Microbial electron uptake in microbial electrosynthesis: a mini-review

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 mo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of industrial microbiology & biotechnology 2019-10, Vol.46 (9-10), p.1419-1426
Main Authors: Karthikeyan, Rengasamy, Singh, Rajesh, Bose, Arpita
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biochemistry
Bioenergy/Biofuels/Biochemicals - Mini Review
Bioinformatics
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Biotechnology
Carbon dioxide
Carbon Dioxide - chemistry
Electricity
Electrodes
Electron transfer
Electron Transport
Electrons
Energy efficiency
Genetic Engineering
Inorganic Chemistry
Life Sciences
Microbiology
Microorganisms
Sustainability
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Summary: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.
ISSN:1367-5435
1476-5535
DOI:10.1007/s10295-019-02166-6