Linking Bacterial Metabolism to Graphite Cathodes: Electrochemical Insights into the H<sub>2</sub>‐Producing Capability of <i>Desulfovibrio</i> sp.

Aulenta, Federico; Catapano, Laura; Snip, Laura; Villano, Marianna; Majone, Mauro

doi:10.1002/cssc.201100720

Cited by 134 publications

(101 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…Most studies on hydrogen-evolving biocathodes in a microbial electrosynthesis reactor have been carried out using mixed microbial cultures (Jafary et al, 2015), and the ecology of the different microorganisms in a community is poorly understood. A few studies showed hydrogen formation by pure cultures of Geobacter sulfurreducens (Geelhoed et al, 2010) or Desulfovibrio species (Croese et al, 2011;Aulenta et al, 2012), and the molecular mechanism of the electron uptake reaction in most hydrogen-evolving, biocathodic microorganisms is unknown (Jafary et al, 2015). A more specialized type of biocathode is found in microbial electrosynthesis.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Moreover, overpotentials of 4200 mV had to be applied repeatedly to achieve significant electron transfer rates (Villano et al, 2010;Aulenta et al, 2012). At these low potentials, the electrochemical formation of small reduced molecules as potential electron carriers such as H 2 , CO or formate at the cathode cannot be excluded (Villano et al, 2010;Yates et al, 2014;Deutzmann et al, 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Enhanced microbial electrosynthesis by using defined co-cultures

2016

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Microbial uptake of free cathodic electrons presents a poorly understood aspect of microbial physiology. Uptake of cathodic electrons is particularly important in microbial electrosynthesis of sustainable fuel and chemical precursors using only CO 2 and electricity as carbon, electron and energy source. Typically, large overpotentials (200 to 400 mV) were reported to be required for cathodic electron uptake during electrosynthesis of, for example, methane and acetate, or low electrosynthesis rates were observed. To address these limitations and to explore conceptual alternatives, we studied defined co-cultures metabolizing cathodic electrons. The Fe(0)-corroding strain IS4 was used to catalyze the electron uptake reaction from the cathode forming molecular hydrogen as intermediate, and Methanococcus maripaludis and Acetobacterium woodii were used as model microorganisms for hydrogenotrophic synthesis of methane and acetate, respectively. The IS4-M. maripaludis co-cultures achieved electromethanogenesis rates of 0.1-0.14 μmol cm − 2 h − 1 at − 400 mV vs standard hydrogen electrode and 0.6-0.9 μmol cm − 2 h − 1 at − 500 mV. Co-cultures of strain IS4 and A. woodii formed acetate at rates of 0.21-0.23 μmol cm − 2 h − 1 at − 400 mV and 0.57-0.74 μmol cm − 2 h − 1 at − 500 mV. These data show that defined co-cultures coupling cathodic electron uptake with synthesis reactions via interspecies hydrogen transfer may lay the foundation for an engineering strategy for microbial electrosynthesis.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Enhanced microbial electrosynthesis by using defined co-cultures

2016

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“…These factors have encouraged research into the development of renewable energy technologies powered by microbes. Of particular interest are microorganisms that can capture the global greenhouse gas CO 2 and convert it to a valuable commodity such as a fuel.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…The purpose of the present study was to establish a sustainable biocathode from a mixed microbial community that could fix CO 2 and convert it to a commodity chemical. This was achieved by selecting cathodophilic microorganisms from an inoculum obtained from brewery wastewater.…”

