Valorisation of CO2 into Value-Added Products via Microbial Electrosynthesis (MES) and Electro-Fermentation Technology
TL;DR: In this article, a review accentuates the concept, importance and opportunities of MES, as an emerging discipline at the nexus of microbiology and electrochemistry, and considers the production of organic compounds from MES is considered as an effective technique for the generation of various beneficial reduced end-products (like acetate and butyrate) as well as in reducing the load of CO2 from the atmosphere to mitigate the harmful effect of greenhouse gases in global warming.
Abstract: Microbial electrocatalysis reckons on microbes as catalysts for reactions occurring at electrodes. Microbial fuel cells and microbial electrolysis cells are well-known in this context; both prefer the oxidation of organic and inorganic matter for producing electricity. Notably, the synthesis of high energy-density chemicals (fuels) or their precursors by microorganisms using bio-cathode to yield electrical energy is called Microbial Electrosynthesis (MES), giving an exceptionally appealing novel way for producing beneficial products from electricity and wastewater. This review accentuates the concept, importance and opportunities of MES, as an emerging discipline at the nexus of microbiology and electrochemistry. Production of organic compounds from MES is considered as an effective technique for the generation of various beneficial reduced end-products (like acetate and butyrate) as well as in reducing the load of CO2 from the atmosphere to mitigate the harmful effect of greenhouse gases in global warming. Although MES is still an emerging technology, this method is not thoroughly known. The authors have focused on MES, as it is the next transformative, viable alternative technology to decrease the repercussions of surplus carbon dioxide in the environment along with conserving energy.
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TL;DR: In this article , the performance of a two-chamber MFC with titanium electrodes and inoculum sludge from upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactors (UASB) was investigated.
7 citations
TL;DR: In this paper , the authors analyzed the cases of major countries for waste heat energy utilization and outdoor air conditioning in data centers and proposed several ways to reduce the amount of power in the data center.
Abstract: As the COVID-19 pandemic and interest in the virtual world rapidly increase, the data usage in the current society is rapidly increasing to an unprecedented level, and the need for expansion of data centers to handle it is also rapidly increasing. Data centers operate continuously and consume a lot of power in operation. As electricity consumption increases, the increase in greenhouse gas emissions adversely affects the environment, so the increase in data centers inevitably affects the climate environment. Typical technologies that can reduce power consumption in data centers are waste heat energy utilization and outdoor air conditioning. By analyzing the cases of major countries for the two technologies, the technological direction beneficial to Korea was reviewed. As Korea's outdoor air conditioning standards are relaxed, the number of outdoor air conditioning facilities in Korea is increasing. However, the Korean government's practical support for waste heat energy utilization is extremely limited. By analyzing policy cases for waste heat energy utilization in data centers in other countries, policies for revitalizing waste heat energy utilization in Korean data centers were proposed. Furthermore, several ways to reduce the amount of power in the data center were explored and proposed.
6 citations
TL;DR: In this paper , a review of various applications of BES such as microbial fuel cells, microbial electrolysis cells, and microbial desalination cells using diverse types of wastewaters (petroleum sludge, produced water, formation water, and petroleum refinery wastewater) from the petroleum industries.
6 citations
TL;DR: In this paper , the advantages and disadvantages of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology, the status of CCS technology, and commercialization cases are investigated and analyzed for an in-depth analysis of the technology itself.
Abstract: As climate change progresses rapidly, unprecedented weather and natural changes are occurring. After carbon dioxide was identified as the main culprit of global warming and climate change, at the UN General Assembly in 2015, 195 countries signed the Paris Agreement to set greenhouse gas emission reduction targets. However, some countries are either withdrawing from the Paris Agreement or failing to implement it due to their own economic reasons. Reducing the use of fossil fuels increases energy costs. In this context, carbon capture and storage technology (CCS) is emerging as an alternative. In this review, the outline of CCS technology is explained, and the advantages and disadvantages of each technology, the status of CCS technology, and commercialization cases are investigated and analyzed. In addition, for an in-depth analysis of the CCS technology itself, the following issues were analyzed in depth during the research and analysis process: 1) Efficiency of CCS technology, 2) Comparison of carbon capture and storage capacity between CCS technology and vegetation, 3) Stability of carbon storage through CCS technology. Finally, the policy for carbon capture and storage technology and the development direction of this technology were presented.
5 citations
TL;DR: In this paper , the reproducible measurement method and fair evaluation are essential elements in research, these elements are missing in MFC research, and will greatly contribute to the firm foundation and the meaningful growth of the MLC research.
