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  • Review Article
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Microbial electrosynthesis — revisiting the electrical route for microbial production

Nature Reviews Microbiology volume 8, pages 706–716 (2010)Cite this article

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Abstract

Microbial electrocatalysis relies on microorganisms as catalysts for reactions occurring at electrodes. Microbial fuel cells and microbial electrolysis cells are well known in this context; both use microorganisms to oxidize organic or inorganic matter at an anode to generate electrical power or H2, respectively. The discovery that electrical current can also drive microbial metabolism has recently lead to a plethora of other applications in bioremediation and in the production of fuels and chemicals. Notably, the microbial production of chemicals, called microbial electrosynthesis, provides a highly attractive, novel route for the generation of valuable products from electricity or even wastewater. This Review addresses the principles, challenges and opportunities of microbial electrosynthesis, an exciting new discipline at the nexus of microbiology and electrochemistry.

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Figure 1: A high-level overview of the concepts associated with bioelectrochemical systems.
Figure 2: Mechanisms for electron transfer from electrodes to microorganisms.
Figure 3: Configurations for bioelectrochemical system-based bioproduction.
Figure 4: A 'bioelectrochemical' refinery.

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Acknowledgements

K.R. is supported by the Australian Research Council (grants DP0879245 and DP0985000), the Queensland, Australia government (Queensland Sustainable Energy Innovation Fund (QSEIF)) and The University of Queensland (UQ) Foundation (UQ Foundation Research Excellence Award 2009). R.R. is supported by the Queensland government (QSEIF) and UQ (UQ Early Career Researcher 2009; UQ Postdoctoral Research Fellowship 2010).

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  1. Advanced Water Management Centre, Gehrmann Building, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, 4072, Queensland, Australia

    Korneel Rabaey & René A. Rozendal

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  1. Korneel Rabaey
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Correspondence to Korneel Rabaey.

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Glossary

Biocatalyst

A catalyst of biological origin, which can be an enzyme, an organelle or even a whole cell.

Bioelectrosynthesis

The use of biocatalysts to achieve electricity-driven synthesis.

Overpotential

The difference between the thermodynamically determined potential and the experimentally observed potential of a half reaction; in an electrolytic cell, this corresponds to an energy loss, such that more energy is required to carry out the reaction than is expected.

Humic substance

Recalcitrant organic compound that is formed during the decomposition of plant, animal and microbial cells.

Bioremediation

The use of microorganisms or biocatalysts for environmental clean-up.

Microbially assisted electrosynthesis

The use of whole microorganisms as electrode catalysts to drive the chemical synthesis of products at a counter electrode.

Lithoautotrophic

Of a microorganism: using an inorganic electron donor and CO2 as a carbon source.

Lithoheterotrophic

Of a microorganism: using an inorganic electron donor and an organic compound as carbon source.

Electrode potential

The potential of an electrode relative to a reference electrode.

Standard hydrogen electrode

The universal reference electrode, which has a standard electrode potential (that is, at pH 0) of 0 V.

Coulombic efficiency

the efficiency of charge transfer from the electron donor to the anode, or from the cathode to the electron acceptor.

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Rabaey, K., Rozendal, R. Microbial electrosynthesis — revisiting the electrical route for microbial production. Nat Rev Microbiol 8, 706–716 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrmicro2422

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