How to sustainably feed a microbe: Strategies for biological production of carbon-based commodities with renewable electricity
Abstract
As interest and application of renewable energy grows, strategies are needed to align the asynchronous supply and demand. Microbial metabolisms are a potentially sustainable mechanism for transforming renewable electrical energy into biocommodities that are easily stored and transported. Acetogens and methanogens can reduce carbon dioxide to organic products including methane, acetic acid, and ethanol. The library of biocommodities is expanded when engineered metabolisms of acetogens are included. Typically, electrochemical systems are employed to integrate renewable energy sources with biological systems for production of carbon-based commodities. Within these systems, there are three prevailing mechanisms for delivering electrons to microorganisms for the conversion of carbon dioxide to reduce organic compounds: (1) electrons can be delivered to microorganisms via H2 produced separately in a electrolyzer, (2) H2 produced at a cathode can convey electrons to microorganisms supported on the cathode surface, and (3) a cathode can directly feed electrons to microorganisms. Each of these strategies has advantages and disadvantages that must be considered in designing full-scale processes. Furthermore, this review considers the evolving understanding of each of these approaches and the state of design for advancing these strategies toward viability.
- Authors:
-
- Univ. of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA (United States)
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Univ. of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1362110
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AR0000087
- Resource Type:
- Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Name:
- Frontiers in Microbiology
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 7; Journal ID: ISSN 1664-302X
- Publisher:
- Frontiers Research Foundation
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES; 60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES; 32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION; renewable energy storage; artificial photosynthesis; CO2 sequestration; biocommodities; microbial electrosynthesis
Citation Formats
Butler, Caitlyn S., and Lovley, Derek R. How to sustainably feed a microbe: Strategies for biological production of carbon-based commodities with renewable electricity. United States: N. p., 2016.
Web. doi:10.3389/fmicb.2016.01879.
Butler, Caitlyn S., & Lovley, Derek R. How to sustainably feed a microbe: Strategies for biological production of carbon-based commodities with renewable electricity. United States. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2016.01879
Butler, Caitlyn S., and Lovley, Derek R. Mon .
"How to sustainably feed a microbe: Strategies for biological production of carbon-based commodities with renewable electricity". United States. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2016.01879. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1362110.
@article{osti_1362110,
title = {How to sustainably feed a microbe: Strategies for biological production of carbon-based commodities with renewable electricity},
author = {Butler, Caitlyn S. and Lovley, Derek R.},
abstractNote = {As interest and application of renewable energy grows, strategies are needed to align the asynchronous supply and demand. Microbial metabolisms are a potentially sustainable mechanism for transforming renewable electrical energy into biocommodities that are easily stored and transported. Acetogens and methanogens can reduce carbon dioxide to organic products including methane, acetic acid, and ethanol. The library of biocommodities is expanded when engineered metabolisms of acetogens are included. Typically, electrochemical systems are employed to integrate renewable energy sources with biological systems for production of carbon-based commodities. Within these systems, there are three prevailing mechanisms for delivering electrons to microorganisms for the conversion of carbon dioxide to reduce organic compounds: (1) electrons can be delivered to microorganisms via H2 produced separately in a electrolyzer, (2) H2 produced at a cathode can convey electrons to microorganisms supported on the cathode surface, and (3) a cathode can directly feed electrons to microorganisms. Each of these strategies has advantages and disadvantages that must be considered in designing full-scale processes. Furthermore, this review considers the evolving understanding of each of these approaches and the state of design for advancing these strategies toward viability.},
doi = {10.3389/fmicb.2016.01879},
journal = {Frontiers in Microbiology},
number = ,
volume = 7,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Nov 28 00:00:00 EST 2016},
month = {Mon Nov 28 00:00:00 EST 2016}
}
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A Single-Culture Bioprocess of Methanothermobacter thermautotrophicus to Upgrade Digester Biogas by CO 2 -to-CH 4 Conversion with H 2
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