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Title: Microbial production of multi-carbon chemicals and fuels from water and carbon dioxide using electric current

Abstract

The invention provides systems and methods for generating organic compounds using carbon dioxide as a source of carbon and electrical current as an energy source. In one embodiment, a reaction cell is provided having a cathode electrode and an anode electrode that are connected to a source of electrical power, and which are separated by a permeable membrane. A biological film is provided on the cathode. The biological film comprises a bacterium that can accept electrons and that can convert carbon dioxide to a carbon-bearing compound and water in a cathode half-reaction. At the anode, water is decomposed to free molecular oxygen and solvated protons in an anode half-reaction. The half-reactions are driven by the application of electrical current from an external source. Compounds that have been produced include acetate, butanol, 2-oxobutyrate, propanol, ethanol, and formate.

Inventors:
;
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
University of Massachusetts, Boston, MA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER)
OSTI Identifier:
1415471
Patent Number(s):
9856449
Application Number:
14/860,211
Assignee:
UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS (Boston, MA)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
C - CHEMISTRY C12 - BIOCHEMISTRY C12M - APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY
C - CHEMISTRY C12 - BIOCHEMISTRY C12P - FERMENTATION OR ENZYME-USING PROCESSES TO SYNTHESISE A DESIRED CHEMICAL COMPOUND OR COMPOSITION OR TO SEPARATE OPTICAL ISOMERS FROM A RACEMIC MIXTURE {
DOE Contract Number:  
FC02-02ER63446; AR0000087
Resource Type:
Patent
Resource Relation:
Patent File Date: 2015 Sep 21
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY; 59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

Citation Formats

Lovley, Derek R., and Nevin, Kelly P. Microbial production of multi-carbon chemicals and fuels from water and carbon dioxide using electric current. United States: N. p., 2018. Web.
Lovley, Derek R., & Nevin, Kelly P. Microbial production of multi-carbon chemicals and fuels from water and carbon dioxide using electric current. United States.
Lovley, Derek R., and Nevin, Kelly P. Tue . "Microbial production of multi-carbon chemicals and fuels from water and carbon dioxide using electric current". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1415471.
@article{osti_1415471,
title = {Microbial production of multi-carbon chemicals and fuels from water and carbon dioxide using electric current},
author = {Lovley, Derek R. and Nevin, Kelly P.},
abstractNote = {The invention provides systems and methods for generating organic compounds using carbon dioxide as a source of carbon and electrical current as an energy source. In one embodiment, a reaction cell is provided having a cathode electrode and an anode electrode that are connected to a source of electrical power, and which are separated by a permeable membrane. A biological film is provided on the cathode. The biological film comprises a bacterium that can accept electrons and that can convert carbon dioxide to a carbon-bearing compound and water in a cathode half-reaction. At the anode, water is decomposed to free molecular oxygen and solvated protons in an anode half-reaction. The half-reactions are driven by the application of electrical current from an external source. Compounds that have been produced include acetate, butanol, 2-oxobutyrate, propanol, ethanol, and formate.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {2018},
month = {1}
}

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