Article
Agricultural Engineering
Shilong Li, Haiya Zhang, Hongwei Zhang, Siqi Li, Fei Xing, Tianyi Chen, Liang Duan
Summary: Microbial electrosynthesis (MES) is a promising technology for producing high value-added products, but it faces challenges in energy utilization and production efficiency. This study investigated the acetic acid-producing MES using a practical direct current power source and anaerobic activated sludge. The optimal operating conditions were determined, and the mechanisms of substance utilization and microbial response were revealed. The findings provide insights for optimizing MES and improving its practical application.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ravineet Yadav, P. Chiranjeevi, Sukrampal Yadav, Ramandeep Singh, Sunil A. Patil
Summary: Microbial electrosynthesis is a promising technology for converting CO2 and renewable power into chemicals, with the potential to reduce carbon emissions. This study investigates the use of gaseous N-2 as a nitrogen source in acetate microbial electrosynthesis, successfully fixing N-2 and CO2 and avoiding the use of traditional fixed nitrogen. This method has the potential to effectively reduce CO2 emissions while producing significant amounts of acetate.
JOURNAL OF CO2 UTILIZATION
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hou-Yun Yang, Nan-Nan Hou, Yi-Xuan Wang, Jing Liu, Chuan-Shu He, Yi-Ran Wang, Wei-Hua Li, Yang Mu
Summary: This study investigated the temperature effect on bioelectrochemical reduction of CO2 to acetate with a mixed-culture biocathode in the microbial electrosynthesis, showing that mesophilic conditions were more favorable for acetate production. The electron recovery efficiency ranged from 14.50 +/- 2.20% to 64.86 +/- 2.20%, with propionate, butyrate, and H-2 generation influencing the process. The dominance of Bacteroidetes phylum and specific genera in the biofilm varied with temperature conditions, highlighting the importance of mesophilic conditions for biofilm formation and acetate production efficiency.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Sovik Das, Indrajit Chakraborty, Swati Das, M. M. Ghangrekar
Summary: The study successfully demonstrated the separation of acetic acid from the catholyte using a triple chamber circular MES cell, achieving high yields in both the cathodic chamber and extraction chamber. Additionally, the cathodic chamber of CMES showed good coulombic efficiency and carbon recovery efficiency.
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES AND ASSESSMENTS
(2021)
Review
Agricultural Engineering
Soo Youn Lee, You-Kwan Oh, Sangmin Lee, Hana Nur Fitriana, Myounghoon Moon, Min-Sik Kim, Jiye Lee, Kyoungseon Min, Gwon Woo Park, Joon-Pyo Lee, Jin-Suk Lee
Summary: This study focuses on microbial CO2 electrobiorefinery based on microbial electrosynthesis, which combines electrochemical and microbial conversion to produce biofuels and higher-value chemicals. Recent developments in bioelectrochemical conversion of CO2 into biofuels and chemicals in MES via microbial CO2-fixation and electricity utilisation reactions are discussed, along with technical approaches to overcome current limitations of MES.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Zhigang Li, Jiayi Cai, Yu Gao, Lixia Zhang, Qinjun Liang, Wen Hao, Yong Jiang, Raymond Jianxiong Zeng
Summary: This study investigates the impact of different chain elongation methods on MCFAs production in MES reactors and provides evidence for simultaneous bio-utilization of CO2 and ethanol. The results of this study provide fundamental insights into carbon and electron fluxes driven by electricity.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Shuwei Li, Minsoo Kim, Jungho Jae, Min Jang, Byong-Hun Jeon, Jung Rae Kim
Summary: Renewable electricity-based microbial electrosynthesis can convert CO2 into value-added chemicals and increase the number of biocatalysts by cell growth, achieving sustainable carbon-negative processes.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
R. Gharbi, A. Gomez Vidales, S. Omanovic, B. Tartakovsky
Summary: In this study, a dynamic mathematical model was developed to simulate the conversion of CO2 to methane and carboxylic acids in a microbial electrosynthesis cell (MESC), taking into account various operating conditions and CO2 transport. The model showed reasonable agreement with experimental results and was used to predict the effect of changing MESC operating conditions on product yields.
