1
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Cheng M, Qu G, Xu R, Ren N. Research on the conversion of biowaste to MCCAs: A review of recent advances in the electrochemical synergistic anaerobic pathway. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 366:143430. [PMID: 39353474 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.143430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2024] [Revised: 09/26/2024] [Accepted: 09/27/2024] [Indexed: 10/04/2024]
Abstract
Medium-chain carboxylic acids (MCCAs) show great promise as commercial chemicals due to their high energy density, significant product value, and wide range of applications. The production of MCCAs from waste biomass through coupling chain extension with anaerobic fermentation represents a new and innovative approach to biomass utilization. This review provides an overview of the principles of MCCAs production through coupled chain extension and anaerobic fermentation, as well as the extracellular electron transfer pathways and microbiological effects involved. Emphasis is placed on the mechanisms, limitations, and microbial interactions in MCCAs production, elucidating metabolic pathways, potential influencing factors, and the cooperative and competitive relationships among various microorganisms. Additionally, this paper delves into a novel technology for the bio-electrocatalytic generation of MCCAs, which promotes electron transfer through the use of different three-dimensional electrodes, various electrical stimulation methods, and hydrogen-assisted approaches. The insights and conclusions from previous studies, as well as the identification of existing challenges, will be valuable for the further development of high-product-selectivity strategies and environmentally friendly treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minhua Cheng
- Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science & Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, 650500, China; National-Regional Engineering Center for Recovery of Waste Gases from Metallurgical and Chemical Industries, Kunming, Yunnan, 650500, China
| | - Guangfei Qu
- Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science & Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, 650500, China; National-Regional Engineering Center for Recovery of Waste Gases from Metallurgical and Chemical Industries, Kunming, Yunnan, 650500, China.
| | - Rui Xu
- Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science & Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, 650500, China; National-Regional Engineering Center for Recovery of Waste Gases from Metallurgical and Chemical Industries, Kunming, Yunnan, 650500, China
| | - Nanqi Ren
- School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090, China
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2
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Im C, Kim M, Kim JR, Valgepea K, Modin O, Nygård Y, Franzén CJ. Low electric current in a bioelectrochemical system facilitates ethanol production from CO using CO-enriched mixed culture. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1438758. [PMID: 39268540 PMCID: PMC11390636 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1438758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2024] [Accepted: 07/24/2024] [Indexed: 09/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Fossil resources must be replaced by renewable resources in production systems to mitigate green-house gas emissions and combat climate change. Electro-fermentation utilizes a bioelectrochemical system (BES) to valorize industrial and municipal waste. Current electro-fermentation research is mainly focused on microbial electrosynthesis using CO2 for producing commodity chemicals and replacing petroleum-based infrastructures. However, slow production rates and low titers of metabolites during CO2-based microbial electrosynthesis impede its implementation to the real application in the near future. On the other hand, CO is a highly reactive gas and an abundant feedstock discharged from fossil fuel-based industry. Here, we investigated CO and CO2 electro-fermentation, using a CO-enriched culture. Fresh cow fecal waste was enriched under an atmosphere of 50% CO and 20% CO2 in N2 using serial cultivation. The CO-enriched culture was dominated by Clostridium autoethanogenum (≥89%) and showed electro-activity in a BES reactor with CO2 sparging. When 50% CO was included in the 20% CO2 gas with 10 mA applied current, acetate and ethanol were produced up to 12.9 ± 2.7 mM and 2.7 ± 1.1 mM, respectively. The coulombic efficiency was estimated to 148% ± 8% without an electron mediator. At 25 mA, the culture showed faster initial growth and acetate production but no ethanol production, and only at 86% ± 4% coulombic efficiency. The maximum optical density (OD) of 10 mA and 25 mA reactors were 0.29 ± 0.07 and 0.41 ± 0.03, respectively, whereas it was 0.77 ± 0.19 without electric current. These results show that CO electro-fermentation at low current can be an alternative way of valorizing industrial waste gas using a bioelectrochemical system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaeho Im
- Division of Industrial Biotechnology, Department of Life Sciences, Chalmers University of Technology, Göteborg, Sweden
| | - Minsoo Kim
- School of Chemical Engineering, Pusan National University, Busan, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung Rae Kim
- School of Chemical Engineering, Pusan National University, Busan, Republic of Korea
| | - Kaspar Valgepea
- Institute of Bioengineering, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Oskar Modin
- Division of Water Environment Technology, Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Göteborg, Sweden
| | - Yvonne Nygård
- Division of Industrial Biotechnology, Department of Life Sciences, Chalmers University of Technology, Göteborg, Sweden
- VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, Espoo, Finland
| | - Carl Johan Franzén
- Division of Industrial Biotechnology, Department of Life Sciences, Chalmers University of Technology, Göteborg, Sweden
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3
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Li X, Jia T, Zhu H, Cai L, Lu Y, Wang J, Tao H, Li P. Bioelectricity facilitates carbon dioxide fixation by Alcaligenes faecalis ZS-1 in a biocathodic microbial fuel cell (MFC). BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2024; 399:130555. [PMID: 38460556 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2024.130555] [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: 12/03/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/11/2024]
Abstract
The CO2 fixation mechanism by Alcaligenes faecalis ZS-1 in a biocathode microbial fuel cell (MFC) was investigated. The closed-circuit MFC (CM) exhibited a significantly higher CO2 fixation rate (10.7%) compared to the open-circuit MFC (OC) (2.0%), indicating that bioelectricity enhances CO2 capture efficiency. During the inward extracellular electron transfer (EET) process, riboflavin concentration increased in the supernatant while cytochrome levels decreased. Genome sequencing revealed diverse metabolic pathways for CO2 fixation in strain ZS-1, with potential dominance of rTCA and C4 pathways under electrotrophic conditions as evidenced by significant upregulation of the ppc gene. Differential metabolite analysis using LC-MS demonstrated that CM promoted upregulation of various lipid metabolites. These findings collectively highlight that ZS-1 simultaneously generated electricity and fixed CO2 and that the ppc associated with bioelectricity played a critical role in CO2 capture. In conclusion, bioelectricity resulted in a significant enhancement in the efficiency of CO2 fixation and lipid production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyi Li
- School of Ocean Science and Technology, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan 316022, PR China
| | - Tianbo Jia
- School of Petrochemical Engineering and Environment, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan 316022, PR China
| | - Haiguang Zhu
- School of Ocean Science and Technology, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan 316022, PR China
| | - Luhan Cai
- School of Ocean Science and Technology, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan 316022, PR China
| | - Yubiao Lu
- School of Ocean Science and Technology, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan 316022, PR China
| | - Jianxin Wang
- School of Ocean Science and Technology, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan 316022, PR China
| | - Hengcong Tao
- School of Petrochemical Engineering and Environment, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan 316022, PR China
| | - Peng Li
- School of Ocean Science and Technology, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan 316022, PR China.
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4
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Liu H, Zeng Y, Chen W, Liu C, Sun D, Hu Z, Li P, Xu H, Wu H, Qiu B, Liu X, Dang Y. Effect of different hydrogen evolution rates at cathode on bioelectrochemical reduction of CO 2 to acetate. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 913:169744. [PMID: 38176559 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169744] [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: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
Microbial electrosynthesis (MES) offers a promising approach for converting CO2 into valuable chemicals such as acetate. However, the relative low conversion rate severely limits its practical application. This study investigated the impact of different hydrogen evolution rates on the conversion rate of CO2 to acetate in the MES system. Three potentials (-0.8 V, -0.9 V and -1.0 V) corresponding to various hydrogen evolution rates were set and analyzed, revealing an optimal hydrogen evolution rate, yielding a maximum acetate formation rate of 1410.9 mg/L and 73.5 % coulomb efficiency. The electrochemical findings revealed that an optimal hydrogen evolution rate facilitated the formation of an electroactive biofilm. The microbial community of the cathode biofilm highlighted key genera, including Clostridium and Acetobacterium, which played essential roles in electrosynthesis within the MES system. Notably, a low hydrogen evolution rate failed to provide sufficient energy for the electrochemical reduction of CO2 to acetate, while a high rate led to cathode alkalinization, impeding the reaction and causing significant energy wastage. Therefore, maintaining an appropriate hydrogen evolution rate is crucial for the development of mature electroactive biofilms and achieving optimal performance in the MES system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huanying Liu
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Source Control Technology of Water Pollution, Engineering Research Center for Water Pollution Source Control and Eco-remediation, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Yiwei Zeng
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Source Control Technology of Water Pollution, Engineering Research Center for Water Pollution Source Control and Eco-remediation, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Wenwen Chen
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Source Control Technology of Water Pollution, Engineering Research Center for Water Pollution Source Control and Eco-remediation, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Chuanqi Liu
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Source Control Technology of Water Pollution, Engineering Research Center for Water Pollution Source Control and Eco-remediation, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Dezhi Sun
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Source Control Technology of Water Pollution, Engineering Research Center for Water Pollution Source Control and Eco-remediation, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Zhen Hu
- School of Environmental Science & Engineering, Shandong Key Laboratory of Water Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Environment Research Institute, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, PR China
| | - Pengsong Li
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Source Control Technology of Water Pollution, Engineering Research Center for Water Pollution Source Control and Eco-remediation, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Haiyu Xu
- Qinglin Chuangneng (Shanghai) Technology Co., Ltd, Shanghai 201800, China
| | - Hongbin Wu
- Qinglin Chuangneng (Shanghai) Technology Co., Ltd, Shanghai 201800, China
| | - Bin Qiu
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Source Control Technology of Water Pollution, Engineering Research Center for Water Pollution Source Control and Eco-remediation, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Xinying Liu
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Source Control Technology of Water Pollution, Engineering Research Center for Water Pollution Source Control and Eco-remediation, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Yan Dang
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Source Control Technology of Water Pollution, Engineering Research Center for Water Pollution Source Control and Eco-remediation, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China.
