromicrobial experiment to a sophisticated microbial electrochemical process - it all takes place in a reactor. Whereas the reactor design and materials used strongly influence the obtained results, there are no common platforms for MES reactors. This is a critical convention gap, as cross-comparison and benchmarking among MES as well as MES vs. conventional biotechnological processes is needed. Only knowledge driven engineering of MES reactors will pave the way to application and commercialization. In this chapter we first assess the requirements on reactors to be used for bioelectrochemical systems as well as potential losses caused by the reactor design. Subsequently, we compile the main types and designs of reactors used for MES so far, starting from simple H-cells to stirred tank reactors. We conclude with a discussion on the weaknesses and strengths of the existing types of reactors for bioelectrochemical systems that are scored on design criteria and draw conclusions for the future engineering of MES reactors.
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Kip N, Jansen S, Leite MFA, de Hollander M, Afanasyev M, Kuramae EE, Veen JAV. Methanogens predominate in natural corrosion protective layers on metal sheet piles. Sci Rep 2017; 7:11899. [PMID: 28928457 PMCID: PMC5605657 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-11244-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2016] [Accepted: 08/16/2017] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Microorganisms are able to cause, but also to inhibit or protect against corrosion. Corrosion inhibition by microbial processes may be due to the formation of mineral deposition layers on metal objects. Such deposition layers have been found in archaeological studies on ancient metal objects, buried in soil, which were hardly corroded. Recent field investigations showed that natural mineral deposition layers can be found on sheet piles in soil. We investigated the microbial communities of these deposition layers and the adjacent soil. Our data, from five different sampling sites, all show striking differences between microbial communities of the deposition layer versus the adjacent soil over the depth profile. Bacterial species dominated in top soil while archaeal sequences increased in abundance with depth. All mineral deposition layers from the steel surface were dominated by Euryarchaeota, of which almost all sequences were phylogenetically related with the Methanobacteria genus. The mineral layer consisted of carbonate precipitates. Based on 16S rDNA gene sequencing data we hypothesize that the methanogens directly extract electrons from the metal surface, thereby, initially inducing mild corrosion, but simultaneously, inducing carbonate precipitation. This, will cause encrustation of the archaea, which drastically slow down their activity and create a natural protective layer against further corrosion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nardy Kip
- Department of Microbial Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Droevendaalsesteeg 10, 6708 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Stefan Jansen
- Deltares, Princetonlaan 6, 3584 CB, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Marcio F A Leite
- Department of Microbial Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Droevendaalsesteeg 10, 6708 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Mattias de Hollander
- Department of Microbial Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Droevendaalsesteeg 10, 6708 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Michael Afanasyev
- Department of Geoscience & Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Stevinweg 1, 2628 CN, Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Eiko E Kuramae
- Department of Microbial Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Droevendaalsesteeg 10, 6708 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Johannes A Van Veen
- Department of Microbial Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Droevendaalsesteeg 10, 6708 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
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15
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High-pressure thermophilic electromethanogenic system producing methane at 5 MPa, 55°C. J Biosci Bioeng 2017; 124:327-332. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiosc.2017.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2017] [Accepted: 04/03/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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16
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Kumar G, Saratale RG, Kadier A, Sivagurunathan P, Zhen G, Kim SH, Saratale GD. A review on bio-electrochemical systems (BESs) for the syngas and value added biochemicals production. CHEMOSPHERE 2017; 177:84-92. [PMID: 28284119 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.02.135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2016] [Revised: 02/23/2017] [Accepted: 02/26/2017] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Bio-electrochemical systems (BESs) are the microbial systems which are employed to produce electricity directly from organic wastes along with some valuable chemicals production such as medium chain fatty acids; acetate, butyrate and alcohols. In this review, recent updates about value-added chemicals production concomitantly with the production of gaseous fuels like hydrogen and methane which are considered as cleaner for the environment have been addressed. Additionally, the bottlenecks associated with the conversion rates, lower yields and other aspects have been mentioned. In spite of its infant stage development, this would be the future trend of energy, biochemicals and electricity production in greener and cleaner pathway with the win-win situation of organic waste remediation. Henceforth, this review intends to summarise and foster the progress made in the BESs and discusses its challenges and outlook on future research advances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gopalakrishnan Kumar
- Sustainable Environmental Process Research Institute, Daegu University, Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk, 38453, Republic of Korea; Department of Environmental Engineering, Daegu University, Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk, 38453, Republic of Korea
| | - Rijuta Ganesh Saratale
- Research Institute of Biotechnology and Medical Converged Science, Dongguk University-Seoul, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, 10326, Republic of Korea
| | - Abudukeremu Kadier
- Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, National University of Malaysia (UKM), 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Periyasamy Sivagurunathan
- Center for Materials Cycles and Waste Management Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Guangyin Zhen
- Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Dongchuan Rd. 500, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Sang-Hyoun Kim
- Sustainable Environmental Process Research Institute, Daegu University, Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk, 38453, Republic of Korea; Department of Environmental Engineering, Daegu University, Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk, 38453, Republic of Korea
| | - Ganesh Dattatraya Saratale
- Department of Food Science and Biotechnology, Dongguk University-Seoul, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, 10326, Republic of Korea.
