Clostridium ljungdahlii as a biocatalyst in microbial electrosynthesis – Effect of culture conditions on product formation

• Microbial electrosynthesis enables the production of value-added chemicals from CO2 and electrons provided by an electrode. Clostridium ljungdahlii is an electroactive acetogen that potentially could be used in microbial electrosynthesis systems. However, the optimal operational parameters for microbial electrosynthesis using C. ljungdahlii are not known. Here, we explored the effects of yeast extract, pH, and cathode potential. A low initial pH increased the rate of acetate production from CO2 and H2 in serum bottle cultures. When cultivated in bioelectrochemical systems, the optimal coulombic efficiency (i.e. close to 100 %) was observed at a cathode potential between −0.8 V and −1.0 V, while the highest productivity was reached at −1.0 V. Addition of yeast extract to the medium was needed to ensure reproducible results. Using cyclic voltammetry, we detected hydrogen-mediated extracellular electron transfer of C. ljungdahlii during growth on CO2 in a bioelectrochemical system. These results show that operational parameters should be chosen carefully to maximise the efficiency of microbial electrosynthesis.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Kemi -- Analytisk kemi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Chemical Sciences -- Analytical Chemistry (hsv//eng)

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Industriell bioteknik -- Bioprocessteknik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Industrial Biotechnology -- Bioprocess Technology (hsv//eng)

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Kemiteknik -- Annan kemiteknik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Chemical Engineering -- Other Chemical Engineering (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Cathode potential

CO 2

Yeast extract

Clostridium ljungdahlii

Microbial electrosynthesis

Publication and Content Type

art (subject category)

ref (subject category)