PEM Electrolysis in a Stirred‐Tank Bioreactor Enables Autotrophic Growth of Clostridium ragsdalei with CO2 and Electrons

Abstract

Abstract Acetogenic bacteria produce CO2‐based chemicals in aqueous media by hydrogenotrophic conversion of CO2, but CO is the preferred carbon and electron source. Consequently, coupling CO2 electrolysis with bacterial fermentation within an integrated bio‐electrocatalytical system (BES) is promising, if CO2 reduction catalysts are available for the generation of CO in the complex biotic electrolyte. A standard stirred‐tank bioreactor was coupled to a zero‐gap PEM electrolysis cell for CO2 conversion, allowing voltage control and separation of the anode in one single cell. The cathodic CO2 reduction and the competing hydrogen evolution enabled in‐situ feeding of C. ragsdalei with CO and H2. Proof‐of‐concept was demonstrated in first batch processes with continuous CO2 gassing, as autotrophic growth and acetate formation was observed in the stirred BES in a voltage range of −2.4 to −3.0 V. The setup is suitable also for other bioelectrocatalytic reactions. Increased currents and lower overvoltages are however required. Atomically‐dispersed M−N−C catalysts show promise, if degradation throughout autoclaving can be omitted. The development of selective and autoclavable catalysts resistant to contamination and electrode design for the complex electrolyte will enable efficient bioelectrocatalytic power‐to‐X systems based on the introduced BES.

Keywords

• Bioelectrocatalytic CO2 conversion
• CO2 electrolysis
• Autotrophic CO2 conversion
• Atomically dispersed catalysts
• PEM electrolysis