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17
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Blasco-Gómez R, Batlle-Vilanova P, Villano M, Balaguer MD, Colprim J, Puig S. On the Edge of Research and Technological Application: A Critical Review of Electromethanogenesis. Int J Mol Sci 2017; 18:E874. [PMID: 28425974 PMCID: PMC5412455 DOI: 10.3390/ijms18040874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2017] [Revised: 03/22/2017] [Accepted: 04/11/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The conversion of electrical current into methane (electromethanogenesis) by microbes represents one of the most promising applications of bioelectrochemical systems (BES). Electromethanogenesis provides a novel approach to waste treatment, carbon dioxide fixation and renewable energy storage into a chemically stable compound, such as methane. This has become an important area of research since it was first described, attracting different research groups worldwide. Basics of the process such as microorganisms involved and main reactions are now much better understood, and recent advances in BES configuration and electrode materials in lab-scale enhance the interest in this technology. However, there are still some gaps that need to be filled to move towards its application. Side reactions or scaling-up issues are clearly among the main challenges that need to be overcome to its further development. This review summarizes the recent advances made in the field of electromethanogenesis to address the main future challenges and opportunities of this novel process. In addition, the present fundamental knowledge is critically reviewed and some insights are provided to identify potential niche applications and help researchers to overcome current technological boundaries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramiro Blasco-Gómez
- Laboratory of Chemical and Environmental Engineering (LEQUIA), Institute of the Environment, University of Girona, Campus Montilivi, Carrer Maria Aurèlia Capmany, 69, E-17003 Girona, Spain.
| | - Pau Batlle-Vilanova
- Laboratory of Chemical and Environmental Engineering (LEQUIA), Institute of the Environment, University of Girona, Campus Montilivi, Carrer Maria Aurèlia Capmany, 69, E-17003 Girona, Spain.
- Department of Innovation and Technology, FCC Aqualia, Balmes Street, 36, 6th Floor, 08007 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Marianna Villano
- Department of Chemistry, Sapienza University of Rome, P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy.
| | - Maria Dolors Balaguer
- Laboratory of Chemical and Environmental Engineering (LEQUIA), Institute of the Environment, University of Girona, Campus Montilivi, Carrer Maria Aurèlia Capmany, 69, E-17003 Girona, Spain.
| | - Jesús Colprim
- Laboratory of Chemical and Environmental Engineering (LEQUIA), Institute of the Environment, University of Girona, Campus Montilivi, Carrer Maria Aurèlia Capmany, 69, E-17003 Girona, Spain.
| | - Sebastià Puig
- Laboratory of Chemical and Environmental Engineering (LEQUIA), Institute of the Environment, University of Girona, Campus Montilivi, Carrer Maria Aurèlia Capmany, 69, E-17003 Girona, Spain.
