Microbial electrosynthesis

Summary:

Microbial electrosynthesis (MES) make use of the endogenous property of some microorganisms to interact with electrodes. It can be defined as an electricity-driven or electricity-influenced microbial product synthesis. The project covers the investigation, evaluation and the extension of microbial electrosynthesis for biotechnological production.

The main aims of the project are:

• Immobilization of electroactive bacteria on different electrode materials
• Biofilm-engineering and monitoring via coupled optical and electrochemical analysis
• Development and application of three dimensional bioelectrochemical reactor systems
• Electrochemical synthesis coupled with biological product formation

Immobilization of electroactive bacteria and monitoring of the subsequent biofilm formation on electrode surfaces are one of the major challenges towards industrial application of MES. In the previous project, a flow cell for the simultaneous detection of electroactive biofilms with impedance spectroscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy was developed. For further information.