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Application of gas diffusion biocathode in microbial electrosynthesis from carbon dioxide

  • Technoeconomic Perspectives on Sustainable CO2 Capture and Utilization
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Abstract

Microbial catalysis of carbon dioxide (CO2) reduction to multi-carbon compounds at the cathode is a highly attractive application of microbial electrosynthesis (MES). The microbes reduce CO2 by either taking the electrons or reducing the equivalents produced at the cathode. While using gaseous CO2 as the carbon source, the biological reduction process depends on the dissolution and mass transfer of CO2 in the electrolyte. In order to deal with this issue, a gas diffusion electrode (GDE) was investigated by feeding CO2 through the GDE into the MES reactor for its reduction at the biocathode. A combination of the catalyst layer (porous activated carbon and Teflon binder) and the hydrophobic gas diffusion layer (GDL) creates a three-phase interface at the electrode. So, CO2 and reducing equivalents will be available to the biocatalyst on the cathode surface. An enriched inoculum consisting of acetogenic bacteria, prepared from an anaerobic sludge, was used as a biocatalyst. The cathode potential was maintained at −1.1 V vs Ag/AgCl to facilitate direct and/or hydrogen-mediated CO2 reduction. Bioelectrochemical CO2 reduction mainly produced acetate but also extended the products to ethanol and butyrate. Average acetate production rates of 32 and 61 mg/L/day, respectively, with 20 and 80 % CO2 gas mixture feed were achieved with 10 cm2 of GDE. The maximum acetate production rate remained 238 mg/L/day for 20 % CO2 gas mixture. In conclusion, a gas diffusion biocathode supported bioelectrochemical CO2 reduction with enhanced mass transfer rate at continuous supply of gaseous CO2.

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Abbreviations

A/m2 :

Ampere per square meter

Atm:

Atmosphere

CEM:

Cation exchange membrane

CL:

Catalyst layer

DO:

Dissolved oxygen

GDE:

Gas diffusion electrode

GDL:

Gas diffusion layer

MES:

Microbial electrosynthesis

k La:

Gas–liquid mass transfer coefficient

NaBES:

Sodium 2-bromoethanesulfonate

PTFE:

Polytetrafluoroethylene

PVDF:

Polyvinylidene difluoride

rpm:

Revolution per minute

SHE:

Standard hydrogen electrode

OD:

Optical density

VFA:

Volatile fatty acid

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Acknowledgments

The work was supported by a PhD grant to Suman Bajracharya from VITO’s strategic research funds. The authors acknowledge Mr. Shishir Kanti Pramanik for conducting the gas transfer experiments and taking samples from the reactor.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Separation and Conversion Technologies, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium

    Suman Bajracharya, Karolien Vanbroekhoven & Deepak Pant

  2. Sub-department of Environmental Technology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands

    Suman Bajracharya, Cees J.N. Buisman & David P. B. T. B. Strik

Authors
  1. Suman Bajracharya
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  2. Karolien Vanbroekhoven
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  3. Cees J.N. Buisman
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  4. Deepak Pant
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  5. David P. B. T. B. Strik
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Deepak Pant.

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Responsible Editor: Philippe Garrigues

Highlights

• The first application of gas diffusion electrode (GDE) as a biocathode in MES supported CO2 reduction to multi-carbon compounds.

• A mixed culture predominantly exhibiting the homoacetogenic activity catalyzed the bioelectrochemical CO2 reduction.

• Methanogenic activity was successfully suppressed from the mixed culture originating from wastewater sludge after a heat treatment and series of sub-culturing to enrich acetogenic activity.

• The use of GDE enhanced the mass transfer of gaseous substrates compared to the supply through conventional spargers in submerged electrode.

• Bioelectrochemical CO2 reduction with a gas diffusion biocathode produced acetate as the main product and ethanol and butyrate as secondary products.

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Bajracharya, S., Vanbroekhoven, K., Buisman, C.J. et al. Application of gas diffusion biocathode in microbial electrosynthesis from carbon dioxide. Environ Sci Pollut Res 23, 22292–22308 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-7196-x

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