Bioelectrochemical Systems (BES) for Biomethane Production—Review

Abstract

Bioelectrochemical systems (BESs) have great potential in renewable energy production technologies. BES can generate electricity via Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) or use electric current to synthesize valuable commodities in Microbial Electrolysis Cells (MECs). Various reactor configurations and operational protocols are increasing rapidly, although industrial-scale operation still faces difficulties. This article reviews the recent BES related to literature, with special attention to electrosynthesis and the most promising reactor configurations. We also attempted to clarify the numerous definitions proposed for BESs. The main components of BES are highlighted. Although the comparison of the various fermentation systems is, we collected useful and generally applicable operational parameters to be used for comparative studies. A brief overview links the appropriate microbes to the optimal reactor design.

Interface properties of hydroxyapatite in ternary composites cathodes for electromethanogenesis

“…This strategy combines in a single step the biological methanation process with the electro-synthetical approach. 3–8 In conventional biogas plants, methanogenic microorganisms are used to produce biomethane from a limited number of organic substrates ( e.g. , acetate, formate, and methanol) with the process named dark fermentation.…”

Electrical current disrupts the electron transfer in defined consortia

“…This integration combines the breakdown of organic matter through AD to produce biogas (almost equimolar gas mixture of CO 2 :CH 4 ) with MEC where renewable energy and microorganisms from AD are used as catalysts to convert CO 2 into high-purity methane -a clean fuel. The potential benefits of this approach include improved efficiency, increased sustainability, and enhanced energy recovery from organic waste (Horváth-Gönczi et al, 2023;Wang et al, 2022). However, practical implementation requires understanding microbial interactions at the electrode surface and their impact on methane formation.…”