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confidence: 99%

Electrosynthesis of Commodity Chemicals by an Autotrophic Microbial Community

Marshall

Ross

Fichot

et al. 2012

Appl Environ Microbiol

385

323

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A microbial community originating from brewery waste produced methane, acetate, and hydrogen when selected on a granular graphite cathode poised at ؊590 mV versus the standard hydrogen electrode (SHE) with CO 2 as the only carbon source. This is the first report on the simultaneous electrosynthesis of these commodity chemicals and the first description of electroacetogenesis by a microbial community. Deep sequencing of the active community 16S rRNA revealed a dynamic microbial community composed of an invariant Archaea population of Methanobacterium spp. and a shifting Bacteria population. Acetobacterium spp. were the most abundant Bacteria on the cathode when acetogenesis dominated. Methane was generally the dominant product with rates increasing from <1 to 7 mM day ؊1 (per cathode liquid volume) and was concomitantly produced with acetate and hydrogen. Acetogenesis increased to >4 mM day ؊1 (accumulated to 28.5 mM over 12 days), and methanogenesis ceased following the addition of 2-bromoethanesulfonic acid. Traces of hydrogen accumulated during initial selection and subsequently accelerated to >11 mM day ؊1 (versus 0.045 mM day ؊1 abiotic production). The hypothesis of electrosynthetic biocatalysis occurring at the microbe-electrode interface was supported by a catalytic wave (midpoint potential of ؊460 mV versus SHE) in cyclic voltammetry scans of the biocathode, the lack of redox active components in the medium, and the generation of comparatively high amounts of products (even after medium exchange). In addition, the volumetric production rates of these three commodity chemicals are marked improvements for electrosynthesis, advancing the process toward economic feasibility. T he U.S. economy is heavily reliant on the use of fossil-based carbon to produce many commodity chemicals and fuels. However, due to supply difficulties, the inevitable decline of these resources, increased world demand, and environmental concerns, a shift away from coal and oil to alternative energy sources such as natural gas, solar, and wind is occurring. However, most of these energy sources are either limited by fluctuations in price and availability or are nonrenewable, as in the case of natural gas. These factors have encouraged research into the development of renewable energy technologies powered by microbes. Of particular interest are microorganisms that can capture the global greenhouse gas CO 2 and convert it to a valuable commodity such as a fuel.Bioelectrochemical systems (BESs) include microbial fuel cells (MFCs), microbial electrolysis cells (MECs), and electrosynthetic biocathodes (4,17,18,27). Of these, the bioanodes of MFCs and MECs have been the most intensively investigated. The newest and arguably most promising of these technologies is the generation of valuable chemicals by electrosynthesis. Microbial electrosynthesis requires microorganisms to catalyze the reduction of CO 2 by consuming electrons on a cathode in a BES.The purpose of the present study was to establish a sustainable biocathode from a mixed microbi...

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“…A more recent application of BESs is to stimulate bioelectrochemical catalysis of reduction reactions by providing current to microorganisms associated with cathode compartments (2,3). Examples of this process include (i) bioelectrocatalytic generation of hydrogen and acetate with pure cultures of Desulfovibrio (4) and Sporomusa ovata (5), respectively, and (ii) bioelectrocatalytic generation of hydrogen (6,7,8), methane (8,9,10,11,12), and acetate (8,12) with mixed microbial communities.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Dynamics of Cathode-Associated Microbial Communities and Metabolite Profiles in a Glycerol-Fed Bioelectrochemical System

Dennis

Yeoh

Tyson

et al. 2013

Appl Environ Microbiol

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e Electrical current can be used to supply reducing power to microbial metabolism. This phenomenon is typically studied in pure cultures with added redox mediators to transfer charge. Here, we investigate the development of a current-fed mixed microbial community fermenting glycerol at the cathode of a bioelectrochemical system in the absence of added mediators and identify correlations between microbial diversity and the respective product outcomes. Within 1 week of inoculation, a Citrobacter population represented 95 to 99% of the community and the metabolite profiles were dominated by 1,3-propanediol and ethanol. Over time, the Citrobacter population decreased in abundance while that of a Pectinatus population and the formation of propionate increased. After 6 weeks, several Clostridium populations and the production of valerate increased, which suggests that chain elongation was being performed. Current supply was stopped after 9 weeks and was associated with a decrease in glycerol degradation and alcohol formation. This decrease was reversed by resuming current supply; however, when hydrogen gas was bubbled through the reactor during open-circuit operation (open-circuit potential) as an alternative source of reducing power, glycerol degradation and metabolite production were unaffected. Cyclic voltammetry revealed that the community appeared to catalyze the hydrogen evolution reaction, leading to a ؉400-mV shift in its onset potential. Our results clearly demonstrate that current supply can alter fermentation profiles; however, further work is needed to determine the mechanisms behind this effect. In addition, operational conditions must be refined to gain greater control over community composition and metabolic outcomes.

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Linking Bacterial Metabolism to Graphite Cathodes: Electrochemical Insights into the H₂‐Producing Capability of Desulfovibrio sp.

Cited by 134 publications

References 37 publications

Enhanced microbial electrosynthesis by using defined co-cultures

Enhanced microbial electrosynthesis by using defined co-cultures

Electrosynthesis of Commodity Chemicals by an Autotrophic Microbial Community

Dynamics of Cathode-Associated Microbial Communities and Metabolite Profiles in a Glycerol-Fed Bioelectrochemical System

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Linking Bacterial Metabolism to Graphite Cathodes: Electrochemical Insights into the H2‐Producing Capability of Desulfovibrio sp.

Cited by 134 publications

References 37 publications

Enhanced microbial electrosynthesis by using defined co-cultures

Enhanced microbial electrosynthesis by using defined co-cultures

Electrosynthesis of Commodity Chemicals by an Autotrophic Microbial Community

Dynamics of Cathode-Associated Microbial Communities and Metabolite Profiles in a Glycerol-Fed Bioelectrochemical System

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Product

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Linking Bacterial Metabolism to Graphite Cathodes: Electrochemical Insights into the H₂‐Producing Capability of Desulfovibrio sp.