Bioelectrochemical systems (BES) are emerging as potential technologies that can remediate acid mine drainage (AMD) by cathodic reduction of sulfates to metal sulfides. This study evaluated bioelectrochemical remediation of sulfate rich AMD at two applied cathode potentials; BES-1: −1.0 V and BES-2: −0.8 V. Sulfate reducing bacteria were selectively enriched to be used as biocatalyst in BES. Initially, lactate was fed as carbon source and switched to chemolithoautotrophy with only CO2-fed conditions. Both BESs were operated at 3±0.2 g/l of sulfate with synthetic AMD (SAMD) fed first, and gradually changed to 50% AMD from mining site with 50% SAMD. Sulfate reduction was relatively higher with BES-1: 82% than BES-2: 76% coupled with sulfidogenesis. Interestingly, acetogenesis (BES-1: 2.12±0.2 g/l, BES-2: 1.9±0.2 g/l) was also noticed with high reduction currents (BES-1&2: >-70 mA). Microbiome community analysis revealed the dominant presence of sulfate reducers, acetogens, syntrophic bacteria and Methanobacterium, probing microbial synergy aiding sulfate reduction. An added advantage was the iron-sulfide (FeS) particles formation on cathode, which might have contributed to increased reduction currents. This study reveals insights into microbial synergy for autotrophic sulfate reduction within mixed microbiome communities along with the impact of FeS particles as conducive facilitator for electron transfer in BES, thereby enhancing electrosynthetic acetate production.

Biogas has long been used as a household cooking fuel in many tropical counties, and it has the potential to be a significant energy source beyond household cooking fuel. In this study, we describe the use of low electrical energy input in an anaerobic digestion process using a microbial electrochemical cell (MEC) to promote methane content in biogas at 18, 28, and 37 °C. Although the maximum amount of biogas production was at 37 °C (25 cm3), biogas could be effectively produced at lower temperatures, i.e., 18 (13 cm3) and 28 °C (19 cm3), with an external 2 V power input. The biogas production of 13 cm3 obtained at 18 °C was ~65-fold higher than the biogas produced without an external power supply (0.2 cm3). This was further enhanced by 23% using carbon-nanotubes-treated (CNT) graphite electrodes. This suggests that the MEC can be operated at as low as 18 °C and still produce significant amounts of biogas. The share of CH4 in biogas produced in the controls was 30%, whereas the biogas produced in an MEC had 80% CH4. The MEC effectively reduced COD to 42%, whereas it consumed 98% of reducing sugars. Accordingly, it is a suitable method for waste/manure treatment. Molecular characterization using 16s rRNA sequencing confirmed the presence of methanogenic bacteria, viz., Serratia liquefaciens and Zoballella taiwanensis, in the inoculum used for the fermentation. Consistent with recent studies, we believe that electromethanogenesis will play a significant role in the production of value-added products and improve the management of waste by converting it to energy.

Anaerobic digestion is a highly promising approach to manage agricultural/food wastes that reduces pollution and produces energy effectively. In this study, we investigate the incorporation of a microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) in anaerobic digestion process with the introduction of two graphite felts to enhance biogas production with minimal electrical energy input. The high amount of biogas (1890 ± 113.1 mL) was produced from the 1:2 v/v mixture of vegetable wastes in water and 0.8 V supplemented at 27 °C. Biogas could also be effectively produced in MEC at 18 °C (632 ± 14.8 mL), which is more than double in comparison with biogas produced without voltage (303 ± 27.5 mL). Maximum COD reduction was found in MEC (70.84 ± 5.54 %) than in control (20.35 ± 4.53 %). Three Bacillus strains and one Exiguobacterium strain were isolated from the MEC sludge. Electricity supplemented anaerobic digestion can produce higher amount of biogas and improve waste degradation by transforming waste into energy.

Acetate can be produced from carbon dioxide (CO2) and electricity using bacteria at the cathode of microbial electrosynthesis (MES). This process relies on electrolytically-produced hydrogen (H2). However, the low solubility of H2 can limit the process. Using metal cathodes to generate H2 at a high rate can improve MES. Immobilizing bacteria on the metal cathode can further proliferate the H2 availability to the bacteria. In this study, we investigated the performances of 3D bioprinting of Sporomusa ovata on three metal meshes—copper (Cu), stainless steel (SS), and titanium (Ti), when used individually as a cathode in MES. Bacterial cells were immobilized on the metal using a 3D bioprinter with alginate hydrogel ink. The bioprinted Ti mesh exhibited higher acetate production (53 ± 19 g/m2/d) at −0.8 V vs. Ag/AgCl as compared to other metal cathodes. More than 9 g/L of acetate was achieved with bioprinted Ti, and the least amount was obtained with bioprinted Cu. Although all three metals are known for catalyzing H2 evolution, the lower biocompatibility and chemical stability of Cu hampered its performance. Stable and biocompatible Ti supported the bioprinted S. ovata effectively. Bioprinting of synthetic biofilm on H2-evolving metal cathodes can provide high-performing and robust biocathodes for further application of MES.