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5
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Pan Z, Hui Y, Hu X, Yu J, Zhang H, Feng X, Guo K. A novel electrolytic gas lift reactor for efficient microbial electrosynthesis of acetate from carbon dioxide. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2024; 393:130124. [PMID: 38040310 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2023.130124] [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: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023]
Abstract
The low current density impedes the practical application of microbial electrosynthesis for CO2 fixation. Engineering the reactor design is an effective way to increase the current density, especially for H2-mediated microbial electrosynthesis reactors. The electrolytic bubble column microbial electrosynthesis reactor has shown great potential for scaling up, but the mixing and gas mass transfer still need to be enhanced to further increase the current density. Here, we introduced an inner draft tube to the bubble column to tackle the problem. The addition of draft tube resulted in a 76.6% increase in the volumetric mass transfer coefficient (kLa) of H2, a 40% increase in the maximum current density (337 A/m2) and a 72% increase in average acetate production rate (3.1 g/L/d). The computational fluid dynamics simulations showed that the addition of draft tube enhanced mixing efficiency by enabling a more ordered cyclic flow pattern and a more uniform gas/liquid distribution. These results indicate that the electro-bubble column reactor with draft tube holds great potential for industrial implementation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeyan Pan
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China
| | - Yuanyuan Hui
- State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China; School of Chemical Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xiaona Hu
- School of Ecology and Environment, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Jinpeng Yu
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China
| | - Hong Zhang
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China
| | - Xin Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China; School of Chemical Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Key Laboratory of Biopharmaceutical Preparation and Delivery, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China.
| | - Kun Guo
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China.
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6
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Sandfeld T, Grøn LV, Munoz L, Meyer RL, Koren K, Philips J. Considerations on the use of microsensors to profile dissolved H2 concentrations in microbial electrochemical reactors. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0293734. [PMID: 38241241 PMCID: PMC10798470 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0293734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Measuring the distribution and dynamics of H2 in microbial electrochemical reactors is valuable to gain insights into the processes behind novel bioelectrochemical technologies, such as microbial electrosynthesis. Here, a microsensor method to measure and profile dissolved H2 concentrations in standard H-cell reactors is described. Graphite cathodes were oriented horizontally to enable the use of a motorized microprofiling system and a stereomicroscope was used to place the H2 microsensor precisely on the cathode surface. Profiling was performed towards the gas-liquid interface, while preserving the electric connections and flushing the headspace (to maintain anoxic conditions) and under strict temperature control (to overcome the temperature sensitivity of the microsensors). This method was tested by profiling six reactors, with and without inoculation of the acetogen Sporomusa ovata, at three different time points. H2 accumulated over time in the abiotic controls, while S. ovata maintained low H2 concentrations throughout the liquid phase (< 4 μM) during the whole experimental period. These results demonstrate that this setup generated insightful H2 profiles. However, various limitations of this microsensor method were identified, as headspace flushing lowered the dissolved H2 concentrations over time. Moreover, microsensors can likely not accurately measure H2 in the immediate vicinity of the solid cathode, because the solids cathode surface obstructs H2 diffusion into the microsensor. Finally, the reactors had to be discarded after microsensor profiling. Interested users should bear these considerations in mind when applying microsensors to characterize microbial electrochemical reactors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Louise Vinther Grøn
- Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Laura Munoz
- Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Rikke Louise Meyer
- Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Klaus Koren
- Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Jo Philips
- Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
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7
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Xie Y, Erşan S, Guan X, Wang J, Sha J, Xu S, Wohlschlegel JA, Park JO, Liu C. Unexpected metabolic rewiring of CO 2 fixation in H 2-mediated materials-biology hybrids. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2308373120. [PMID: 37816063 PMCID: PMC10589654 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2308373120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
A hybrid approach combining water-splitting electrochemistry and H2-oxidizing, CO2-fixing microorganisms offers a viable solution for producing value-added chemicals from sunlight, water, and air. The classic wisdom without thorough examination to date assumes that the electrochemistry in such a H2-mediated process is innocent of altering microbial behavior. Here, we report unexpected metabolic rewiring induced by water-splitting electrochemistry in H2-oxidizing acetogenic bacterium Sporomusa ovata that challenges such a classic view. We found that the planktonic S. ovata is more efficient in utilizing reducing equivalent for ATP generation in the materials-biology hybrids than cells grown with H2 supply, supported by our metabolomic and proteomic studies. The efficiency of utilizing reducing equivalents and fixing CO2 into acetate has increased from less than 80% of chemoautotrophy to more than 95% under electroautotrophic conditions. These observations unravel previously underappreciated materials' impact on microbial metabolism in seemingly simply H2-mediated charge transfer between biotic and abiotic components. Such a deeper understanding of the materials-biology interface will foster advanced design of hybrid systems for sustainable chemical transformation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongchao Xie
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA90095
| | - Sevcan Erşan
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, CA90095
| | - Xun Guan
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA90095
| | - Jingyu Wang
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA90095
| | - Jihui Sha
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA90095
| | - Shuangning Xu
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA90095
| | | | - Junyoung O. Park
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, CA90095
- California NanoSystems Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA90095
| | - Chong Liu
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA90095
- California NanoSystems Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA90095
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8
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Laura M, Jo P. No acetogen is equal: Strongly different H 2 thresholds reflect diverse bioenergetics in acetogenic bacteria. Environ Microbiol 2023; 25:2032-2040. [PMID: 37209014 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.16429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Acetogens share the capacity to convert H2 and CO2 into acetate for energy conservation (ATP synthesis). This reaction is attractive for applications, such as gas fermentation and microbial electrosynthesis. Different H2 partial pressures prevail in these distinctive applications (low concentrations during microbial electrosynthesis [<40 Pa] vs. high concentrations with gas fermentation [>9%]). Strain selection thus requires understanding of how different acetogens perform under different H2 partial pressures. Here, we determined the H2 threshold (H2 partial pressure at which acetogenesis halts) for eight different acetogenic strains under comparable conditions. We found a three orders of magnitude difference between the lowest and highest H2 threshold (6 ± 2 Pa for Sporomusa ovata vs. 1990 ± 67 Pa for Clostridium autoethanogenum), while Acetobacterium strains had intermediate H2 thresholds. We used these H2 thresholds to estimate ATP gains, which ranged from 0.16 to 1.01 mol ATP per mol acetate (S. ovata vs. C. autoethanogenum). The experimental H2 thresholds thus suggest strong differences in the bioenergetics of acetogenic strains and possibly also in their growth yields and kinetics. We conclude that no acetogen is equal and that a good understanding of their differences is essential to select the most optimal strain for different biotechnological applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Munoz Laura
- Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Philips Jo
- Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
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9
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Electrochemical synthesis of propionic acid from reduction of ethanol and carbon dioxide at various applied potentials. Biochem Eng J 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bej.2023.108896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/17/2023]
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10
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Thulluru LP, Ghangrekar MM, Chowdhury S. Progress and perspectives on microbial electrosynthesis for valorisation of CO 2 into value-added products. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 332:117323. [PMID: 36716542 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.117323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Microbial electrosynthesis (MES) is a neoteric technology that facilitates biocatalysed synthesis of organic compounds with the aid of homoacetogenic bacteria, while feeding CO2 as an inorganic carbon source. Operating MES with surplus renewable electricity further enhances the sustainability of this innovative bioelectrochemical system (BES). However, several lacunae exist in the domain knowledge, stunting the widespread application of MES. Despite significant progress in this area over the past decade, the product yield efficiency is not on par with other contemporary technologies. This bottleneck can be overcome by adopting a holistic approach, i.e., applying innovative and integrated solutions to ensure a robust MES operation. Further, the widespread deployment of MES exclusively relies on its ability to mature a sessile biofilm over a biocompatible electrode, while offering minimal charge transfer resistance. Additionally, operating MES preferably at H2-generating reduction potential and valorising industrial off-gas as carbon substrate is crucial to accomplish economic sustainability. In light of the aforementioned, this review collates the latest progress in the design and development of MES-centred systems for valorisation of CO2 into value-added products. Specifically, it highlights the significance of inoculum pre-treatment for promoting biocatalytic activity and biofilm growth on the cathodic surface. In addition, it summarizes the diverse materials that are commonly used as electrodes in MES, with an emphasis on the importance of inexpensive, robust, and biocompatible electrode materials for the practical application of MES technology. Further, the review presents insights into media conditions, operational factors, and reactor configurations that affect the overall performance of MES process. Finally, the product range of MES, downstream processing requirements, and integration of MES with other environmental remediation technologies are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lakshmi Pathi Thulluru
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur, West Bengal, 721302, India
| | - Makarand M Ghangrekar
- Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur, West Bengal, 721302, India
| | - Shamik Chowdhury
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur, West Bengal, 721302, India.
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11
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Tahir K, Ali AS, Ghani AA, Hussain M, Kim B, Lim Y, Lee DS. Enhanced bio-electrochemical performance of microbially catalysed anode and cathode in a microbial electrosynthesis system. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 317:137770. [PMID: 36621685 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.137770] [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: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Most bio-electrochemical systems (BESs) use biotic/abiotic electrode combinations, with platinum-based abiotic electrodes being the most common. However, the non-renewability, cost, and poisonous nature of such electrode systems based on noble metals are major bottlenecks in BES commercialisation. Microbial electrosynthesis (MES), which is a sustainable energy platform that simultaneously treats wastewater and produces chemical commodities, also faces the same problem. In this study, a dual bio-catalysed MES system with a biotic anode and cathode (MES-D) was tested and compared with a biotic cathode/abiotic anode system (MES-S). Different bio-electrochemical tests revealed improved BES performance in MES-D, with a 3.9-fold improvement in current density compared to that of MES-S. Volatile fatty acid (VFA) generation also increased 3.2-, 4.1-, and 1.8-fold in MES-D compared with that in MES-S for acetate, propionate, and butyrate, respectively. The improved performance of MES-D could be attributed to the microbial metabolism at the bioanode, which generated additional electrons, as well as accumulative VFA production by both the bioanode and biocathode chambers. Microbial community analysis revealed the enrichment of electroactive bacteria such as Proteobacteria (60%), Bacteroidetes (67%), and Firmicutes + Proteobacteria + Bacteroidetes (75%) on the MES-S cathode and MES-D cathode and anode, respectively. These results signify the potential of combined bioanode/biocathode BESs such as MES for application in improving energy and chemical commodity production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khurram Tahir
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Kyungpook National University, 80 Daehak-ro, Buk-gu, Daegu 41566, Republic of Korea
| | - Abdul Samee Ali
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Kyungpook National University, 80 Daehak-ro, Buk-gu, Daegu 41566, Republic of Korea
| | - Ahsan Abdul Ghani
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Kyungpook National University, 80 Daehak-ro, Buk-gu, Daegu 41566, Republic of Korea
| | - Muzammil Hussain
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Kyungpook National University, 80 Daehak-ro, Buk-gu, Daegu 41566, Republic of Korea
| | - Bolam Kim
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Kyungpook National University, 80 Daehak-ro, Buk-gu, Daegu 41566, Republic of Korea
| | - Youngsu Lim
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Kyungpook National University, 80 Daehak-ro, Buk-gu, Daegu 41566, Republic of Korea
| | - Dae Sung Lee
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Kyungpook National University, 80 Daehak-ro, Buk-gu, Daegu 41566, Republic of Korea.
