Microbial electrosynthesis

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The microbial Electrosynthesis is a method for the conversion of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) or substrate in a valuable short-chain basic chemicals by the injection of current . In a fuel cell, this occurs through a reaction with electro- sensitive microbes that grow as a biofilm on the cell's cathode .

Procedure

IRSTEA procedure

In the process of the Research Institute for Agricultural and Environmental Technology (IRSTEA) in France , electroactive microbes convert organic waste material in a fuel cell at the anode , producing carbon dioxide (CO 2 ). This is conducted to the cathode. There at the cathode, electro-sensitive microbes use the CO 2 to synthesize valuable, high-energy molecules . Using the IRSTEA process, methane , acetates ( salts of acetic acid ), methanoic acid or ethanol can be synthesized from organic waste .

Dechema procedure

In the research of the Dechema Electrochemistry Working Group ( DFI ), a biofilm grows on the cathode of the fuel cell. Electroactive microorganisms interact with the cathode and accept its electrons. The electroactive microorganisms are fed with CO 2 . As a product, they synthesize basic chemicals. The long-term aim is the production of biofuels .

KIT procedure

In microbial electrosynthesis at the cathode, the researchers at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) use microorganisms that produce the polymer BioElectroPlast polyhydroxybutyric acid (PHB) from flue gas , air and electricity from renewable sources . The optimized process of microbial electrosynthesis opens up further prospects for the future, for example for the production of biofuels or for the storage of electricity from regenerative sources in the form of chemical products.

MIKE procedure

Commercially produced biogas consists of approx. 60% methane, 35% CO 2 and 5% water vapor , nitrogen and other contaminants. In order to be able to feed it into the existing natural gas network, the biogas currently has to be cleaned at great cost.

As part of the funding initiative "CO2-Plus - Material use of CO 2 to broaden the raw material base", the "MIKE" project is to use microbial electrosynthesis to significantly increase the methane content of the biogas from an industrial biogas plant, thereby simplifying subsequent purification of the biogas . The "MIKE" project not only increases the methane yield of an industrial biogas plant, but also converts excess electricity into the methane chemical energy storage system , thereby coupling the sectors with the natural gas network.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Microbial electrosynthesis of waste
  2. ↑ Dirk Holtmann: Microbial electrosynthesis - an integrated research approach for the use of electrical energy in future microbial production processes. DECHEMA , September 11, 2015, accessed on November 13, 2016 .
  3. ↑ Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT): Microbes produce bioplastics from flue gas and electricity. Bio-based News, November 8, 2016, accessed November 13, 2016 .
  4. ↑ Florian Mayer: MIKE - methanation of CO2 from biogas by means of microbial electrosynthesis. DECHEMA , September 1, 2016, accessed on November 13, 2016 .

literature

  • Miriam A. Rosenbaum & Ashley, E. Franks: Microbial catalysis in bioelectrochemical technologies: status quo, challenges and perspectives Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, Volume 98 Number 2, 2014, ISSN  0175-7598 , doi : 10.1007 / s00253-013-5396- 6th

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