title: Microbial electrolysis cells for high yield hydrogen gas production from organic matter.
abstract: The use of electrochemically active bacteria to break down organic matter, combined with the addition of a small voltage (> 0.2 V in practice) in specially designed microbial electrolysis cells (MECs), can result in a high yield of hydrogen gas. While microbial electrolysis was invented only a few years ago, rapid developments have led to hydrogen yields approaching 100%, energy yields based on electrical energy input many times greater than that possible by water electrolysis, and increased gas production rates. MECs used to make hydrogen gas are similar in design to microbial fuel cells (MFCs) that produce electricity, but there are important differences in architecture and analytical methods used to evaluate performance. We review here the materials, architectures, performance, and energy efficiencies of these MEC systems that show promise as a method for renewable and sustainable energy production, and wastewater treatment.
authors.affiliation: Hydrogen Energy Center, and Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 212 Sackett Building, Penn State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA. blogan@psu.edu
authors.forename: Bruce E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Logan
authors.forename: Douglas
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Call
authors.forename: Shaoan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Hubertus V M
authors.initials: HV
authors.lastname: Hamelers
authors.forename: Tom H J A
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Sleutels
authors.forename: Adriaan W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Jeremiasse
authors.forename: René A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Rozendal
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000166:cytology*; D004572:Electrolysis; D004736:Energy-Generating Resources; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000378:metabolism*; D013816:Thermodynamics
chemical_list: D009930:Organic Chemicals; D006859:Hydrogen