5 citations
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TL;DR: In this paper, a review of cost effective technologies and the processes to convert biomass into useful liquid bio-fuels and bioproducts, with particular focus on some biorefinery concepts based on different feedstocks aiming at the integral utilization of these feedstocks for the production of value added chemicals.
Abstract: Sustainable economic and industrial growth requires safe, sustainable resources of energy. For the future re-arrangement of a sustainable economy to biological raw materials, completely new approaches in research and development, production, and economy are necessary. The ‘first-generation’ biofuels appear unsustainable because of the potential stress that their production places on food commodities. For organic chemicals and materials these needs to follow a biorefinery model under environmentally sustainable conditions. Where these operate at present, their product range is largely limited to simple materials (i.e. cellulose, ethanol, and biofuels). Second generation biorefineries need to build on the need for sustainable chemical products through modern and proven green chemical technologies such as bioprocessing including pyrolysis, Fisher Tropsch, and other catalytic processes in order to make more complex molecules and materials on which a future sustainable society will be based. This review focus on cost effective technologies and the processes to convert biomass into useful liquid biofuels and bioproducts, with particular focus on some biorefinery concepts based on different feedstocks aiming at the integral utilization of these feedstocks for the production of value added chemicals.
2,814 citations
TL;DR: A broad and historical view of different aspects and their complex interplay in CO2R catalysis on Cu is taken, with the purpose of providing new insights, critical evaluations, and guidance to the field with regard to research directions and best practices.
Abstract: To date, copper is the only heterogeneous catalyst that has shown a propensity to produce valuable hydrocarbons and alcohols, such as ethylene and ethanol, from electrochemical CO2 reduction (CO2R). There are variety of factors that impact CO2R activity and selectivity, including the catalyst surface structure, morphology, composition, the choice of electrolyte ions and pH, and the electrochemical cell design. Many of these factors are often intertwined, which can complicate catalyst discovery and design efforts. Here we take a broad and historical view of these different aspects and their complex interplay in CO2R catalysis on Cu, with the purpose of providing new insights, critical evaluations, and guidance to the field with regard to research directions and best practices. First, we describe the various experimental probes and complementary theoretical methods that have been used to discern the mechanisms by which products are formed, and next we present our current understanding of the complex reaction networks for CO2R on Cu. We then analyze two key methods that have been used in attempts to alter the activity and selectivity of Cu: nanostructuring and the formation of bimetallic electrodes. Finally, we offer some perspectives on the future outlook for electrochemical CO2R.
2,055 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors explore the technical and economic characteristics of an accelerated energy transition to 2050, using new datasets for renewable energy, and show that energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies are the core elements of that transition, and their synergies are likewise important.
2,012 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors reviewed the opportunities associated with renewable energy sources which include: Energy Security, Energy Access, Social and Economic development, Climate Change Mitigation, and reduction of environmental and health impacts.
Abstract: The world is fast becoming a global village due to the increasing daily requirement of energy by all population across the world while the earth in its form cannot change. The need for energy and its related services to satisfy human social and economic development, welfare and health is increasing. Returning to renewables to help mitigate climate change is an excellent approach which needs to be sustainable in order to meet energy demand of future generations. The study reviewed the opportunities associated with renewable energy sources which includes: Energy Security, Energy Access, Social and Economic development, Climate Change Mitigation, and reduction of environmental and health impacts. Despite these opportunities, there are challenges that hinder the sustainability of renewable energy sources towards climate change mitigation. These challenges include Market failures, lack of information, access to raw materials for future renewable resource deployment, and our daily carbon footprint. The ...
1,545 citations
TL;DR: This Review addresses the principles, challenges and opportunities of microbial electrosynthesis, an exciting new discipline at the nexus of microbiology and electrochemistry.
Abstract: Microbial electrocatalysis relies on microorganisms as catalysts for reactions occurring at electrodes. Microbial fuel cells and microbial electrolysis cells are well known in this context; both use microorganisms to oxidize organic or inorganic matter at an anode to generate electrical power or H(2), respectively. The discovery that electrical current can also drive microbial metabolism has recently lead to a plethora of other applications in bioremediation and in the production of fuels and chemicals. Notably, the microbial production of chemicals, called microbial electrosynthesis, provides a highly attractive, novel route for the generation of valuable products from electricity or even wastewater. This Review addresses the principles, challenges and opportunities of microbial electrosynthesis, an exciting new discipline at the nexus of microbiology and electrochemistry.
1,285 citations