BEAM

Boosting microbial electrosynthesis of chemicals from carbon dioxide via biofabrication of cathode materials.

Project team: Paul Christakopoulos (project leader), Suman Bajracharya, Adolf Krige, Ulrika Rova

Duration: 2019-2022

Funded by the Swedish Research Council (VR)

Microbial electrosynthesis is an emerging novel green technology for the production of biochemicals and biofuels from CO2 by autotrophic acetogenic bacteria, using energy sources derived from a poised cathode. Energy can be supplied from renewable sources, such as solar, wind, and biogas. Thus, MES offers an alternative sustainable route for efficient storage of surplus electrical energy into chemical bonds of easily transportable gas or liquid fuels, or even other chemical commodities. MES optimization relies on enhancing bacterial attachment, biofilm development, and electron-transfer rate at the cathode surface (microorganism-electrode interaction). Biocathode materials, selective microbial consortia, and efficient reactor designs are key elements towards practical applications of MES. The aim of BEAM is to explore the potential of using bioprinting to develop three-dimensional cathodes to act as biofilms for enhanced MES performance.