JOURNAL OF CO2 UTILIZATION
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Physical
Haifeng Huang, Haoqi Wang, Qiong Huang, Tian-shun Song, Jingjing Xie
Summary: In this study, a 3D macroporous carbon cathode was prepared from natural loofah sponge for microbial electrosynthesis, showing increased acetate production rate and coulomb efficiency. Mo2C/N-doped LS contributed to biofilm formation and enrichment of electrochemically active bacteria, providing a promising method for improving MES efficiency.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYDROGEN ENERGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Juan Liu, Xiaoxiao Guo, Zhaoyuan Lyu, Rong-Bin Song, Pengyu Zhou, Shichao Ding, Yang Zhou, Li-Ping Jiang, Yuehe Lin, Wenlei Zhu
Summary: By using copper electrocatalysts and microorganisms, an electro-bio tandem reactor was designed to convert CO2 into specific multicarbon compounds in both the gas and liquid phases. The reducing products from electrocatalysis can be consumed and recycled for selective acetate synthesis in Moorella thermoacetica. The results showed high faradaic selectivity for acetate in liquid products for Cu-based CO2 electroreduction and high electron conversion rate to ethylene and acetate for microbial electrosynthesis, presenting a green design for CO2 upcycling targeting multicarbon products through the parallel integration of electrocatalysis and fermentation.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Sanne M. de Smit, Jelle J. H. Langedijk, Johannes H. Bitter, David P. B. T. B. Strik
Summary: Microbial electrosynthesis is a promising concept for reducing carbon dioxide and storing electricity as green compounds. However, mass-transfer limitations remain a challenge for scaling up the system. This study achieved start-up at high current density without gas accumulation by using an alternating flow-through regime. Microsensor measurements and thermodynamic calculations were conducted to study the local concentrations and microbial groups, providing insights for optimal conditions and application potential of microbial electrosynthesis.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Priyanka Gupta, Nishith Verma
Summary: This study demonstrates for the first time the efficient formation of formate from CO2 in a photo-assisted microbial electrosynthesis system. The use of an activated carbon fiber-supported g-C3N4-NiCoWO4 photoanode and a g-C(3)N(4) biocathode leads to the enhanced suppression of electron-hole pairs and the formation of a Z-scheme heterojunction. The system achieves a high rate of formate synthesis under visible light irradiation.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2022)
Review
Food Science & Technology
Luc De Vuyst, Andrea Comasio, Simon Van Kerrebroeck
Summary: This article reviews the fermentation strategies and microbial ecology of sourdough production, with a focus on non-flour ingredients. Different types of sourdough production are classified based on the inoculum used. Traditional recipes for Type 1 sourdough often include non-flour ingredients as a microbial inoculum source or fermentation substrates.
CRITICAL REVIEWS IN FOOD SCIENCE AND NUTRITION
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Eleftheria Sapountzaki, Ulrika Rova, Paul Christakopoulos, Io Antonopoulou
Summary: The urgent need to reduce CO2 emissions has driven the development of CO2 capture and utilization technologies. One application is the transformation of CO2 into storage chemicals, such as formic acid, for clean energy carriers. Conventional methods use chemical catalysts for CO2 conversion to formic acid and subsequent H2 release. However, biocatalysts offer a more specific and energy-efficient alternative. Formate dehydrogenase (FDH) catalyzes CO2 conversion to formate, which can be produced by the biocathode in bioelectrochemical systems and electrochemically regenerated. Several microorganisms possessing formate hydrogenlyase or hydrogen-dependent CO2 reductase complexes can catalyze H2 production from formate. Combining these processes enables a CO2-recycling cycle for H2 production, storage, and release with potentially lower environmental impact than conventional methods.
