Microbial electrosynthesis - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.

org/wiki/Microbial_electrosynthesis

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Microbial electrosynthesis is a form of microbial electrocatalysis in which electrons are supplied to living
microorganisms via a cathode in an electrochemical cell by applying an electric current. The electrons are then
used by the microorganisms to reduce carbon dioxide to yield industrially relevant products. The electric current
would ideally be produced by a renewable source of power.[1] This process is the opposite to that employed in a
microbial fuel cell, in which microorganisms transfer electrons from the oxidation of compounds to an anode to
generate an electric current.

1 Comparison to microbial electrolysis cells

2 Applications
3 See also
4 References

Microbial electrosynthesis is related to microbial electrolysis cells (MEC). Both use the interactions of
microorganisms with a cathode to reduce chemical compounds, but differ in the source of power for this
process. In microbial electrosynthesis electrons are supplied solely by the external electrical power source. In
MECs, an electrical power source is used to augment the electrical potential produced by the microorganisms
consuming a source of chemical energy such as acetic acid. The combined potential provided by the power
source and the microorganisms is then sufficient to for example reduce hydrogen ions to molecular hydrogen.[2]

Microbial electrosynthesis may be used to produce fuel from carbon dioxide using electrical energy generated
by either traditional power stations or renewable electricity generation. It may also be used to produce speciality
chemicals such as drug precursors through microbially assisted electrocatalysis.[3]

Microbial electrosynthesis can also be used to "power" plants. Plants can then be grown without sunlight.[4][5][6]

Glossary of fuel cell terms

Electrohydrogenesis
Electromethanogenesis
Microbial fuel cell
Electrofuels

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Microbial electrosynthesis - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microbial_electrosynthesis

1. Microbial Electrosynthesis: Feeding Microbes Electricity To Convert Carbon Dioxide and Water to
Multicarbon Extracellular Organic Compounds (http://mbio.asm.org/content/1/2/e00103-10)
2. Microbial Electrolysis Cell - Turning Bacteria Into Hydrogen Machines
(http://www.scientificblogging.com/news_account
/microbial_electrolysis_cell_turning_bacteria_into_hydogen_machines)
3. Microbial electrosynthesis revisiting the electrical route for microbial production : Abstract : Nature
Reviews Microbiology (http://www.nature.com/nrmicro/journal/v8/n10/abs/nrmicro2422.html)
4. Open Mind Award for a revolutionary idea (http://www.wur.nl/en/newsarticle/Open-Mind-Award-for-a-
revolutionary-idea-.htm)
5. David Strik's "dark photosynthesis" idea receiving Open Mind Award (http://www.stw.nl/nl/content
/stw-reikt-open-mind-beurzen-en-simon-stevin-prijzen-uit)
6. Producing food without sunlight (https://resource.wur.nl/en/show/Producing-food-without-sunlight.htm)

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This page was last edited on 8 July 2017, at 12:51.

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