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18
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Schlager S, Haberbauer M, Fuchsbauer A, Hemmelmair C, Dumitru LM, Hinterberger G, Neugebauer H, Sariciftci NS. Bio-Electrocatalytic Application of Microorganisms for Carbon Dioxide Reduction to Methane. CHEMSUSCHEM 2017; 10:226-233. [PMID: 27792284 PMCID: PMC5248612 DOI: 10.1002/cssc.201600963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2016] [Revised: 08/30/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
We present a study on a microbial electrolysis cell with methanogenic microorganisms adapted to reduce CO2 to CH4 with the direct injection of electrons and without the artificial addition of H2 or an additional carbon source except gaseous CO2 . This is a new approach in comparison to previous work in which both bicarbonate and gaseous CO2 served as the carbon source. The methanogens used are known to perform well in anaerobic reactors and metabolize H2 and CO2 to CH4 and water. This study shows the biofilm formation of those microorganisms on a carbon felt electrode and the long-term performance for CO2 reduction to CH4 using direct electrochemical reduction. CO2 reduction is performed simply by electron uptake with gaseous CO2 as the sole carbon source in a defined medium. This "electrometabolism" in such microbial electrolysis cells depends strongly on the potential applied as well as on the environmental conditions. We investigated the performance using different adaption mechanisms and a constant potential of -700 mV vs. Ag/AgCl for CH4 generation at 30-35 °C. The experiments were performed by using two-compartment electrochemical cells. Production rates with Faradaic efficiencies of around 22 % were observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie Schlager
- Linz Institute for Organic Solar CellsJohannes Kepler University LinzAltenbergerstraße 694040LinzAustria
| | | | | | | | - Liviu Mihai Dumitru
- Linz Institute for Organic Solar CellsJohannes Kepler University LinzAltenbergerstraße 694040LinzAustria
| | - Gabriele Hinterberger
- Linz Institute for Organic Solar CellsJohannes Kepler University LinzAltenbergerstraße 694040LinzAustria
| | - Helmut Neugebauer
- Linz Institute for Organic Solar CellsJohannes Kepler University LinzAltenbergerstraße 694040LinzAustria
| | - Niyazi Serdar Sariciftci
- Linz Institute for Organic Solar CellsJohannes Kepler University LinzAltenbergerstraße 694040LinzAustria
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19
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Bioelectrochemical Power-to-Gas: State of the Art and Future Perspectives. Trends Biotechnol 2016; 34:879-894. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2016.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 144] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2016] [Revised: 08/23/2016] [Accepted: 08/25/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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20
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Zeng X, Borole AP, Pavlostathis SG. Performance evaluation of a continuous-flow bioanode microbial electrolysis cell fed with furanic and phenolic compounds. RSC Adv 2016. [DOI: 10.1039/c6ra13735k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
An MEC bioanode operated under different continuous-flow conditions converts problematic furanic and phenolic compounds to renewable hydrogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofei Zeng
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering
- Georgia Institute of Technology
- Atlanta
- USA
| | - Abhijeet P. Borole
- Biosciences Division
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory
- Oak Ridge
- USA
- Bredesen Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Education
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21
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Troshina O, Oshurkova V, Suzina N, Machulin A, Ariskina E, Vinokurova N, Kopitsyn D, Novikov A, Shcherbakova V. Sphaerochaeta associata sp. nov., a spherical spirochaete isolated from cultures of Methanosarcina mazei JL01. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2015; 65:4315-4322. [DOI: 10.1099/ijsem.0.000575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
An anaerobic, saccharolytic bacterial strain designated GLS2T was isolated from aggregates of the psychrotolerant archaeon Methanosarcina mazei strain JL01 isolated from arctic permafrost. Bacterial cells were non-motile, spherical, ovoid and annular with diameter 0.2–4 μm. They were chemoorganoheterotrophs using a wide range of mono-, di- and trisaccharides as carbon and energy sources. The novel isolate required yeast extract and vitamins for growth. The bacteria exhibited resistance to a number of β-lactam antibiotics, rifampicin, streptomycin and vancomycin. Optimum growth was observed between 30 and 34 °C, at pH 6.8–7.5 and with 1–2 g NaCl l− 1. Isolate GLS2T was a strict anaerobe but it tolerated oxygen exposure. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, strain GLS2T was shown to belong to the genus Sphaerochaeta within the family Spirochaetaceae. Its closest relatives were Sphaerochaeta globosa BuddyT (99.3 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity) and Sphaerochaeta pleomorpha GrapesT (95.4 % similarity). The G+C content of DNA was 47.2 mol%. The level of DNA–DNA hybridization between strains GLS2T and BuddyT was 34.7 ± 8.8 %. Major polar lipids were phosphoglycolipids, phospholipids and glycolipids; major fatty acids were C14 : 0, C16 : 0, C16 : 0 3-OH, C16 : 0 dimethyl acetal (DMA), C16 : 1n8 and C16 : 1 DMA; respiratory quinones were not detected. The results of DNA–DNA hybridization, physiological and biochemical tests demonstrated genotypic and phenotypic differentiation of strain GLS2T from the four species of the genus Sphaerochaeta with validly published names that allowed its separation into a new lineage at the species level. Strain GLS2T therefore represents a novel species, for which the name Sphaerochaeta associata sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain GLS2T ( = DSM 26261T = VKM B-2742T).