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Moumita Roy, Ravineet Yadav, P. Chiranjeevi, Sunil A. Patil
Summary: The study demonstrates the potential of utilizing low impurity unpurified industrial CO2 for acetate production through microbial electrosynthesis. A mixed culture dominated by Acetobacterium showed higher production efficiency and electron recovery compared to a pure culture of Clostridium ljungdahlii, suggesting the robustness and advancement in MES technology utilizing slightly impure industrial CO2 feedstocks.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
D. S. Abdullah Al Maruf, Krishnan Parthasarathi, Kai Cheng, Payal Mukherjee, David R. McKenzie, Jeremy M. Crook, Gordon G. Wallace, Jonathan R. Clark
Summary: This review focuses on the recent progresses in modulating the physiochemical properties and applications of biomaterials in bone tissue engineering (BTE) for mandibular segmental defect repair. BTE is an important strategy for reconstructing critical-sized bone defects and improving patients' quality of life.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF POLYMERIC MATERIALS AND POLYMERIC BIOMATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Kezhong Wang, Yunfeng Chao, Zhiqi Chen, Sepidar Sayyar, Caiyun Wang, Gordon Wallace
Summary: A facile coaxial wet-spinning method was used to continuously produce hollow graphene fibers with high conductivity and flexibility. The resulting fibers exhibited outstanding electrochemical and mechanical properties, making them promising candidates for use in wearable supercapacitors and electronics.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Abdul Moqeet Hai, Zhilian Yue, Stephen Beirne, Gordon Wallace
Summary: Electrowriting combines 3D printing and electrospinning to produce complex structures with submicron resolutions. This study demonstrates the compatibility of water-based silk fibroin ink with electrowriting and explores the optimization of ink composition and process parameters. The electrowriting of hydrophilic silk fibroin has the potential to create material structures with biological properties similar to natural systems.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Zhi-Cheng Zhao, Sheng-Qiang Fan, Yang Lu, Cheng-Cheng Dang, Xuan Wang, Bing-Feng Liu, De-Feng Xing, Jun Ma, Nan-Qi Ren, Qilin Wang, Guo-Jun Xie
Summary: This study developed a membrane aerated moving bed biofilm reactor (MAMBBR) for cultivating biofilms coupling n-DAMO with Anammox. The reactivated MAMBBR achieved a nitrogen removal rate of 315 g N m- 3 d-1 after 188 days and removed 99.9% total nitrogen when applied to treat synthetic sidestream wastewater, with a performance of 4.0 kg N m- 3 d-1.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Wen-Bo Nie, Guo-Jun Xie, Xin Tan, Jie Ding, Yang Lu, Yi Chen, Chun Yang, Qiang He, Bing-Feng Liu, Defeng Xing, Nanqi Ren
Summary: We demonstrate the microbial niche differentiation of n-DAMO bacteria through genome-centered omics and kinetic analysis. Under low-strength nitrite conditions, the bacterial population shifts from Methylomirabilis sinica to Methylomirabilis oxyfera, which has better nitrite uptake and reduction capabilities. Under high-strength nitrite conditions, the population shifts back to M. sinica, which is associated with its better ion transport and stress response capabilities.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Lan Li Wong, Yang Lu, James Chin Shing Ho, Sudarsan Mugunthan, Yingyu Law, Patricia Conway, Staffan Kjelleberg, Thomas Seviour
Summary: This study investigates the role of EPS in non-culturable microbial communities in environmental habitats. The S-layer protein identified in an anammox biofilm was found to facilitate interactions between anammox bacteria and polysaccharide-coated filamentous Chloroflexi bacteria, forming a three-dimensional biofilm structure.
Review
Chemistry, Physical
Ruibo Zhong, Sepehr Talebian, Barbara B. Mendes, Gordon Wallace, Robert Langer, Joao Conde, Jinjun Shi
Summary: RNA-based therapeutics hold great promise in disease intervention, and hydrogels are attracting attention for controlled release of these therapeutics. Hydrogels offer advantages such as biodegradability, tunable physiochemical properties, and precise spatiotemporal control over RNA release.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Fangzhou Zhang, Jiamei Luo, Junliang Chen, Hongxia Luo, Miaomiao Jiang, Chenxi Yang, Hui Zhang, Jun Chen, Angang Dong, Jianping Yang
Summary: One-dimensional fiber architecture is an excellent catalyst support as it enhances catalytic performance by exposing more active sites and facilitating mass diffusion. We developed an interfacial assembly strategy to orderly distribute metal nanocrystals on different fiber substrates, achieving optimum electrocatalytic performance. This strategy has the potential to promote the rational design and synthesis of fiber-based electrocatalysts.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Linbo Li, Xiaolong Zhang, Chuangwei Liu, Venkata Sai Sriram Mosali, Jun Chen, Alan M. Bond, Qinfen Gu, Jie Zhang
Summary: Electroreduction of CO2 to value-added chemicals is more efficient using a hydrophobicity graded GDL (HGGDL) that resists electrolyte flooding. Comparing the performance of a tandem catalyst consisting of a nickel-single-atom catalyst and Cu nanoparticles immobilized on GDLs and HGGDLs, the HGGDL showed higher CO intermediate coverage and lower carbonate formation. This leads to enhanced ethylene production efficiency and improved long term stability in a membrane electrode assembly electrolyzer.
