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.
Highlights
Carbon dioxide is naturally abundant in the atmosphere and is eventually responsible for the ecological balance of the ecosystem [1,2]
These are capable of converting electrical energy into chemical energy (like in microbial electrolytic cells (MECs)) and vice versa (like in microbial fuel cells (MFCs)) by degrading several organic compound substrates, especially lignocellulosic biomass derived from wastewater with the help of microbes or their enzymes to generate valuable products [2,27] such as methanol, ethanol, acetate, formate, or hydrocarbons; these commodities are later converted or directly used as a sustainable green alternative to fossil fuels (See Figure 1)
MFCs trigger the chief growth and development of the microbial electrochemistry the electrical force is accumulated from the anodic response and the cathodic half-reacdiscipline and generate electricity utilising theinmicroorganisms that are capable of handling tions take place simultaneously
Summary
Carbon dioxide is naturally abundant (about 0.03% to 0.04%) in the atmosphere and is eventually responsible for the ecological balance of the ecosystem [1,2]. MES is a novel microbial electrochemical technology that supplies electrons to microorganisms via an electric current (biocathode-driven i.e., biofilm + cathode) inside an electrochemical cell These microbes act as biocatalysts and use the electrons for reducing carbon dioxide to eventually yield industrially relevant products like transportation fuels [9,10]. Bioelectrochemical systems (BESs) are revolutionary novel bioengineering technology that has substantially diversified their scope over the past decade [26] These are capable of converting electrical energy into chemical energy (like in microbial electrolytic cells (MECs)) and vice versa (like in microbial fuel cells (MFCs)) by degrading several organic compound substrates, especially lignocellulosic biomass derived from wastewater with the help of microbes or their enzymes to generate valuable products [2,27] such as methanol, ethanol, acetate, formate, or hydrocarbons; these commodities (being precursors) are later converted or directly used as a sustainable green alternative to fossil fuels (See Figure 1). Protons onhigher being than released travel via distinct paths to the cathode,reaction, where they are arethe reduced to form
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