Bioelectrosynthesis as an alternative to photosynthesis

Abstract

The CO₂ reduction processes have been discussed as a way of designing an ecologically totally closed technology. An electric current and molecular hydrogen are the two related available agents that can be discussed as ecologically pure reductants. The most important products are liquid and gaseous fuels, the products of large-scale organic synthesis, monomers, and amino acids. For CO₂ reduction, the necessary energy consumption and H₂ costs were calculated. For complex organic molecules, amino acids for instance, the energy consumption does not make up the main portion of the costs.

The biocatalytic systems of CO₂ reduction based on cryoimmobilized cells are described. Conversion of CO₂ into L-lysine with electrochemical decomposition of water was effected on the laboratory scale. A general unit for diverse technological processes can be a bioelectrosynthetic Index Entries: Bioelectrosynthesis; CO₂ reduction; liquid fuels; amino acids; immobilized cells; economic estimates. modulus, an electrochemical hydrogen generator coupled with a biocatalytic converter of hydrogen and oxygen. The systems for bioelectrosynthesis of motor fuels and essential amino acids have been economically estimated and characterized. The possibilities of combining the solar energy transformation and H₂–CO₂ conversion have been discussed.