Reactor designs and configurations for biological and bioelectrochemical C1 gas conversion: a review

• Published in: International journal of environmental research and public health 2021-11, Vol.18 (21), p.11683
• Main Authors: Ayol, Azize, Peixoto, L., Keskin, Tugba, Abubackar, Haris Nalakath
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acetogenesis; Alternative energy sources; Biocathode; Biodiesel fuels; Biofilm; Biofilms; Biofuels; Biogas; Biomass; Bioreactors; Carbon; Carbon dioxide; Chemicals; Conversion; Desalination; Electricity; Electromethanogenesis; Elongation; Ethanol; Exhaust gases; Fermentation; Gasliquid mass transfer; Hydrogen; Hydrogenotrophic methanation; Lignocellulose; Methanation; Microbial chain elongation; Microbial electrosynthesis; Microorganisms; Nuclear fuels; Oxidation; Reactors; Review; Sustainability; Syngas fermentation; Synthesis gas
• ISSN: 1660-4601; 1661-7827; 1660-4601
• DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182111683

Microbial C1 gas conversion technologies have developed into a potentially promising technology for converting waste gases (CO2, CO) into chemicals, fuels, and other materials. However, the mass transfer constraint of these poorly soluble substrates to microorganisms is an important challenge to maximize the efficiencies of the processes. These technologies have attracted significant scientific interest in recent years, and many reactor designs have been explored. Syngas fermentation and hydrogenotrophic methanation use molecular hydrogen as an electron donor. Furthermore, the sequestration of CO2 and the generation of valuable chemicals through the application of a biocathode in bioelectrochemical cells have been evaluated for their great potential to contribute to sustainability. Through a process termed microbial chain elongation, the product portfolio from C1 gas conversion may be expanded further by carefully driving microorganisms to perform acetogenesis, solventogenesis, and reverse -oxidation. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the various kinds of bioreactors that are employed in these microbial C1 conversion processes. This study was conducted in collaboration with researchers from four different institu tions (Dokuz Eylul University, Turkey; University of Minho, Portugal; Izmir Democracy University, Turkey, and University of A Coruña, Spain), who were supported by the following funding bodies: A.A. [Dokuz Eylul University, Scientific Research Foundation (DEU-BAP) (#2011.KB.FEN.046) and TUBİTAK (#119R029)]; L.P. [Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) (UIDB/04469/2020), and FCT and European Social Fund (POPH-QREN) (POCI-01-0145-FEDER 031377)]; T.K. [TUBİTAK-CAYDAG (118Y305)]; and H.N.A. [Xunta de Galicia (ED431C 2021/55)]. A.A. acknowledges the support by Dokuz Eylul University, Scientific Research Foundation (DEU-BAP), Turkey, for the award on (#2011.KB.FEN.046) “Direct Electricity Generation from Treatment Plant Sludges by using MFCs” research project. A.A. acknowledges TUBİTAK for the support on #119R029 “Sustainable Energy Recovery from Treatment plant sludge, green waste and olive pomace via gasification process: Investigation of beneficial usage alternatives of gasification by-products”. L.P. acknowledges the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technol ogy (FCT) under the scope of the strategic funding of UIDB/04469/2020 unit. Also, the financial sup port from Portuguese Foundation for Science and Tech