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12
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Kiran R, Yadav R, Sathe D, Patil SA. Halophilic CO 2-fixing microbial community as biocatalyst improves the energy efficiency of the microbial electrosynthesis process. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2023; 371:128637. [PMID: 36669625 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2023.128637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Using saline electrolytes in combination with halophilic CO2-fixing lithotrophic microbial catalysts has been envisioned as a promising strategy to develop an energy-efficient microbial electrosynthesis (MES) process for CO2 utilization. Here, an enriched marine CO2-fixing lithotrophic microbial community dominated by Vibrio and Clostridium spp. was tested for MES of organic acids from CO2. At an applied Ecathode of -1V (vs Ag/AgCl) with 3.5 % salinity (78 mScm-1), it produced 379 ± 53 mg/L (6.31 ± 0.89 mM) acetic acid and 187 ± 43 mg/L (4.05 ± 0.94 mM) formic acid at 2.1 ± 0.30 and 1.35 ± 0.31 mM day-1, respectively production rates. Most electrons were recovered in acetate (68.3 ± 3 %), formate (9.6 ± 1.2 %) besides hydrogen (11 ± 1.4 %) and biomass (8.9 ± 1.65 %). Notably, the bioproduction of organic acids occurred at a high energetic efficiency (EE) of ∼ 46 % and low Ecell of 2.3 V in saline conditions compared to the commonly used non-saline electrolytes (0.5-1 mScm-1) in the reported MES studies with CO2 (Ecell: >2.5 V and EE: <34 %).
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Affiliation(s)
- Rashmi Kiran
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali (IISER Mohali), Knowledge City, Sector 81, SAS Nagar 140306, Punjab, India
| | - Ravineet Yadav
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali (IISER Mohali), Knowledge City, Sector 81, SAS Nagar 140306, Punjab, India
| | - Devangi Sathe
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali (IISER Mohali), Knowledge City, Sector 81, SAS Nagar 140306, Punjab, India
| | - Sunil A Patil
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali (IISER Mohali), Knowledge City, Sector 81, SAS Nagar 140306, Punjab, India.
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13
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Qiu Z, Zhang K, Li XL, Song TS, Xie J. Sn promotes formate production to enhance microbial electrosynthesis of acetate via indirect electron transport. Biochem Eng J 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bej.2023.108842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
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14
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Pan Z, Liu Z, Hu X, Cui K, Cai W, Guo K. Enhancement of acetate production in hydrogen-mediated microbial electrosynthesis reactors by addition of silica nanoparticles. BIORESOUR BIOPROCESS 2023; 10:3. [PMID: 38647934 PMCID: PMC10992923 DOI: 10.1186/s40643-023-00627-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Microbial electrosynthesis (MES) is a promising technology for CO2 fixation and electrical energy storage. Currently, the low current density of MES limits its practical application. The H2-mediated and non-biofilm-driven MES could work under higher current density, but it is difficult to achieve high coulombic efficiency (CE) due to low H2 solubility and poor mass transfer. Here, we proposed to enhance the hydrogen mass transfer by adding silica nanoparticles to the reactor. At pH 7, 35 ℃ and 39 A·m- 2 current density, with the addition of 0.3wt% silica nanoparticles, the volumetric mass transfer coefficient (kLa) of H2 in the reactor increased by 32.4% (from 0.37 h- 1 to 0.49 h- 1), thereby increasing the acetate production rate and CE of the reactor by 69.8% and 69.2%, respectively. The titer of acetate in the reactor with silica nanoparticles (18.5 g·L- 1) was 56.9% higher than that of the reactor without silica nanoparticles (11.8 g·L- 1). Moreover, the average acetate production rate of the reactor with silica nanoparticles was up to 2.14 g·L- 1·d- 1 in the stable increment phase, which was much higher than the other reported reactors. These results demonstrated that the addition of silica nanoparticles is an effective approach to enhancing the performance of H2-mediated MES reactors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeyan Pan
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, China
| | - Zhuangzhuang Liu
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, China
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, China
| | - Xiaona Hu
- School of Ecology and Environment, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Kai Cui
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, China
| | - Wenfang Cai
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, China
| | - Kun Guo
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, China.
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15
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Zhang X, Arbour T, Zhang D, Wei S, Rabaey K. Microbial electrosynthesis of acetate from CO 2 under hypersaline conditions. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND ECOTECHNOLOGY 2023; 13:100211. [PMID: 36419905 PMCID: PMC9676218 DOI: 10.1016/j.ese.2022.100211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2022] [Revised: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Microbial electrosynthesis (MES) enables the bioproduction of multicarbon compounds from CO2 using electricity as the driver. Although high salinity can improve the energetic performance of bioelectrochemical systems, acetogenic processes under elevated salinity are poorly known. Here MES under 35-60 g L-1 salinity was evaluated. Acetate production in two-chamber MES systems at 35 g L-1 salinity (seawater composition) gradually decreased within 60 days, both under -1.2 V cathode potential (vs. Ag/AgCl) and -1.56 A m-2 reductive current. Carbonate precipitation on cathodes (mostly CaCO3) likely declined the production through inhibiting CO2 supply, the direct electrode contact for acetogens and H2 production. Upon decreasing Ca2+ and Mg2+ levels in three-chamber reactors, acetate was stably produced over 137 days along with a low cathode apparent resistance at 1.9 ± 0.6 mΩ m2 and an average production rate at 3.80 ± 0.21 g m-2 d-1. Increasing the salinity step-wise from 35 to 60 g L-1 gave the most efficient acetate production at 40 g L-1 salinity with average rates of acetate production and CO2 consumption at 4.56 ± 3.09 and 7.02 ± 4.75 g m-2 d-1, respectively. The instantaneous coulombic efficiency for VFA averaged 55.1 ± 31.4%. Acetate production dropped at higher salinity likely due to the inhibited CO2 dissolution and acetogenic metabolism. Acetobacterium up to 78% was enriched on cathodes as the main acetogen at 35 g L-1. Under high-salinity selection, 96.5% Acetobacterium dominated on the cathode along with 34.0% Sphaerochaeta in catholyte. This research provides a first proof of concept that MES starting from CO2 reduction can be achieved at elevated salinity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoting Zhang
- College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
- Center for Microbial Ecology and Technology (CMET), Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Tyler Arbour
- Center for Microbial Ecology and Technology (CMET), Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Daijun Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Coal Mine Disaster Dynamics and Control, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China
| | - Shiqiang Wei
- College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Korneel Rabaey
- Center for Microbial Ecology and Technology (CMET), Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
- Center for Advanced Process Technology for Urban Resource Recovery (CAPTURE), Frieda Saeysstraat 1, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
- Corresponding author. Center for Microbial Ecology and Technology - FBE - Ghent University, Belgium.
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16
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Annie Modestra J, Matsakas L, Rova U, Christakopoulos P. Prospects and trends in bioelectrochemical systems: Transitioning from CO 2 towards a low-carbon circular bioeconomy. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2022; 364:128040. [PMID: 36182019 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2022.128040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2022] [Revised: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Resource scarcity and climate change are the most quested topics in view of environmental sustainability. CO2 sequestration through bioelectrochemical systems is an attractive option for fostering bioeconomy development upon several value-added products generation. This review details the state-of-the-art of bioelectrochemical systems for resource recovery from CO2 along with various biocatalysts capable of utilizing CO2. Two bioprocesses (photo-electrosynthesis and chemolithoelectrosynthesis) were discussed projecting their potential for biobased economy development from CO2. Significance of adopting circular strategies for efficient resource recycling, intensifying product value, integrations/interlinking of multiple process chains for the development of circular bioeconomy were discussed. Existing constrains as well as outlook for near establishment of circular bioeconomy from CO2 is presented by weighing fore-sighted plans with current actions. Need for developing CO2-based circular bioeconomy via innovative business models by analyzing social, technical, environmental and product related aspects are also discussed providing a roadmap of gaps to pursue for attaining practicality.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Annie Modestra
- Biochemical Process Engineering, Division of Chemical Engineering, Department of Civil, Environmental, and Natural Resources Engineering, Luleå University of Technology, 971‑87, Luleå, Sweden
| | - Leonidas Matsakas
- Biochemical Process Engineering, Division of Chemical Engineering, Department of Civil, Environmental, and Natural Resources Engineering, Luleå University of Technology, 971‑87, Luleå, Sweden.
| | - Ulrika Rova
- Biochemical Process Engineering, Division of Chemical Engineering, Department of Civil, Environmental, and Natural Resources Engineering, Luleå University of Technology, 971‑87, Luleå, Sweden
| | - Paul Christakopoulos
- Biochemical Process Engineering, Division of Chemical Engineering, Department of Civil, Environmental, and Natural Resources Engineering, Luleå University of Technology, 971‑87, Luleå, Sweden
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17
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Liu Z, Xue X, Cai W, Cui K, Patil SA, Guo K. Recent progress on microbial electrosynthesis reactors and strategies to enhance the reactor performance. Biochem Eng J 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bej.2022.108745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
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18
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Yadav R, Chattopadhyay B, Kiran R, Yadav A, Bachhawat AK, Patil SA. Microbial electrosynthesis from carbon dioxide feedstock linked to yeast growth for the production of high-value isoprenoids. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2022; 363:127906. [PMID: 36087648 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2022.127906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2022] [Revised: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The difficulty in producing multi-carbon and thus high-value chemicals from CO2 is one of the key challenges of microbial electrosynthesis (MES) and other CO2 utilization technologies. Here, we demonstrate a two-stage bioproduction approach to produce terpenoids (>C20) and yeast biomass from CO2 by linking MES and yeast cultivation approaches. In the first stage, CO2 (C1) is converted to acetate (C2) using Clostridium ljungdahlii via MES. The acetate is then directly used as the feedstock to produce sclareol (C20), β-carotene (C40), and yeast biomass using Saccharomyces cerevisiae in the second stage. With the unpurified acetate-containing (1.5 g/L) spent medium from MES reactors, S. cerevisiae produced 0.32 ± 0.04 mg/L β-carotene, 2.54 ± 0.91 mg/L sclareol, and 369.66 ± 41.67 mg/L biomass. The primary economic analysis suggests that sclareol and biomass production is feasible using recombinant S. cerevisiae and non-recombinant S. cerevisiae, respectively, directly from unpurified acetate-containing spent medium of MES.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ravineet Yadav
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali (IISER Mohali), Sector 81, S.A.S. Nagar, Manauli PO 140306, Punjab, India
| | - Banani Chattopadhyay
- Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali (IISER Mohali), Sector 81, S.A.S. Nagar, Manauli PO 140306, Punjab, India
| | - Rashmi Kiran
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali (IISER Mohali), Sector 81, S.A.S. Nagar, Manauli PO 140306, Punjab, India
| | - Ankit Yadav
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali (IISER Mohali), Sector 81, S.A.S. Nagar, Manauli PO 140306, Punjab, India
| | - Anand K Bachhawat
- Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali (IISER Mohali), Sector 81, S.A.S. Nagar, Manauli PO 140306, Punjab, India
| | - Sunil A Patil
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali (IISER Mohali), Sector 81, S.A.S. Nagar, Manauli PO 140306, Punjab, India.
