title: Competition between Methanogens and Acetogens in Biocathodes: A Comparison between Potentiostatic and Galvanostatic Control.
abstract: Microbial electrosynthesis is a useful form of technology for the renewable production of organic commodities from biologically catalyzed reduction of CO₂. However, for the technology to become applicable, process selectivity, stability and efficiency need strong improvement. Here we report on the effect of different electrochemical control modes (potentiostatic/galvanostatic) on both the start-up characteristics and steady-state performance of biocathodes using a non-enriched mixed-culture inoculum. Based on our results, it seems that kinetic differences exist between the two dominant functional microbial groups (i.e., homoacetogens and methanogens) and that by applying different current densities, these differences may be exploited to steer product selectivity and reactor performance.
authors.affiliation: Wetsus, European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology, Oostergoweg 9, 8911 MA Leeuwarden, The Netherlands. sam.molenaar@wetsus.nl.|Department of Environmental Technology, Wageningen University, Bornse Weilanden 9, 6708 WG Wageningen, The Netherlands. sam.molenaar@wetsus.nl.
authors.forename: Sam D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Molenaar
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Technology, Wageningen University, Bornse Weilanden 9, 6708 WG Wageningen, The Netherlands. Pradip.Saha@wur.nl.
authors.forename: Pradip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Saha
authors.affiliation: Wetsus, European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology, Oostergoweg 9, 8911 MA Leeuwarden, The Netherlands. annemerel.mol@wur.nl.|Department of Environmental Technology, Wageningen University, Bornse Weilanden 9, 6708 WG Wageningen, The Netherlands. annemerel.mol@wur.nl.
authors.forename: Annemerel R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Mol
authors.affiliation: Wetsus, European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology, Oostergoweg 9, 8911 MA Leeuwarden, The Netherlands. tom.sleutels@wetsus.nl.
authors.forename: Tom H J A
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Sleutels
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Technology, Wageningen University, Bornse Weilanden 9, 6708 WG Wageningen, The Netherlands. annemiek.terheijne@wur.nl.
authors.forename: Annemiek
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ter Heijne
authors.affiliation: Wetsus, European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology, Oostergoweg 9, 8911 MA Leeuwarden, The Netherlands. cees.buisman@wetsus.nl.|Department of Environmental Technology, Wageningen University, Bornse Weilanden 9, 6708 WG Wageningen, The Netherlands. cees.buisman@wetsus.nl.
authors.forename: Cees J N
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Buisman
mesh_terms: D000085:Acetates / Q000378:metabolism*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism*; D001674:Bioelectric Energy Sources; D019149:Bioreactors; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000378:metabolism; D004560:Electricity; D004566:Electrodes; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D053858:Metabolic Networks and Pathways; D008697:Methane / Q000378:metabolism*; D011312:Pressure
chemical_list: D000085:Acetates; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D006859:Hydrogen; D008697:Methane
keywords: acetate; acetogen; biocathode; bioelectrochemical systems (BES); competition; current density; kinetics; methanogen; microbial electrosynthesis (MES); thermodynamics