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga Troshina
- Skryabin Institute of Biochemistry and Physiology of Microorganisms, Russian Academy of Sciences, Prospect Nauki 5, Pushchino, Moscow region 142290, Russia
| | - Viktoria Oshurkova
- Skryabin Institute of Biochemistry and Physiology of Microorganisms, Russian Academy of Sciences, Prospect Nauki 5, Pushchino, Moscow region 142290, Russia
| | - Natalia Suzina
- Skryabin Institute of Biochemistry and Physiology of Microorganisms, Russian Academy of Sciences, Prospect Nauki 5, Pushchino, Moscow region 142290, Russia
| | - Andrei Machulin
- Skryabin Institute of Biochemistry and Physiology of Microorganisms, Russian Academy of Sciences, Prospect Nauki 5, Pushchino, Moscow region 142290, Russia
| | - Elena Ariskina
- Skryabin Institute of Biochemistry and Physiology of Microorganisms, Russian Academy of Sciences, Prospect Nauki 5, Pushchino, Moscow region 142290, Russia
| | - Natalia Vinokurova
- Skryabin Institute of Biochemistry and Physiology of Microorganisms, Russian Academy of Sciences, Prospect Nauki 5, Pushchino, Moscow region 142290, Russia
| | - Dmitry Kopitsyn
- Gubkin Russian State University of Oil and Gas, Leninskiy Prospect 65-1, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Andrei Novikov
- Gubkin Russian State University of Oil and Gas, Leninskiy Prospect 65-1, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Viktoria Shcherbakova
- Skryabin Institute of Biochemistry and Physiology of Microorganisms, Russian Academy of Sciences, Prospect Nauki 5, Pushchino, Moscow region 142290, Russia
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22
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Zeng X, Borole AP, Pavlostathis SG. Biotransformation of Furanic and Phenolic Compounds with Hydrogen Gas Production in a Microbial Electrolysis Cell. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2015; 49:13667-13675. [PMID: 26503792 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.5b02313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Furanic and phenolic compounds are problematic byproducts resulting from the breakdown of lignocellulosic biomass during biofuel production. The capacity of a microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) to produce hydrogen gas (H2) using a mixture of two furanic (furfural, FF; 5-hydroxymethyl furfural, HMF) and three phenolic (syringic acid, SA; vanillic acid, VA; and 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, HBA) compounds as the substrate in the bioanode was assessed. The rate and extent of biotransformation of the five compounds and efficiency of H2 production, as well as the structure of the anode microbial community, were investigated. The five compounds were completely transformed within 7-day batch runs and their biotransformation rate increased with increasing initial concentration. At an initial concentration of 1200 mg/L (8.7 mM) of the mixture of the five compounds, their biotransformation rate ranged from 0.85 to 2.34 mM/d. The anode Coulombic efficiency was 44-69%, which is comparable to that of wastewater-fed MECs. The H2 yield varied from 0.26 to 0.42 g H2-COD/g COD removed in the anode, and the bioanode volume-normalized H2 production rate was 0.07-0.1 L/L-d. The biotransformation of the five compounds took place via fermentation followed by exoelectrogenesis. The major identified fermentation products that did not transform further were catechol and phenol. Acetate was the direct substrate for exoelectrogenesis. Current and H2 production were inhibited at an initial substrate concentration of 1200 mg/L, resulting in acetate accumulation at a much higher level than that measured in other batch runs conducted with a lower initial concentration of the five compounds. The anode microbial community consisted of exoelectrogens, putative degraders of the five compounds, and syntrophic partners of exoelectrogens. The MEC H2 production demonstrated in this study is an alternative to the currently used process of reforming natural gas to supply H2 needed to upgrade bio-oils to stable hydrocarbon fuels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofei Zeng
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology , Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0512, United States
| | - Abhijeet P Borole
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory , Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
- Bredesen Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Education, The University of Tennessee , Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
| | - Spyros G Pavlostathis
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology , Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0512, United States
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23
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Perspective of harnessing energy from landfill leachate via microbial fuel cells: novel biofuels and electrogenic physiologies. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2015; 99:7827-36. [DOI: 10.1007/s00253-015-6857-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2015] [Revised: 07/14/2015] [Accepted: 07/16/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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24