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19
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Zhou M, Zeng C, Liu G, Luo H, Zhang R. Enhanced CO 2 reduction and acetate synthesis in autotrophic biocathode by N-Hexanoyl-L-homoserine lactone (C6HSL)-based quorum-sensing regulation. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 836:155724. [PMID: 35523344 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Revised: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the ecological role of quorum-sensing signaling molecule on the autotrophic biocathode for CO2 reduction and acetate synthesis. As a typical quorum-sensing signaling molecule, N-Hexanoyl-L-homoserine lactone (C6HSL) was used to regulate the construction of cathode biofilm. Results showed that the maximum acetate production from CO2 reduction improved by 94.8%, and the maximum Faraday efficiency of the microbial electrosynthesis system enhanced by 71.7%, with the regulation of C6HSL. Electrochemical analyses indicated that higher electrochemical activity and lower charge resistance of biocathode were obtained with C6HSL than without C6HSL. Confocal laser scanning microscopy and electron inhibitor experiment suggested that exogenous C6HSL increased living biomass in the biofilm and facilitated the electron transfer pathway related to NADH dehydrogenase-CoQ and proton motive force. With the C6HSL regulation, the relative abundance of hydrogen producers (e.g., Desulfovibrio and Desulfomicrobium) increased, contributing to the improved performance of autotrophic biocathode.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meizhou Zhou
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation Technology, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Cuiping Zeng
- CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Guangli Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation Technology, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Haiping Luo
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation Technology, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China.
| | - Renduo Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation Technology, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
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20
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Abdollahi M, Al Sbei S, Rosenbaum MA, Harnisch F. The oxygen dilemma: The challenge of the anode reaction for microbial electrosynthesis from CO2. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:947550. [PMID: 35992647 PMCID: PMC9381829 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.947550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Microbial electrosynthesis (MES) from CO2 provides chemicals and fuels by driving the metabolism of microorganisms with electrons from cathodes in bioelectrochemical systems. These microorganisms are usually strictly anaerobic. At the same time, the anode reaction of bioelectrochemical systems is almost exclusively water splitting through the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). This creates a dilemma for MES development and engineering. Oxygen penetration to the cathode has to be excluded to avoid toxicity and efficiency losses while assuring low resistance. We show that this dilemma derives a strong need to identify novel reactor designs when using the OER as an anode reaction or to fully replace OER with alternative oxidation reactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maliheh Abdollahi
- Department of Environmental Microbiology, UFZ-Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Sara Al Sbei
- Bio Pilot Plant, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans-Knöll Institute, Jena, Germany
| | - Miriam A. Rosenbaum
- Bio Pilot Plant, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans-Knöll Institute, Jena, Germany
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Falk Harnisch
- Department of Environmental Microbiology, UFZ-Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Leipzig, Germany
- *Correspondence: Falk Harnisch,
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21
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Hengsbach JN, Sabel-Becker B, Ulber R, Holtmann D. Microbial electrosynthesis of methane and acetate—comparison of pure and mixed cultures. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2022; 106:4427-4443. [PMID: 35763070 PMCID: PMC9259517 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-022-12031-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Revised: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Abstract The electrochemical process of microbial electrosynthesis (MES) is used to drive the metabolism of electroactive microorganisms for the production of valuable chemicals and fuels. MES combines the advantages of electrochemistry, engineering, and microbiology and offers alternative production processes based on renewable raw materials and regenerative energies. In addition to the reactor concept and electrode design, the biocatalysts used have a significant influence on the performance of MES. Thus, pure and mixed cultures can be used as biocatalysts. By using mixed cultures, interactions between organisms, such as the direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET) or syntrophic interactions, influence the performance in terms of productivity and the product range of MES. This review focuses on the comparison of pure and mixed cultures in microbial electrosynthesis. The performance indicators, such as productivities and coulombic efficiencies (CEs), for both procedural methods are discussed. Typical products in MES are methane and acetate, therefore these processes are the focus of this review. In general, most studies used mixed cultures as biocatalyst, as more advanced performance of mixed cultures has been seen for both products. When comparing pure and mixed cultures in equivalent experimental setups a 3-fold higher methane and a nearly 2-fold higher acetate production rate can be achieved in mixed cultures. However, studies of pure culture MES for methane production have shown some improvement through reactor optimization and operational mode reaching similar performance indicators as mixed culture MES. Overall, the review gives an overview of the advantages and disadvantages of using pure or mixed cultures in MES. Key points • Undefined mixed cultures dominate as inoculums for the MES of methane and acetate, which comprise a high potential of improvement • Under similar conditions, mixed cultures outperform pure cultures in MES • Understanding the role of single species in mixed culture MES is essential for future industrial applications
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan-Niklas Hengsbach
- Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, Institute of Bioprocess Engineering, Technical University Kaiserslautern, 67663, Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Björn Sabel-Becker
- Department of Life Science Engineering, Institute of Bioprocess Engineering and Pharmaceutical Technology, Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen, 35390, Giessen, Germany
| | - Roland Ulber
- Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, Institute of Bioprocess Engineering, Technical University Kaiserslautern, 67663, Kaiserslautern, Germany.
| | - Dirk Holtmann
- Department of Life Science Engineering, Institute of Bioprocess Engineering and Pharmaceutical Technology, Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen, 35390, Giessen, Germany
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22
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Electricity-driven bioproduction from CO2 and N2 feedstocks using enriched mixed microbial culture. J CO2 UTIL 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcou.2022.101997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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23
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Li W, Jiafang Z, Menggen L, Aixin Z, Ning H. Simulation of cathode for synthesizing organic acids by MES reduction of CO 2. Bioelectrochemistry 2022; 143:107984. [PMID: 34735913 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioelechem.2021.107984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Revised: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Microbial electrochemical system (MES) is a favorable tool for CO2 emission reduction. Microbial cathode is one of the core components of the system, and its surface energy transfer characteristics can greatly affect the yield of organic matter from MES. In order to solve the problem that the energy transfer characteristics of microbial cathode are not clear, the mathematical model of MES was constructed on the basis of the preliminary experiment with an electrode made of copper foam modified with the reduced graphene oxide, analyzing the current and substrate concentration in the biofilm with conductivity, cathode potential and porosity of the biofilm. The results show that when the cathode potential is higher than -0.8 V (VS SHE), the substrate concentration and current density in the biofilm are related to the cathode potential. However, when the cathode potential decreased to -0.8 V (vs SHE), the ability of biofilm to reduce CO2 basically reached saturation. Low conductivity (<10-3S/m) will lead to the formation of significant potential difference in the biofilm, which will reduce the substrate utilization rate and seriously affect the performance of microbial cathode. The current density is highest, when the porosity of the biofilm is about 0.35.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wang Li
- College of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430081, China.
| | - Zhang Jiafang
- College of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430081, China
| | - Liao Menggen
- College of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430081, China
| | - Zhang Aixin
- College of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430081, China
| | - Hu Ning
- College of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430081, China
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24
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Zhang J, Liu H, Zhang Y, Wu P, Li J, Ding P, Jiang Q, Cui MH. Heterotrophic precultivation is a better strategy than polarity reversal for the startup of acetate microbial electrosynthesis reactor. Biochem Eng J 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bej.2021.108319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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25
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Ntagia E, Chatzigiannidou I, Carvajal-Arroyo JM, Arends JBA, Rabaey K. Continuous H 2/CO 2 fermentation for acetic acid production under transient and continuous sulfide inhibition. CHEMOSPHERE 2021; 285:131536. [PMID: 34273695 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.131536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 07/08/2021] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Waste gas fermentation powered by renewable H2 is reaching kiloton scale. The presence of sulfide, inherent to many waste gases, can cause inhibition, requiring additional gas treatment. In this work, acetogenesis and methanogenesis inhibition by sulfide were studied in a 10-L mixed-culture fermenter, supplied with CO2 and connected with a water electrolysis unit for electricity-powered H2 supply. Three cycles of inhibition (1.3 mM total dissolved sulfide (TDS)) and recovery were applied, then the fermenter was operated at 0.5 mM TDS for 35 days. During operation at 0.5 mM TDS the acetate production rate reached 7.1 ± 1.5 mmol C L-1 d-1. Furthermore, 43.7 ± 15.6% of the electrons, provided as H2, were distributed to acetate and 7.7 ± 4.1% to butyrate, the second most abundant fermentation product. Selectivity of sulfide as inhibitor was demonstrated by a 7 days lag-phase of methanogenesis recovery, compared to 48 h for acetogenesis and by the less than 1% electrons distribution to CH4, under 0.5 mM TDS. The microbial community was dominated by Eubacterium, Proteiniphilum and an unclassified member of the Eggerthellaceae family. The taxonomic diversity of the community decreased and conversely the phenotypic diversity increased, during operation. This work illustrated the scale-up potential of waste gas fermentations, by elucidating the effect of sulfide as a common gas impurity, and by demonstrating continuous, potentially renewable supply of electrons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleftheria Ntagia
- Center for Microbial Ecology and Technology (CMET), Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000, Gent, Belgium; CAPTURE, www.capture-resources.be, Belgium
| | - Ioanna Chatzigiannidou
- Center for Microbial Ecology and Technology (CMET), Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000, Gent, Belgium
| | - Jose M Carvajal-Arroyo
- Center for Microbial Ecology and Technology (CMET), Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000, Gent, Belgium
| | - Jan B A Arends
- Center for Microbial Ecology and Technology (CMET), Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000, Gent, Belgium; CAPTURE, www.capture-resources.be, Belgium
| | - Korneel Rabaey
- Center for Microbial Ecology and Technology (CMET), Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000, Gent, Belgium; CAPTURE, www.capture-resources.be, Belgium.
