Microbial electron uptake in microbial electrosynthesis: a mini-review
Abstract
Microbial electron uptake (EU) is the biological capacity of microbes to accept electrons from electroconductive solid materials. EU has been leveraged for sustainable bioproduction strategies via microbial electrosynthesis (MES). MES often involves the reduction of carbon dioxide to multi-carbon molecules, with electrons derived from electrodes in a bioelectrochemical system. EU can be indirect or direct. Indirect EU-based MES uses electron mediators to transfer electrons to microbes. Although an excellent initial strategy, indirect EU requires higher electrical energy. In contrast, the direct supply of cathodic electrons to microbes (direct EU) is more sustainable and energy efficient. Nonetheless, low product formation due to low electron transfer rates during direct EU remains a major challenge. Compared to indirect EU, direct EU is less well-studied perhaps due to the more recent discovery of this microbial capability. This mini-review focuses on the recent advances and challenges of direct EU in relation to MES.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2019
- Source ID
- 10.1007/s10295-019-02166-6
Entities
People
- Arpita Bose
- Rajesh Singh
- Rengasamy Karthikeyan
Organizations
- David and Lucile Packard Foundation
- United States Department of Defense
- United States Department of Energy
- Washington University in St. Louis