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Tremblay PL, Zhang T. Electrifying microbes for the production of chemicals. Front Microbiol 2015; 6:201. [PMID: 25814988 PMCID: PMC4356085 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2015.00201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2015] [Accepted: 02/24/2015] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Powering microbes with electrical energy to produce valuable chemicals such as biofuels has recently gained traction as a biosustainable strategy to reduce our dependence on oil. Microbial electrosynthesis (MES) is one of the bioelectrochemical approaches developed in the last decade that could have critical impact on the current methods of chemical synthesis. MES is a process in which electroautotrophic microbes use electrical current as electron source to reduce CO2 to multicarbon organics. Electricity necessary for MES can be harvested from renewable resources such as solar energy, wind turbine, or wastewater treatment processes. The net outcome is that renewable energy is stored in the covalent bonds of organic compounds synthesized from greenhouse gas. This review will discuss the future of MES and the challenges that lie ahead for its development into a mature technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pier-Luc Tremblay
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Hørsholm Denmark
| | - Tian Zhang
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Hørsholm Denmark
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25
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Fu Q, Kuramochi Y, Fukushima N, Maeda H, Sato K, Kobayashi H. Bioelectrochemical analyses of the development of a thermophilic biocathode catalyzing electromethanogenesis. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2015; 49:1225-1232. [PMID: 25544349 DOI: 10.1021/es5052233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
The use of thermophilic microorganisms as biocatalysts for electromethanogenesis was investigated. Single-chamber reactors inoculated with thermophiles and operated at 55 °C showed high CH4 production rates (max. 1103 mmol m(–2) day(–1) at an applied voltage of 0.8 V) with current-capture efficiencies >90%, indicating that thermophiles have high potential as biocatalysts. To improve the electromethanogenic activity, the developed biocathode was transferred to a two-chamber reactor and operated at a poised potential of −0.5 V vs SHE. The CH4 production rates of the biocathode were enhanced approximately 6-fold in 160 h of poised-potential incubation, indicating that the acclimation of the biocathode resulted in performance improvement. Compositional alteration of the cathodic microbiota suggested that a Methanothermobacter-related methanogen and synergistetes- and thermotogae-related bacteria were selected during the acclimation. Cyclic voltammetry of the “acclimated” biocathode showed an augmented cathodic catalytic wave with a midpoint potential at ca. −0.35 V vs SHE. Moreover, the biocathode was able to catalyze electromethanogenesis at −0.35 V vs SHE. These results suggested that the ability of the biocathode to catalyze electromethanogenesis via direct electron transfer was enhanced by the acclimation. This study provides new technological and fundamental information on electromethanogenic bioelectrochemical systems (BESs) that may be extended to other BESs.
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26
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Microbial community analysis of a methane-producing biocathode in a bioelectrochemical system. ARCHAEA-AN INTERNATIONAL MICROBIOLOGICAL JOURNAL 2013; 2013:481784. [PMID: 24187516 PMCID: PMC3800620 DOI: 10.1155/2013/481784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2013] [Revised: 08/05/2013] [Accepted: 08/19/2013] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
A methane-producing biocathode that converts CO(2) into methane was studied electrochemically and microbiologically. The biocathode produced methane at a maximum rate of 5.1 L CH(4)/m(2) projected cathode per day (1.6 A/m(2)) at -0.7 V versus NHE cathode potential and 3.0 L CH(4)/m(2) projected cathode per day (0.9 A/m(2)) at -0.6 V versus NHE cathode potential. The microbial community at the biocathode was dominated by three phylotypes of Archaea and six phylotypes of bacteria. The Archaeal phylotypes were most closely related to Methanobacterium palustre and Methanobacterium aarhusense. Besides methanogenic Archaea, bacteria seemed to be associated with methane production, producing hydrogen as an intermediate. Biomass density varied greatly with part of the carbon electrode covered with a dense biofilm, while only clusters of cells were found on other parts. Based on our results, we discuss how inoculum enrichment and changing operational conditions may help to increase biomass density and to select for microorganisms that produce methane.
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