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26
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Valorisation of CO2 into Value-Added Products via Microbial Electrosynthesis (MES) and Electro-Fermentation Technology. FERMENTATION-BASEL 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/fermentation7040291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Microbial electrocatalysis reckons on microbes as catalysts for reactions occurring at electrodes. Microbial fuel cells and microbial electrolysis cells are well-known in this context; both prefer the oxidation of organic and inorganic matter for producing electricity. Notably, the synthesis of high energy-density chemicals (fuels) or their precursors by microorganisms using bio-cathode to yield electrical energy is called Microbial Electrosynthesis (MES), giving an exceptionally appealing novel way for producing beneficial products from electricity and wastewater. This review accentuates the concept, importance and opportunities of MES, as an emerging discipline at the nexus of microbiology and electrochemistry. Production of organic compounds from MES is considered as an effective technique for the generation of various beneficial reduced end-products (like acetate and butyrate) as well as in reducing the load of CO2 from the atmosphere to mitigate the harmful effect of greenhouse gases in global warming. Although MES is still an emerging technology, this method is not thoroughly known. The authors have focused on MES, as it is the next transformative, viable alternative technology to decrease the repercussions of surplus carbon dioxide in the environment along with conserving energy.
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Ayol A, Peixoto L, Keskin T, Abubackar HN. Reactor Designs and Configurations for Biological and Bioelectrochemical C1 Gas Conversion: A Review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph182111683. [PMID: 34770196 PMCID: PMC8583215 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182111683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Revised: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Microbial C1 gas conversion technologies have developed into a potentially promising technology for converting waste gases (CO2, CO) into chemicals, fuels, and other materials. However, the mass transfer constraint of these poorly soluble substrates to microorganisms is an important challenge to maximize the efficiencies of the processes. These technologies have attracted significant scientific interest in recent years, and many reactor designs have been explored. Syngas fermentation and hydrogenotrophic methanation use molecular hydrogen as an electron donor. Furthermore, the sequestration of CO2 and the generation of valuable chemicals through the application of a biocathode in bioelectrochemical cells have been evaluated for their great potential to contribute to sustainability. Through a process termed microbial chain elongation, the product portfolio from C1 gas conversion may be expanded further by carefully driving microorganisms to perform acetogenesis, solventogenesis, and reverse β-oxidation. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the various kinds of bioreactors that are employed in these microbial C1 conversion processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Azize Ayol
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir 35390, Turkey;
| | - Luciana Peixoto
- Centre of Biological Engineering (CEB), University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal;
| | - Tugba Keskin
- Department of Environmental Protection Technologies, Izmir Democracy University, Izmir 35140, Turkey;
| | - Haris Nalakath Abubackar
- Chemical Engineering Laboratory, BIOENGIN Group, Faculty of Sciences and Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (CICA), University of A Coruña, 15008 A Coruña, Spain
- Correspondence:
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Yang HY, Hou NN, Wang YX, Liu J, He CS, Wang YR, Li WH, Mu Y. Mixed-culture biocathodes for acetate production from CO 2 reduction in the microbial electrosynthesis: Impact of temperature. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 790:148128. [PMID: 34098277 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 05/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The temperature effect on bioelectrochemical reduction of CO2 to acetate with a mixed-culture biocathode in the microbial electrosynthesis was explored. The results showed that maximum acetate amount of 525.84 ± 1.55 mg L-1 and fastest acetate formation of 49.21 ± 0.49 mg L-1 d-1 were obtained under mesophilic conditions. Electron recovery efficiency for CO2 reduction to acetate ranged from 14.50 ± 2.20% to 64.86 ± 2.20%, due to propionate, butyrate and H2 generation. Mesophilic conditions were demonstrated to be more favorable for biofilm formation on the cathode, resulting in a stable and dense biofilm. At phylum level, the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes phylum in the biofilm remarkably increased under mesophilic conditions, compared with that at psychrophilic and thermophilic conditions. At genus level, the Clostridium, Treponema, Acidithiobacillus, Acetobacterium and Acetoanaerobium were found to be dominated genera in the biofilm under mesophilic conditions, while genera diversity decreased under psychrophilic and thermophilic conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hou-Yun Yang
- CAS Key Laboratory for Urban Pollutant Conversion, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Science & Technology of China, Hefei, China; Key Laboratory of Water Pollution Control and Wastewater Reuse of Anhui Province, Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Anhui Jianzhu University, Hefei, China
| | - Nan-Nan Hou
- CAS Key Laboratory for Urban Pollutant Conversion, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Science & Technology of China, Hefei, China; School of Physics and Materials Engineering, Hefei Normal University, Hefei, China
| | - Yi-Xuan Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory for Urban Pollutant Conversion, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Science & Technology of China, Hefei, China.
| | - Jing Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory for Urban Pollutant Conversion, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Science & Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Chuan-Shu He
- CAS Key Laboratory for Urban Pollutant Conversion, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Science & Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Yi-Ran Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory for Urban Pollutant Conversion, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Science & Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Wei-Hua Li
- Key Laboratory of Water Pollution Control and Wastewater Reuse of Anhui Province, Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Anhui Jianzhu University, Hefei, China
| | - Yang Mu
- CAS Key Laboratory for Urban Pollutant Conversion, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Science & Technology of China, Hefei, China
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Xu B, Li Z, Jiang Y, Chen M, Chen B, Xin F, Dong W, Jiang M. Recent advances in the improvement of bi-directional electron transfer between abiotic/biotic interfaces in electron-assisted biosynthesis system. Biotechnol Adv 2021; 54:107810. [PMID: 34333092 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2021.107810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2020] [Revised: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
As an important biosynthesis technology, electron-assisted biosynthesis (EABS) system can utilize exogenous electrons to regulate the metabolic network of microorganisms, realizing the biosynthesis of high value-added chemicals and CO2 fixation. Electrons play crucial roles as the energy carriers in the EABS process. In fact, efficient interfacial electron transfer (ET) is the decisive factor to realize the rapid energy exchange, thus stimulating the biosynthesis of target metabolic products. However, due to the interfacial resistance of ET between the abiotic solid electrode and biotic microbial cells, the low efficiency of interfacial ET has become a major bottleneck, further limiting the practical application of EABS system. As the cell membrane is insulated, even the cell membrane embedded electron conduit (no matter cytochromes or channel protein for shuttle transferring) to increase the cell membrane conductivity, the ET between membrane electron conduit and electrode surface is kinetically restricted. In this review, the pathway of bi-directional interfacial ET in EABS system was summarized. Furthermore, we reviewed representative milestones and advances in both the anode outward interfacial ET (from organism to electrode) and cathode inward interfacial ET (from electrode to organism). Here, new insights from the perspectives of material science and synthetic biology were also proposed, which were expected to provide some innovative opinions and ideas for the following in-depth studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211800, PR China
| | - Zhe Li
- State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211800, PR China
| | - Yujia Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211800, PR China
| | - Minjiao Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211800, PR China
| | - Boryann Chen
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, National I-Lan University, I-Lan 26047, Taiwan
| | - Fengxue Xin
- State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211800, PR China; Jiangsu National Synergetic Innovation Center for Advanced Materials (SICAM), Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, 211800, PR China
| | - Weiliang Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211800, PR China; Jiangsu National Synergetic Innovation Center for Advanced Materials (SICAM), Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, 211800, PR China.
| | - Min Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211800, PR China; Jiangsu National Synergetic Innovation Center for Advanced Materials (SICAM), Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, 211800, PR China.