In gas fermentation, a range of chemolithoautotrophs fix single-carbon (C1) gases (CO2 and CO) when H2 or other reductants are available. Microbial electrosynthesis (MES) enables CO2 reduction by generating H2 or reducing equivalents with the sole input of renewable electricity. A combined approach as gas electro-fermentation is attractive for the sustainable production of biofuels and biochemicals utilizing C1 gases. Various platform compounds such as acetate, butyrate, caproate, ethanol, butanol and bioplastics can be produced. However, technological challenges pertaining to the microbe-material interactions such as poor gas-liquid mass transfer, low biomass and biofilm coverage on cathode, low productivities still exist. We are presenting a review on latest developments in MES focusing on the configuration and design of cathodes that can address the challenges and support the gas electro-fermentation. Overall, the opportunities for advancing CO and CO2-based biochemicals and biofuels production in MES with suitable cathode/reactor design are prospected.

Microbial metabolism enables the sustainable synthesis of fuels and chemicals from gaseous substrates (H₂, CO, and CO₂), thus drastically diminishing the carbon load in the atmosphere. Various value-added biochemicals and biofuels, such as acetate, methane, ethanol, butanol, butyrate, caproate, and bioplastics, have been produced during the conversion of syngas or H₂/CO₂, using a variety of microorganisms as biocatalysts. Gas fermentation processes using acetogenic and methanogenic organisms are being extensively investigated. This chapter provides an overview of microbial CO and CO₂ conversion technology, with an emphasis on recent developments and integration with renewable electricity for the generation of H₂ or other forms of electron donors. A discussion on technological challenges in gas fermentation addresses issues, such as poor mass transfer, low microbial biomass, and low productivity. It also presents possible solutions based on the latest advances in bioelectrochemical processes including microbial gas electrofermentation. Finally, the chapter includes a sustainability analysis of the process and includes a brief update on commercially established companies operating gas fermentation systems. Overall, an integrated approach combining gas fermentation and renewable electricity offers an opportunity for the development of CO and CO₂- based biochemical and biofuel production at commercial scale.

High-rate production of acetate and other value-added products from the reduction of CO₂ in microbial electrosynthesis (MES) using acetogens can be achieved with high reducing power where H₂ appears as a key electron mediator. H₂ evolution using metal cathodes can enhance the availability of H₂ to support high-rate microbial reduction of CO₂. Due to the low solubility of H₂, the availability of H₂ remains limited to the bacteria. In this study, we investigated the performances of Sporomusa ovata for CO₂ reduction when dual cathodes were used together in an MES, one was regular carbon cathode, and the other was a titanium mesh that allows higher hydrogen evolution. The dual cathode configuration was investigated in two sets of MES, one set had the usual S. ovata inoculated graphite rod, and another set had a synthetic biofilm-imprinted carbon cloth. Additionally, the headspace gas in MES was recirculated to increase the H₂ availability to the bacteria in suspension. High-rate CO₂ reduction was observed at −0.9 V vs Ag/AgCl with dual cathode configuration as compared to single cathodes. High titers of acetate (up to ∼11 g/L) with maximum instantaneous rates of 0.68–0.7 g/L/d at −0.9 V vs Ag/AgCl were observed, which are higher than the production rates reported in literatures for S. ovata using MES with surface modified cathodes. A high H₂ availability supported the high-rate acetate production from CO₂ with diminished electricity input.

Microbial electrochemical approach is an emerging technology for biogas upgrading through carbon dioxide (CO2) reduction and biomethane (or value-added products) production. There are limited literature critically reviewing the latest scientific development on the Bioelectrochemical (BES) based biogas upgrading technology, including CO2 reduction efficiency, methane (CH4) yields, reactor operating conditions, and electrode material tested in BES reactor. This review analyzes the reported performance and identifies the crucial parameters to be considered for future optimization, which is currently missing. In this review, the performances of BES approach of biogas upgrading under various operating settings in particular fed-batch, continuous mode in connection to the microbial dynamics and cathode materials have been thoroughly scrutinized and discussed. Additionally, other versatile application options associated with BES based biogas upgrading, such as resource recovery, are presented. The three-dimensional electrode materials have shown superior performance in supplying the electrons for the reduction of CO2 to CH4. Most of the studies on the biogas upgrading process conclude hydrogen (H2) mediated electron transfer mechanism in BES biogas upgrading.