Microbial utilization of electrically reduced neutral red as the sole electron donor for growth and metabolite production

Journal Article · Thu Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1999 · Applied and Environmental Microbiology

OSTI ID:6315410

Park, D H; Laivenieks, M ^[1]; Guettler, M V; Jain, M K ^[2]; Zeikus, J G ^[3]

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1. Michigan State Univ., East Lansing, MI (United States)
2. Michigan Biotechnology Inst., Lansing, MI (United States)
3. Michigan State Univ., East Lansing, MI (United States) Michigan Biotechnology Inst., Lansing, MI (United States)

Electrically reduced neutral red (NR) served as the sole source of reducing power for growth and metabolism of pure and mixed cultures of H[sub 2]-consuming bacteria in a novel electrochemical bioreactor system. NR was continuously reduced by the cathodic potential ([minus]1.5 V) generated from an electric current (0.3 to 1.0 mA), and it was subsequently oxidized by Actinobacillus succinogenes or by mixed methanogenic cultures. The A. succinogenes mutant strain FZ-6 did not grow on fumarate alone unless electrically reduced NR or hydrogen was present as the electron donor for succinate production. The mutant strain, unlike the wild type, lacked pyruvate formate lyase and formate dehydrogenase. Electrically reduced NR also replaced hydrogen as the sole electron donor source for growth and production of methane from CO[sub 2]. These results show that both pure and mixed cultures can function as electrochemical devices when electrically generated reducing power can be used to drive metabolism. The potential utility of utilizing electrical reducing power in enhancing industrial fermentations or biotransformation processes is discussed.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: FG02-93ER20108
• OSTI ID: 6315410
• Journal Information: Applied and Environmental Microbiology, Vol. 65:7; ISSN 0099-2240
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
AMINES
BIOREACTORS
CARBON DIOXIDE
ELECTRON TRANSFER
GROWTH
HYDROGEN
INDICATORS
METABOLITES
METHANE
METHANOGENIC BACTERIA
PYRAZINES
ALKANES
AZINES
BACTERIA
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
ELEMENTS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
HYDROCARBONS
MICROORGANISMS
NONMETALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
090900* - Biomass Fuels- Processing- (1990-)