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Palacios PA, Francis WR, Rotaru AE. A Win-Loss Interaction on Fe 0 Between Methanogens and Acetogens From a Climate Lake. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:638282. [PMID: 34054747 PMCID: PMC8158942 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.638282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2020] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Diverse physiological groups congregate into environmental corrosive biofilms, yet the interspecies interactions between these corrosive physiological groups are seldom examined. We, therefore, explored Fe0-dependent cross-group interactions between acetogens and methanogens from lake sediments. On Fe0, acetogens were more corrosive and metabolically active when decoupled from methanogens, whereas methanogens were more metabolically active when coupled with acetogens. This suggests an opportunistic (win-loss) interaction on Fe0 between acetogens (loss) and methanogens (win). Clostridia and Methanobacterium were the major candidates doing acetogenesis and methanogenesis after four transfers (metagenome sequencing) and the only groups detected after 11 transfers (amplicon sequencing) on Fe0. Since abiotic H2 failed to explain the high metabolic rates on Fe0, we examined whether cell exudates (spent media filtrate) promoted the H2-evolving reaction on Fe0 above abiotic controls. Undeniably, spent media filtrate generated three- to four-fold more H2 than abiotic controls, which could be partly explained by thermolabile enzymes and partly by non-thermolabile constituents released by cells. Next, we examined the metagenome for candidate enzymes/shuttles that could catalyze H2 evolution from Fe0 and found candidate H2-evolving hydrogenases and an almost complete pathway for flavin biosynthesis in Clostridium. Clostridial ferredoxin-dependent [FeFe]-hydrogenases may be catalyzing the H2-evolving reaction on Fe0, explaining the significant H2 evolved by spent media exposed to Fe0. It is typical of Clostridia to secrete enzymes and other small molecules for lytic purposes. Here, they may secrete such molecules to enhance their own electron uptake from extracellular electron donors but indirectly make their H2-consuming neighbors-Methanobacterium-fare five times better in their presence. The particular enzymes and constituents promoting H2 evolution from Fe0 remain to be determined. However, we postulate that in a static environment like corrosive crust biofilms in lake sediments, less corrosive methanogens like Methanobacterium could extend corrosion long after acetogenesis ceased, by exploiting the constituents secreted by acetogens.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Amelia-Elena Rotaru
- Nordcee, Department of Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
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Chatzipanagiotou KR, Soekhoe V, Jourdin L, Buisman CJN, Bitter JH, Strik DPBTB. Catalytic Cooperation between a Copper Oxide Electrocatalyst and a Microbial Community for Microbial Electrosynthesis. Chempluschem 2021; 86:763-777. [PMID: 33973736 DOI: 10.1002/cplu.202100119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2021] [Revised: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Electrocatalytic metals and microorganisms can be combined for CO2 conversion in microbial electrosynthesis (MES). However, a systematic investigation on the nature of interactions between metals and MES is still lacking. To investigate this nature, we integrated a copper electrocatalyst, converting CO2 to formate, with microorganisms, converting CO2 to acetate. A co-catalytic (i. e. metabolic) relationship was evident, as up to 140 mg L-1 of formate was produced solely by copper oxide, while formate was also evidently produced by copper and consumed by microorganisms producing acetate. Due to non-metabolic interactions, current density decreased by over 4 times, though acetate yield increased by 3.3 times. Despite the antimicrobial role of copper, biofilm formation was possible on a pure copper surface. Overall, we show for the first time that a CO2 -reducing copper electrocatalyst can be combined with MES under biological conditions, resulting in metabolic and non-metabolic interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantina-Roxani Chatzipanagiotou
- Biobased Chemistry and Technology, Wageningen University & Research, Bornse Weilanden 9, 6708 WG, Wageningen, The Netherlands.,Environmental Technology, Wageningen University & Research, Bornse Weilanden 9, 6708 WG, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Virangni Soekhoe
- Biobased Chemistry and Technology, Wageningen University & Research, Bornse Weilanden 9, 6708 WG, Wageningen, The Netherlands.,Environmental Technology, Wageningen University & Research, Bornse Weilanden 9, 6708 WG, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Ludovic Jourdin
- Environmental Technology, Wageningen University & Research, Bornse Weilanden 9, 6708 WG, Wageningen, The Netherlands.,Currently at Department of Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology, van der Maasweg 9, 2629 HZ, Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Cees J N Buisman
- Environmental Technology, Wageningen University & Research, Bornse Weilanden 9, 6708 WG, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - J Harry Bitter
- Biobased Chemistry and Technology, Wageningen University & Research, Bornse Weilanden 9, 6708 WG, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - David P B T B Strik
- Environmental Technology, Wageningen University & Research, Bornse Weilanden 9, 6708 WG, Wageningen, The Netherlands
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Thatikayala D, Min B. Copper ferrite supported reduced graphene oxide as cathode materials to enhance microbial electrosynthesis of volatile fatty acids from CO 2. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 768:144477. [PMID: 33736314 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2020] [Revised: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Copper ferrite/reduced graphene oxide (CF/rGO) nanocomposites (NCs) was synthesized using the bio-combustion method and applied as a cathode catalyst in the microbial reduction of CO2 to volatile fatty acids (VFAs) in a single chamber microbial electrosynthesis system (MES). The synthesized NCs exhibited a porous network-like structure with a high surface area of CF/rGO (158.22 m2/g), which was 2.24 folds higher than that of CF. The Cyclic Voltammetry (CV) and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) analysis for CF/rGO/Carbon cloth (Cc) revealed a high reduction current density of -7.3 A/m2 and a low charge transfer resistance of 2.8 Ω. The isobutyrate and acetate in MES-2 (Cu/rGO/Cc) were produced at 35.37 g/m2/d, which was 1.53 folds higher than that of MES-1 (bare Cc: 23.10 g/m2/d). The columbic efficiency (77.78%) and total VFA concentration (1941.13 ± 83 mg COD/L) were noted to be 1.97 and 1.6 folds higher for MES-2 than MES-1, respectively. The Tafel plot drawn from the CV curves exhibited an exchange current density value of MES-2 that was 3.46 A/m2, and this value was 1.19 and 33.92 folds higher than that of MES-1 and abiotic CF/rGO/Cc, respectively. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) observations revealed enhanced rod-shaped bacteria had grown on the cathode suggesting excellent biocompatible and multi-length scale porosity of CF/rGO catalysts for enhanced colonization of microbes. The phyla Proteobacteria (Betaproteobacteria), Bacteroidetes, and Firmicutes were highly abundant as the dominant microbial communities on the cathode, which might played a major role in bioelectrochemical CO2 reduction to VFAs. The results from this study clearly demonstrate that the CF/rGO/Cc electrode could serve as a conductive element between microbes and bactericidal electrodes with excellent electrochemical properties to enable performance of the MES.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dayakar Thatikayala
- Department of Environment Science and Engineering, Kyung Hee University, Yongin, Republic of Korea
| | - Booki Min
- Department of Environment Science and Engineering, Kyung Hee University, Yongin, Republic of Korea.
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Tahir K, Miran W, Jang J, Woo SH, Lee DS. Enhanced product selectivity in the microbial electrosynthesis of butyrate using a nickel ferrite-coated biocathode. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 196:110907. [PMID: 33639146 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.110907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2020] [Revised: 01/24/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Microbial electrosynthesis (MES) is a potential sustainable biotechnology for the efficient conversion of carbon dioxide/bicarbonate into useful chemical commodities. To date, acetate has been the main MES product; selective electrosynthesis to produce other multi-carbon molecules, which have a higher commercial value, remains a major challenge. In this study, the conventional carbon felt (CF) was modified with inexpensive nickel ferrite (NiFe2O4@CF) to realize enhanced butyrate production owing to the advantages of improved electrical conductivity, charge transfer efficiency, and microbial-electrode interactions with the selective microbial enrichment. Experimental results show that the modified electrode yielded 1.2 times the butyrate production and 2.7 times the cathodic current production of the CF cathode; product selectivity was greatly improved (from 37% to 95%) in comparison with CF. Microbial community analyses suggest that selective microbial enrichment was promoted as Proteobacteria and Thermotogae (butyrate-producing phyla) were dominant in the NiFe2O4@CF biofilm (~78%). These results demonstrate that electrode modification with NiFe2O4 can help realize greater selective carboxylate production with improved MES performance. Hence, this technology is expected to be greatly useful in future reactor designs for scaled-up technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khurram Tahir
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Kyungpook National University, 80 Daehak-ro, Buk-gu, Daegu, 41566, Republic of Korea
| | - Waheed Miran
- International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics, National Institute for Materials Science, 1-1 Namiki, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-0044, Japan
| | - Jiseon Jang
- R&D Institute of Radioactive Wastes, Korea Radioactive Waste Agency, 174 Gajeong-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34129, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung Han Woo
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Hanbat National University, 125 Dongseo-daero, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34158, Republic of Korea
| | - Dae Sung Lee
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Kyungpook National University, 80 Daehak-ro, Buk-gu, Daegu, 41566, Republic of Korea.
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Alqahtani MF, Bajracharya S, Katuri KP, Ali M, Xu J, Alarawi MS, Saikaly PE. Enrichment of salt-tolerant CO 2-fixing communities in microbial electrosynthesis systems using porous ceramic hollow tube wrapped with carbon cloth as cathode and for CO 2 supply. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 766:142668. [PMID: 33077225 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2020] [Revised: 09/20/2020] [Accepted: 09/20/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Microbial inocula from marine origins are less explored for CO2 reduction in microbial electrosynthesis (MES) system, although effective CO2-fixing communities in marine environments are well-documented. We explored natural saline habitats, mainly salt marsh (SM) and mangrove (M) sediments, as potential inoculum sources for enriching salt-tolerant CO2 reducing community using two enrichment strategies: H2:CO2 (80:20) enrichment in serum vials and enrichment in cathode chamber of MES reactors operated at -1.0 V vs. Ag/AgCl. Porous ceramic hollow tube wrapped with carbon cloth was used as cathode and for direct CO2 delivery to CO2 reducing communities growing on the cathode surface. Methanogenesis was dominant in both the M- and SM-seeded MES and the methanogenic Archaea Methanococcus was the most dominant genus. Methane production was slightly higher in the SM-seeded MES (4.9 ± 1.7 mmol) compared to the M-seeded MES (3.8 ± 1.1 mmol). In contrast, acetate production was almost two times higher in the M-seeded MES (3.1 ± 0.9 mmol) than SM-seeded MES (1.5 ± 1.3 mmol). The high relative abundance of the genus Acetobacterium in the M-seeded serum vials correlates with the high acetate production obtained. The different enrichment strategies affected the community composition, though the communities in MES reactors and serum vials were performing similar functions (methanogenesis and acetogenesis). Despite similar operating conditions, the microbial community composition of M-seeded serum vials and MES reactors differed from the SM-seeded serum vials and MES reactors, supporting the importance of inoculum source in the evolution of CO2-reducing microbial communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manal F Alqahtani
- Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE) Division, Water Desalination and Reuse Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Suman Bajracharya
- Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE) Division, Water Desalination and Reuse Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Krishna P Katuri
- Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE) Division, Water Desalination and Reuse Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Muhammad Ali
- Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE) Division, Water Desalination and Reuse Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Jiajie Xu
- Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE) Division, Water Desalination and Reuse Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammed S Alarawi
- Computational Biosciences Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Pascal E Saikaly
- Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE) Division, Water Desalination and Reuse Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia.
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Shanthi Sravan J, Tharak A, Annie Modestra J, Seop Chang I, Venkata Mohan S. Emerging trends in microbial fuel cell diversification-Critical analysis. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2021; 326:124676. [PMID: 33556705 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2021.124676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Revised: 12/30/2020] [Accepted: 01/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Global need for transformation from fossil-based to bio-based economy is constantly emerging for the production of low-carbon/renewable energy/products. Microbial fuel cell (MFC) catalysed by bio-electrochemical process gained significant attention initially for its unique potential to generate energy. Diversification of MFC is an emerging trend in the context of prioritising/enhancing product output while exploring the mechanism specificity of individual processes. Bioelectrochemical treatment system (BET), microbial electrosynthesis system (MES), bioelectrochemical system (BES), electro-fermentation (EF), microbial desalination cell (MDC), microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) and electro-methanogenesis (EM) are the diversified MFC systems that are being researched actively. Owing to its broad diversification, MFC domain is increasing its potential credibility as a platform technology. Microbial catalyzed electrochemical reactions are the key which directly/indirectly are proportionally linked to electrometabolic activity of microorganisms towards final anticipated output. This review intends to holistically document the mechanisms, applications and current trends of MFC diversifications towards multi-faced applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Shanthi Sravan
- Bioengineering and Environmental Sciences Lab, Department of Energy and Environmental Engineering, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (CSIR-IICT), Hyderabad 500 007, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Athmakuri Tharak
- Bioengineering and Environmental Sciences Lab, Department of Energy and Environmental Engineering, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (CSIR-IICT), Hyderabad 500 007, India
| | - J Annie Modestra
- Bioengineering and Environmental Sciences Lab, Department of Energy and Environmental Engineering, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (CSIR-IICT), Hyderabad 500 007, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - In Seop Chang
- School of Earth Sciences and Environmental Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), 123 Cheomdangwag-iro, Buk-gu, Gwangju 61005, Republic of Korea
| | - S Venkata Mohan
- Bioengineering and Environmental Sciences Lab, Department of Energy and Environmental Engineering, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (CSIR-IICT), Hyderabad 500 007, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India.
