Abstract
<h2>Summary</h2> Electromicrobial production aims to combine electricity and microbial metabolism for solar and electrical energy storage. We have constructed molecule to reactor models of highly engineered electromicrobial production systems that use H<sub>2</sub> oxidation and direct electron transfer (DET). We predict electrical-to-biofuel conversion efficiency could rise to 52% with engineered <i>in vivo</i> CO<sub>2</sub> fixation. H<sub>2</sub> diffusion at ambient pressure requires areas 20 to 2,000 times the solar photovoltaic (PV) area supplying the system. Agitation can reduce this below the PV area, and the power needed is negligible when storing ≥1.1 megawatts. DET systems can be built with areas ≤ 15 times the PV area and have low energy losses even with natural conductive biofilms and can be even smaller if the conductivity could be raised to match conductive artificial polymers. Schemes that use electrochemical CO<sub>2</sub> reduction could achieve efficiencies of almost 50% with no complications of O<sub>2</sub> sensitivity.
Highlights
We are moving toward a world of plentiful renewable electricity.[1,2,3] to enable high penetration of renewables onto the grid, energy storage with a capacity thousands of times greater than today’s will be essential.[4,5,6,7] On top of this, despite significant advances in electrified transportation, the need for hydrocarbons in many applications such as aviation could persist and even grow for decades to come.[3]
Electrons are either directly transferred from a cathode to microbial metabolism through a conductive extracellular matrix (ECM) to electrodeattached cells;[16] transported by complex biologically synthesized redox mediator molecules like flavins or phenazines to free-floating or cathode-attached cells;[10,17] or transported through biologically enhanced production of a simple redox mediator like H2.18–21 These modes of electron transport are often collectively referred
What combination of electron uptake, electron transport, and carbon fixation is the best for Electromicrobial production (EMP)? The model of EMP lets us sketch out a roadmap for how to proceed with the technology
Summary
We are moving toward a world of plentiful renewable electricity.[1,2,3] to enable high penetration of renewables onto the grid, energy storage with a capacity thousands of times greater than today’s will be essential.[4,5,6,7] On top of this, despite significant advances in electrified transportation, the need for hydrocarbons in many applications such as aviation could persist and even grow for decades to come.[3]. A second class of EMP technologies use simple reduced soluble mediator compounds to shuttle electrons to microbial metabolism To date, these mediators include H2,22–25 inorganic ions like ferrous ions,[26] ammonia,[27] and the simple organic molecule formate.[22,28,29,30] carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, methane, methanol, phosphite, and reduced sulfur compounds (H2S, S2O23À, S4O26À) could be used as redox mediators,[7] but we are unaware of any demonstrations to date. While there has been considerable work on modeling mechanisms for electron transfer in microbial electrosynthesis,[17,67] modeling EMP,[68,69] and compiling estimates of EMP efficiency through big data-driven back of the envelope calculations,[13] very little work has focused on systematically exploring the intra- and extracellular constraints on the overall energy conversion efficiency of electricity and CO2 to bio-products by engineered EMP systems. In the third system electrons are delivered through electrochemically reduced H2 for further ll
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
