Minimizing losses in bio-electrochemical systems: the road to applications

• Published in: Applied microbiology and biotechnology Vol. 79; no. 6; pp. 901 - 913
• Main Authors: Clauwaert, Peter, Aelterman, Peter, Pham, The Hai, De Schamphelaire, Liesje, Carballa, Marta, Rabaey, Korneel, Verstraete, Willy
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Berlin/Heidelberg : Springer-Verlag 01.07.2008; Springer Berlin Heidelberg; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Bacteria - chemistry; Bacteria - metabolism; Biocatalysts; Biocatalyzed electrolysis; Biochemistry; Bioelectric Energy Sources - economics; bioenergy; Biofuel cell; Biological and medical sciences; Biosensing Techniques; Biosensors; Biotechnology; Catalysis; Catalysts; Chemical oxygen demand; Conservation of Energy Resources - economics; Electric power; Electrochemistry; Electrodes; Electrodes - microbiology; Electrolytes; Energy Metabolism; Energy-Generating Resources; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Life Sciences; Mediators; Microbial Genetics and Genomics; Microbiology; Mini-Review; Ohmic resistance; Overpotentials; Oxidation-Reduction; Studies; Wastewater treatment; Water Purification; Ohmic resistance; Overpotentials; Bioenergy; Biocatalysts; Biofuel cell; Biocatalyzed electrolysis; biofuel cell; Biocatalysis; Electrolysis; Bioelectrochemistry; Review; Application; Bioactalysis
• ISSN: 0175-7598; 1432-0614
• DOI: 10.1007/s00253-008-1522-2

Bio-electrochemical systems (BESs) enable microbial catalysis of electrochemical reactions. Plain electrical power production combined with wastewater treatment by microbial fuel cells (MFCs) has been the primary application purpose for BESs. However, large-scale power production and a high chemical oxygen demand conversion rates must be achieved at a benchmark cost to make MFCs economical competitive in this context. Recently, a number of valuable oxidation or reduction reactions demonstrating the versatility of BESs have been described. Indeed, BESs can produce hydrogen, bring about denitrification, or reductive dehalogenation. Moreover, BESs also appear to be promising in the field of online biosensors. To effectively apply BESs in practice, both biological and electrochemical losses need to be further minimized. At present, the costs of reactor materials have to be decreased, and the volumetric biocatalyst activity in the systems has to be increased substantially. Furthermore, both the ohmic cell resistance and the pH gradients need to be minimized. In this review, these losses and constraints are discussed from an electrochemical viewpoint. Finally, an overview of potential applications and innovative research lines is given for BESs.