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Electrodeposited Hybrid Biocathode-Based CO 2 Reduction via Microbial Electro-Catalysis to Biofuels. MEMBRANES 2021; 11:membranes11030223. [PMID: 33810075 PMCID: PMC8004817 DOI: 10.3390/membranes11030223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Microbial electrosynthesis is a new approach to converting C1 carbon (CO2) to more complex carbon-based products. In the present study, CO2, a potential greenhouse gas, was used as a sole carbon source and reduced to value-added chemicals (acetate, ethanol) with the help of bioelectrochemical reduction in microbial electrosynthesis systems (MES). The performance of MES was studied with varying electrode materials (carbon felt, stainless steel, and cobalt electrodeposited carbon felt). The MES performance was assessed in terms of acetic acid and ethanol production with the help of gas chromatography (GC). The electrochemical characterization of the system was analyzed with chronoamperometry and cyclic voltammetry. The study revealed that the MES operated with hybrid cobalt electrodeposited carbon felt electrode yielded the highest acetic acid (4.4 g/L) concentration followed by carbon felt/stainless steel (3.7 g/L), plain carbon felt (2.2 g/L), and stainless steel (1.87 g/L). The alcohol concentration was also observed to be highest for the hybrid electrode (carbon felt/stainless steel/cobalt oxide is 0.352 g/L) as compared to the bare electrodes (carbon felt is 0.22 g/L) tested, which was found to be in correspondence with the pH changes in the system. Electrochemical analysis revealed improved electrotrophy in the hybrid electrode, as confirmed by the increased redox current for the hybrid electrode as compared to plain electrodes. Cyclic voltammetry analysis also confirmed the role of the biocatalyst developed on the electrode in CO2 sequestration.
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Fontmorin JM, Izadi P, Li D, Lim SS, Farooq S, Bilal SS, Cheng S, Yu EH. Gas diffusion electrodes modified with binary doped polyaniline for enhanced CO2 conversion during microbial electrosynthesis. Electrochim Acta 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2021.137853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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39
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Rojas MDPA, Zaiat M, González ER, De Wever H, Pant D. Enhancing the gas–liquid mass transfer during microbial electrosynthesis by the variation of CO2 flow rate. Process Biochem 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.procbio.2020.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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Das S, Chakraborty I, Das S, Ghangrekar M. Application of novel modular reactor for microbial electrosynthesis employing imposed potential with concomitant separation of acetic acid. SUSTAINABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES AND ASSESSMENTS 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.seta.2020.100902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
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41
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Song YE, Kim C, Li S, Baek J, Seol E, Park C, Na JG, Lee J, Oh YK, Kim JR. Supply of proton enhances CO electrosynthesis for acetate and volatile fatty acid productions. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2021; 320:124245. [PMID: 33126131 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2020.124245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Revised: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The microbial electrosynthesis is a platform to supply protons and electrons to improve the conversion efficiency and production rate for the valorization of C1 gas. This study examined proton migration and electron transfer of the electrode and microbe by using various external parameters in the electrosynthesis of CO. The CO electrosynthesis achieved almost double of coulombic efficiency than the conventional CO2 electrosynthesis. The maximum volumetric acetate production rate was 0.71 g/L/day in the BES, which was 2-6 times higher than reported elsewhere. These results show that the efficient proton migration and electron transfer can enhance the productivity and conversion efficiency of the biological CO conversion in a bioelectrochemical system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Young Eun Song
- School of Chemical Engineering, Pusan National University, Geumjeong-Gu, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea
| | - Changman Kim
- Advanced Biofuel and Bioproducts Process Development Unit, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Emeryville, CA 94608, USA
| | - Shuwei Li
- School of Chemical Engineering, Pusan National University, Geumjeong-Gu, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea
| | - Jiyun Baek
- School of Chemical Engineering, Pusan National University, Geumjeong-Gu, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea
| | - Eunhee Seol
- School of Chemical Engineering, Pusan National University, Geumjeong-Gu, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea
| | - Chulhwan Park
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Kwangwoon University, 20 Kwangwoon-Ro, Nowon-Gu, Seoul 01897, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeong-Geol Na
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Sogang University, 35 Baekbeom-Ro, Mapo-Gu, Seoul 04107, Republic of Korea
| | - Jinwon Lee
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Sogang University, 35 Baekbeom-Ro, Mapo-Gu, Seoul 04107, Republic of Korea
| | - You-Kwan Oh
- School of Chemical Engineering, Pusan National University, Geumjeong-Gu, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung Rae Kim
- School of Chemical Engineering, Pusan National University, Geumjeong-Gu, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea.
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Izadi P, Fontmorin JM, Lim SS, Head IM, Yu EH. Enhanced bio-production from CO 2 by microbial electrosynthesis (MES) with continuous operational mode. Faraday Discuss 2021; 230:344-359. [PMID: 34259692 DOI: 10.1039/d0fd00132e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Technologies able to convert CO2 to various feedstocks for fuels and chemicals are emerging due to the urge of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and de-fossilizing chemical production. Microbial electrosynthesis (MES) has been shown a promising technique to synthesize organic products particularly acetate using microorganisms and electrons. However, the efficiency of the system is low. In this study, we demonstrated the simple yet efficient strategy in enhancing the efficiency of MES by applying continuous feeding regime. Compared to the fed-batch system, continuous operational mode provided better control of pH and constant medium refreshment, resulting in higher acetate production rate and more diverse bio-products, when the cathodic potential of -1.0 V Ag/AgCl and dissolved CO2 were provided. It was observed that hydraulic retention time (HRT) had a direct effect on the pattern of production, acetate production rate and coulombic efficiency. At HRT of 3 days, pH was around 5.2 and acetate was the dominant product with the highest production rate of 651.8 ± 214.2 ppm per day and a significant coulombic efficiency of 90%. However at the HRT of 7 days, pH was lower at around 4.5, and lower but stable acetate production rate of 280 ppm per day and a maximum coulombic efficiency of 80% was obtained. In addition, more diverse and longer chain products, such as butyrate, isovalerate and caproate, were detected with low concentrations only at the HRT of 7 days. Although microbial community analysis showed the change in the planktonic cells communities after switching the fed-batch mode to continuous feeding regime, Acetobacterium still remained as the responsible bacteria for CO2 reduction to acetate, dominating the cathodic biofilm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paniz Izadi
- School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
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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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Roy M, Yadav R, Chiranjeevi P, Patil SA. Direct utilization of industrial carbon dioxide with low impurities for acetate production via microbial electrosynthesis. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2021; 320:124289. [PMID: 33129088 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2020.124289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Revised: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The present study aimed to demonstrate the utilization of unpurified industrial CO2 with low impurities for acetate production via microbial electrosynthesis (MES) for the first time. In MES experiments with CO2-rich brewery gas, the enriched mixed culture dominated by Acetobacterium produced 1.8 ± 0.2 g/L acetic acid at 0.26 ± 0.03 g/Lcatholyte/d rate and outperformed a pure culture of Clostridium ljungdahlii (1.1 ± 0.02 g/L; 0.138 ± 0.004 g/Lcatholyte/d). The electron recovery in acetic acid was also more for mixed culture (84 ± 13%) than C. ljungdahlii (42 ± 14%). Electrochemical analysis of biocathodes suggested the role of microbial biofilm in improved hydrogen electrocatalysis. In comparative gas fermentation tests, the mixed culture outperformed C. ljungdahlii and produced acetic acid at a similar level with both industrial and pure CO2 feedstocks. These results suggest the robustness and capability of the mixed microbial community for utilizing slightly impure industrial CO2 for bioproduction and presents a major advancement in MES technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moumita Roy
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali (IISER Mohali), Sector 81, S.A.S. Nagar, Manauli PO 140306, Punjab, India
| | - Ravineet Yadav
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali (IISER Mohali), Sector 81, S.A.S. Nagar, Manauli PO 140306, Punjab, India
| | - P Chiranjeevi
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali (IISER Mohali), Sector 81, S.A.S. Nagar, Manauli PO 140306, Punjab, India
| | - Sunil A Patil
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali (IISER Mohali), Sector 81, S.A.S. Nagar, Manauli PO 140306, Punjab, India.
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Dessì P, Rovira-Alsina L, Sánchez C, Dinesh GK, Tong W, Chatterjee P, Tedesco M, Farràs P, Hamelers HMV, Puig S. Microbial electrosynthesis: Towards sustainable biorefineries for production of green chemicals from CO 2 emissions. Biotechnol Adv 2020; 46:107675. [PMID: 33276075 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2020.107675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Revised: 11/11/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Decarbonisation of the economy has become a priority at the global level, and the resulting legislative pressure is pushing the chemical and energy industries away from fossil fuels. Microbial electrosynthesis (MES) has emerged as a promising technology to promote this transition, which will further benefit from the decreasing cost of renewable energy. However, several technological challenges need to be addressed before the MES technology can reach its maturity. The aim of this review is to critically discuss the bottlenecks hampering the industrial adoption of MES, considering the whole production process (from the CO2 source to the marketable products), and indicate future directions. A flexible stack design, with flat or tubular MES modules and direct CO2 supply, is required for site-specific decentralised applications. The experience gained for scaling-up electrochemical cells (e.g. electrolysers) can serve as a guideline for realising pilot MES stacks to be technologically and economically evaluated in industrially relevant conditions. Maximising CO2 abatement rate by targeting high-rate production of acetate can promote adoption of MES technology in the short term. However, the development of a replicable and robust strategy for production and in-line extraction of higher-value products (e.g. caproic acid and hexanol) at the cathode, and meaningful exploitation of the currently overlooked anodic reactions, can further boost MES cost-effectiveness. Furthermore, the use of energy storage and smart electronics can alleviate the fluctuations of renewable energy supply. Despite the unresolved challenges, the flexible MES technology can be applied to decarbonise flue gas from different sources, to upgrade industrial and wastewater treatment plants, and to produce a wide array of green and sustainable chemicals. The combination of these benefits can support the industrial adoption of MES over competing technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Dessì
- School of Chemistry and Energy Research Centre, Ryan Institute, National University of Ireland Galway, University Road, H91 TK33 Galway, Ireland.
