Combination of bioanode and biocathode for the conversion of wastes into biocommodities using microbial electrosynthesis
Résumé
Bioelectrochemical systems such as microbial fuel cells take advantages of microorganisms to convert the chemical energy of organic waste into electricity. Recently, the discovery that BES can also be used for the synthesis of biocommodities via microbial electrosynthesis has greatly expanded the horizons for their applications. Indeed, some microbes are able to use electrons and molecules such as CO2 to synthesize reduced products: volatile fatty acids, alcohols etc... By combining both these processes, it should thus theoretically be possible to use the electrons of organic waste to synthesize bio-based chemicals in a clean and controlled compartment. In this context, we developed a dual-chamber reactor with both biotic anode and cathode separated by a cation-exchange membrane and evaluate its ability to produce molecules of interest and the microbial population dynamics associated.