title: Microbial bioelectrosynthesis of hydrogen: Current challenges and scale-up.
abstract: Sustainable energy supplies are needed to supplement and eventually replace fossil fuels. Molecular hydrogen H2is a clean burning, high-energy fuel that is also used as reducing gas in industrial processes. H2is mainly synthesized by steam reforming of natural gas, a non-renewable fuel. There are biosynthetic strategies for H2production; however, they are associated with poor yield and have high cost. The application of an electrochemical driving force in a microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) improves the yield of biological reactions. The performance of the MEC is influenced by experimental parameters such as the electrode material, reactor design, microbial consortia and the substrate. In this review, factors that affect the performance of MECs are discussed and critically analysed. The potential for scale-up of H2bioelectrosynthesis is also discussed.
authors.affiliation: School of Biotechnology, Dublin City University, Dublin 9, Ireland.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kitching
authors.affiliation: School of Biotechnology, Dublin City University, Dublin 9, Ireland.
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Butler
authors.affiliation: Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering (SCELSE), Nanyang Technological University, 637551, Singapore, Singapore. Electronic address: emarsili@ntu.edu.sg.
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Marsili
mesh_terms: D001674:Bioelectric Energy Sources / Q000382:microbiology*; D056804:Biofuels / Q000382:microbiology*; D019149:Bioreactors / Q000382:microbiology; D001709:Biotechnology; D055664:Electrochemical Techniques; D004566:Electrodes; D004572:Electrolysis; D005285:Fermentation; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D059013:Microbial Consortia; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels; D006859:Hydrogen
keywords: Bioelectroreactors; Bioelectrosynthesis; Biofilms; Hydrogen; Microbial electrolysis cells