| | - Laura Rovira-Alsina
- LEQUiA, Institute of the Environment, University of Girona. Campus Montilivi, Carrer Maria Aurèlia Capmany 69, E-17003, Girona, Spain
| | - Carlos Sánchez
- Microbiology Department, School of Natural Sciences and Ryan Institute, National University of Ireland Galway, University Road, H91 TK33, Galway, Ireland
| | - G Kumaravel Dinesh
- School of Chemistry and Energy Research Centre, Ryan Institute, National University of Ireland Galway, University Road, H91 TK33 Galway, Ireland
| | - Wenming Tong
- School of Chemistry and Energy Research Centre, Ryan Institute, National University of Ireland Galway, University Road, H91 TK33 Galway, Ireland
| | - Pritha Chatterjee
- Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad, India
| | - Michele Tedesco
- Wetsus, European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology, Oostergoweg 9, 8911, MA, Leeuwarden, The Netherlands
| | - Pau Farràs
- School of Chemistry and Energy Research Centre, Ryan Institute, National University of Ireland Galway, University Road, H91 TK33 Galway, Ireland
| | - Hubertus M V Hamelers
- Wetsus, European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology, Oostergoweg 9, 8911, MA, Leeuwarden, The Netherlands
| | - Sebastià Puig
- LEQUiA, Institute of the Environment, University of Girona. Campus Montilivi, Carrer Maria Aurèlia Capmany 69, E-17003, Girona, Spain
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Cai T, Jiang N, Zhen G, Meng L, Song J, Chen G, Liu Y, Huang M. Simultaneous energy harvest and nitrogen removal using a supercapacitor microbial fuel cell. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2020; 266:115154. [PMID: 32650205 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.115154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2020] [Revised: 06/17/2020] [Accepted: 06/29/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The insufficient removal of pollutants and bioelectricity production have become a bottleneck for high-concentration saline wastewater treatment through microbial fuel cell (MFC) technology. Herein, a novel supercapacitor MFC (SC-MFC) was constructed with carbon nanofibers composite electrodes to investigate pollutant removal ability, power generation, and electrochemical properties using real landfill leachate. The possible extracellular electron transfer and nitrogen element conversion pathways in the bioanode were also analyzed. Results showed that the SC-MFC had higher pollutant removal rates (COD: 59.4 ± 1.2%; NH4+-N: 78.2 ± 1.6%; and TN: 77.8 ± 1.2%), smaller internal impedance Rt (∼6 Ω), higher exchange current density i0 (2.1 × 10-4 A cm-2), and a larger catalytic current j0 (704 μA cm-2) with 60% leachate than those with 10% and 20% leachate, resulting in a power output of 298 ± 22 mW m-2. Ammonium could be incorporated by chemoautotrophic bacteria to produce organic compounds that could be further utilized by heterotrophs to generate power when biodegradable organic matters are depleted. Three conversion pathways of nitrogen might be involved, including NH4+ diffusion from anode to cathode chamber, nitrification, and the denitrification process. Additionally, cyclic voltammetry tests showed that both the direct electron transfer (DET) and the mediator electron transfer in bioanode were involved and dominated by DET. The microbial analysis revealed that the bioanode was dominated by salt-tolerant denitrifying bacteria (38.5%), which was deduced to be the key functional microorganism. The electrochemically active bacteria decreased significantly from 61.7% to 4% over three stages of leachate treatment. Overall, the SC-MFC has demonstrated the potential for wastewater treatment along with energy harvesting and provides a new avenue toward sustainable leachate management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teng Cai
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, State Environmental Protection Engineering Center for Pollution Treatment and Control in Textile Industry, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, China; Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China; Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Biotransformation of Organic Solid Waste, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Nan Jiang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, State Environmental Protection Engineering Center for Pollution Treatment and Control in Textile Industry, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, China
| | - Guangyin Zhen
- Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai, 200092, China; Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China; Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Biotransformation of Organic Solid Waste, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Lijun Meng
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, State Environmental Protection Engineering Center for Pollution Treatment and Control in Textile Industry, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, China
| | - Jialing Song
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, State Environmental Protection Engineering Center for Pollution Treatment and Control in Textile Industry, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, China
| | - Gang Chen
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, State Environmental Protection Engineering Center for Pollution Treatment and Control in Textile Industry, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, China
| | - Yanbiao Liu
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, State Environmental Protection Engineering Center for Pollution Treatment and Control in Textile Industry, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Manhong Huang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, State Environmental Protection Engineering Center for Pollution Treatment and Control in Textile Industry, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai, 200092, China.
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Dessì P, Sánchez C, Mills S, Cocco FG, Isipato M, Ijaz UZ, Collins G, Lens PNL. Carboxylic acids production and electrosynthetic microbial community evolution under different CO 2 feeding regimens. Bioelectrochemistry 2020; 137:107686. [PMID: 33142136 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioelechem.2020.107686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2020] [Revised: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 10/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Microbial electrosynthesis (MES) is a potential technology for CO2 recycling, but insufficient information is available on the microbial interactions underpinning electrochemically-assisted reactions. In this study, a MES reactor was operated for 225 days alternately with bicarbonate or CO2 as carbon source, under batch or continuous feeding regimens, to evaluate the response of the microbial communities, and their productivity, to dynamic operating conditions. A stable acetic acid production rate of 9.68 g m-2 d-1, and coulombic efficiency up to 40%, was achieved with continuous CO2 sparging, higher than the rates obtained with bicarbonate (0.94 g m-2 d-1) and CO2 under fed-batch conditions (2.54 g m-2 d-1). However, the highest butyric acid production rate (0.39 g m-2 d-1) was achieved with intermittent CO2 sparging. The microbial community analyses focused on differential amplicon sequence variants (ASVs), allowing detection of ASVs significantly different across consecutive samples. This analysis, combined with co-occurence network analysis, and cyclic voltammetry, indicated that hydrogen-mediated acetogenesis was carried out by Clostridium, Eubacterium and Acetobacterium, whereas Oscillibacter and Caproiciproducens were involved in butyric acid production. The cathodic community was spatially inhomogeneous, with potential electrotrophs, such as Sulfurospirillum and Desulfovibrio, most prevalent near the current collector. The abundance of Sulfurospirillum positively correlated with that of Acetobacterium, supporting the syntrophic metabolism of both organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Dessì
- Microbiology, School of Natural Sciences and Ryan Institute, National University of Ireland Galway, University Road, Galway H91 TK33, Ireland.
| | - Carlos Sánchez
- Microbiology, School of Natural Sciences and Ryan Institute, National University of Ireland Galway, University Road, Galway H91 TK33, Ireland
| | - Simon Mills
- Microbiology, School of Natural Sciences and Ryan Institute, National University of Ireland Galway, University Road, Galway H91 TK33, Ireland
| | - Francesco Giuseppe Cocco
- Microbiology, School of Natural Sciences and Ryan Institute, National University of Ireland Galway, University Road, Galway H91 TK33, Ireland; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Architecture, University of Cagliari, Piazza d'Armi, 09123 Cagliari, Italy
| | - Marco Isipato
- Microbiology, School of Natural Sciences and Ryan Institute, National University of Ireland Galway, University Road, Galway H91 TK33, Ireland; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Architecture, University of Cagliari, Piazza d'Armi, 09123 Cagliari, Italy
| | - Umer Z Ijaz
- Infrastructure and Environment Research Division, School of Engineering, University of Glasgow, Oakfield Avenue, Glasgow G12 8LT, United Kingdom
| | - Gavin Collins
- Microbiology, School of Natural Sciences and Ryan Institute, National University of Ireland Galway, University Road, Galway H91 TK33, Ireland
| | - Piet N L Lens
- Microbiology, School of Natural Sciences and Ryan Institute, National University of Ireland Galway, University Road, Galway H91 TK33, Ireland
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Izadi P, Fontmorin JM, Godain A, Yu EH, Head IM. Parameters influencing the development of highly conductive and efficient biofilm during microbial electrosynthesis: the importance of applied potential and inorganic carbon source. NPJ Biofilms Microbiomes 2020; 6:40. [PMID: 33056998 PMCID: PMC7560852 DOI: 10.1038/s41522-020-00151-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Cathode-driven applications of bio-electrochemical systems (BESs) have the potential to transform CO2 into value-added chemicals using microorganisms. However, their commercialisation is limited as biocathodes in BESs are characterised by slow start-up and low efficiency. Understanding biosynthesis pathways, electron transfer mechanisms and the effect of operational variables on microbial electrosynthesis (MES) is of fundamental importance to advance these applications of a system that has the capacity to convert CO2 to organics and is potentially sustainable. In this work, we demonstrate that cathodic potential and inorganic carbon source are keys for the development of a dense and conductive biofilm that ensures high efficiency in the overall system. Applying the cathodic potential of -1.0 V vs. Ag/AgCl and providing only gaseous CO2 in our system, a dense biofilm dominated by Acetobacterium (ca. 50% of biofilm) was formed. The superior biofilm density was significantly correlated with a higher production yield of organic chemicals, particularly acetate. Together, a significant decrease in the H2 evolution overpotential (by 200 mV) and abundant nifH genes within the biofilm were observed. This can only be mechanistically explained if intracellular hydrogen production with direct electron uptake from the cathode via nitrogenase within bacterial cells is occurring in addition to the commonly observed extracellular H2 production. Indeed, the enzymatic activity within the biofilm accelerated the electron transfer. This was evidenced by an increase in the coulombic efficiency (ca. 69%) and a 10-fold decrease in the charge transfer resistance. This is the first report of such a significant decrease in the charge resistance via the development of a highly conductive biofilm during MES. The results highlight the fundamental importance of maintaining a highly active autotrophic Acetobacterium population through feeding CO2 in gaseous form, which its dominance in the biocathode leads to a higher efficiency of the system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paniz Izadi
- School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | | | - Alexiane Godain
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Eileen H Yu
- School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK.
| | - Ian M Head
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
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49
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Song TS, Fu L, Wan N, Wu J, Xie J. Hydrothermal synthesis of MoS2 nanoflowers for an efficient microbial electrosynthesis of acetate from CO2. J CO2 UTIL 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcou.2020.101231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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50
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Review—Microbial Electrosynthesis: A Way Towards The Production of Electro-Commodities Through Carbon Sequestration with Microbes as Biocatalysts. JOURNAL OF THE ELECTROCHEMICAL SOCIETY 2020. [DOI: 10.1149/1945-7111/abb836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
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