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Engineering of Microbial Electrodes

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  • First Online:
Bioelectrosynthesis

Part of the book series: Advances in Biochemical Engineering/Biotechnology ((ABE,volume 167))

Abstract

This chapter provides an overview of the current state-of-the-art in the engineering of microbial electrodes for application in microbial electrosynthesis. First, important functional aspects and requirements of basic materials for microbial electrodes are introduced, including the meaningful benchmarking of electrode performance, a comparison of electrode materials, and methods to improve microbe–electrode interaction. Suitable current collectors and composite materials that combine different functionalities are also discussed. Subsequently, the chapter focuses on the design of macroscopic electrode structures. Aspects such as mass transfer and electrode topology are touched upon, and a comparison of the performance of microbial electrodes relevant for practical application is provided. The chapter closes with an overall conclusion and outlook, highlighting the future prospects and challenges for the engineering of microbial electrodes toward practical application in the field of microbial electrosynthesis.

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Change history

  • 29 March 2018

    In 30th page, Table 2, in the last row, the references 33 and 134 are inserted.

Abbreviations

Ag/AgCl:

The silver/silver chloride reference electrode, approx. + 199 mV vs SHE

AQDS:

Anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonic disodium salt, a redox mediator

CB:

Carbon black

CNTs:

Carbon nanotubes

CP:

Carbon paper

DET:

Direct electron transfer

ECSA:

Electrochemical accessible surface area

GNR:

Graphene nanoribbons

ITO:

Indium tin oxide, a transparent electronically conductive material

MEC:

Microbial electrolysis cell

MET:

Mediated electron transfer

MFC:

Microbial fuel cell

PANI:

Polyaniline

PPy:

Polypyrrole

PTFE:

Polytetrafluoroethylene

R a :

Roughness average, arithmetic average of the absolute values of height deviations from the mean line

R Ω :

Ohmic resistance, for example, of an electrode material

SCE:

The saturated calomel reference electrode, approx. + 244 mV vs SHE

SHE:

The standard hydrogen reference electrode

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  1. IMTEK - Department of Microsystems Engineering, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany

    Sven Kerzenmacher

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  1. Sven Kerzenmacher
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  1. Department of Environmental Microbiology, Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research GmbH - UFZ, Leipzig, Germany

    Falk Harnisch

  2. Industrial Biotechnology, DECHEMA-Forschungsinstitut, Frankfurt am Main, Germany

    Dirk Holtmann

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Kerzenmacher, S. (2017). Engineering of Microbial Electrodes. In: Harnisch, F., Holtmann, D. (eds) Bioelectrosynthesis. Advances in Biochemical Engineering/Biotechnology, vol 167. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/10_2017_16

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