APPLIED CATALYSIS B-ENVIRONMENTAL
(2023)
Review
Engineering, Environmental
Sheng-Qiang Fan, Wan-Ru Wen, Guo-Jun Xie, Yang Lu, Wen-Bo Nie, Bing-Feng Liu, De-Feng Xing, Jun Ma, Nan-Qi Ren
Summary: This study provides a comprehensive review on the metabolic mechanisms, nitrogen removal methods, and bioreactor development of the n-DAMO process, offering a roadmap for potential applications and further development of the n-DAMO process in the field of wastewater treatment.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Tajanka Mladenovska, Peter F. Choong, Gordon G. Wallace, Cathal D. O'Connell
Summary: New developments in additive manufacturing and regenerative medicine have the potential to disrupt traditional therapy development and medical device manufacture. Regulators face challenges in adapting traditional regulatory frameworks for bespoke solutions and incorporating living cells in 3D bioprinting. This perspective discusses the regulatory challenges of 3D bioprinting in comparison to existing cell therapies and custom-made medical devices, including classification, risk, standardization, and quality control.
REGENERATIVE MEDICINE
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Xiao-Wei Wang, Xin Tan, Cheng-Cheng Dang, Yang Lu, Guo-Jun Xie, Bing-Feng Liu
Summary: Thermophilic microorganisms play a significant role in element cycles and material conversion both in the early Earth and current thermal environments. Recent studies have identified diverse microbial communities involved in nitrogen cycling in thermal environments. Understanding the processes of microbial-mediated nitrogen cycling in these environments is crucial for cultivating and applying thermophilic microorganisms, as well as for studying the global nitrogen cycle. This review provides a comprehensive overview of different thermophilic nitrogen-cycling microorganisms and processes, highlighting their environmental significance, potential applications, and areas for further research.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Walter R. Torres, Nadia C. Zeballos, Victoria Flexer
Summary: Lithium is a crucial material for rechargeable batteries, but current recovery methods require evaporation of large volumes of water in desert environments. We propose a membrane electrolysis technology that can sequentially recover lithium carbonate and other by-products. The challenge lies in applying electrochemical principles to large volumes of complex, saline solutions.
FARADAY DISCUSSIONS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Dongdong Wang, Zhiwen Chen, Yujie Wu, Yu-Cheng Huang, Li Tao, Jun Chen, Chung-Li Dong, Chandra Veer Singh, Shuangyin Wang
Summary: Researchers developed a structurally ordered PtRhFeNiCu high-entropy intermetallics as an electrocatalyst for high-temperature polybenzimidazole-based direct ethanol fuel cells, exhibiting excellent electrocatalytic activity and CO tolerance. The power density achieved was 47.50 mW/cm(2), 2.97 times higher than Pt/C. The new class of high-entropy intermetallics showed better C-C bond-breaking ability, stability, and electrochemical activity compared to high-entropy alloys and Pt/C catalysts.
Article
Electrochemistry
Noelia A. Palacios, Maria L. Vera, Victoria Flexer
Summary: Electrochemistry is considered one of the most difficult subjects to teach and learn, especially when it comes to applied or industrial electrochemistry. This article proposes a method to engage students in an industrial electrochemistry course by using a case study on electrolytic production of a strategic metal. The inquiry-based learning strategy prompts students to find information online, helping them realize the energy-intensive nature of electrolytic production and the importance of understanding electrochemistry for cost reduction.
JOURNAL OF SOLID STATE ELECTROCHEMISTRY
(2023)