A Generalized Kinetic Framework Applied to Whole‐Cell Bioelectrocatalysis in Bioflow Reactors Clarifies Performance Enhancements for Geobacter Sulfurreducens Biofilms

Abstract

AbstractA common kinetic framework for studies of whole‐cell catalysis is vital for understanding and optimizing bioflow reactors. In this work, we demonstrate the applicability of a flow‐adapted version of Michaelis‐Menten kinetics to an electrocatalytic bacterial biofilm. A three‐electrode microfluidic biofilm flow reactor measured increased turnover rates by as much as 50 % from a Geobacter sulfurreducens biofilm as flow rate was varied. Based on parameters from the applied kinetic framework, flow‐induced increases to turnover rate, catalytic efficiency and device reaction capacity could be linked to an increase in catalytic biomass. This study demonstrates that a standardized kinetic framework is critical for quantitative measurements of new living catalytic systems in flow reactors and for benchmarking against well‐studied catalytic systems such as enzymes.

Key findings

• ▸A three‐electrode microfluidic biofilm flow reactor measured increased turnover rates by as much as 50 % from a Geobacter sulfurreducens biofilm as flow rate was varied.

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Identifiers

DOI

10.1002/celc.201900732

Journal

ChemElectroChem

Year

2019