Sulfate-Reducing ElectroAutotrophs and Their Applications in Bioelectrochemical Systems
Valeria Agostino, Miriam A. Rosenbaum
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82% confidenceThis mini-review synthesizes recent discoveries in electroautotrophic sulfate-reducing microorganisms (SRM) and their applications in bioelectrochemical systems (BES). SRM can perform extracellular electron uptake from cathodes using CO₂ as sole carbon source, enabling simultaneous sulfate removal, hydrogen production, and biochemical synthesis. The review examines metabolic pathways, electron transfer mechanisms (direct and indirect), and emerging BES technologies including sulfate-rich water treatment, hydrogen production, and microbial electrosynthesis enhancement through syntrophic co-cultures.
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Abstract
Electroautotrophs are microbes able to perform different biocathodic reactions by using CO2 as sole carbon source and electrochemical reducing power as a sole energy source. Electroautotrophy has been discovered in several groups of microorganisms, including iron-oxidizing bacteria, iron-reducing bacteria, nitrate-reducing bacteria, acetogens, methanogens and sulfate-reducing bacteria. The high diversity of electroautrophs results in a wide range of Bioelectrochemical Systems (BES) applications, ranging from bioproduction to bioremediation. In the last decade, particular research attention has been devoted towards the discovery, characterization and application of acetogenic and methanogenic electroautotrophs. Less attention has been given to autotrophic sulfate-reducing microorganisms, which are extremely interesting biocatalysts for multiple BES technologies, with concomitant CO2 fixation. They can accomplish water sulfate removal, hydrogen production and, in some case, even biochemicals production. This mini-review gives a journey into electroautotrophic ability of sulfate-reducing bacteria and highlights their possible importance for biosustainable applications. More specifically, general metabolic features of autotrophic sulfate reducers are introduced. Recently discovered strains able to perform extracellular electron uptake and possible molecular mechanisms behind this electron transfer capacity are explored. Finally, BES technologies based on sulfate-reducing electroautotrophs are illustrated.
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- Journal
- Frontiers in Energy Research
- Year
- 2018