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'''Electromethanogenesis''' is a form of [[Electrochemical energy conversion|electrofuel]] production where [[methane]] is produced by direct biological conversion from [[electrical current]] and [[carbon dioxide]].<ref name=":1" /><ref name="TT" >{{Cite journal | title = Aurinkosähkön varastoinnin ongelmat ohi: bakteeri syö sähköä, tekee metaania | url = http://www.tekniikkatalous.fi/tk/article268796.ece |author1=Tuomas Kangasniemi | journal = Tekniikka & Talous | date = 2009-04-07 | accessdate = 2009-04-07 | language = fi}}</ref><ref name="Green Car" >{{Cite web | title = Researchers Show Direct Bacterial Production of Methane from Electricity and CO2 | url = http://www.greencarcongress.com/2009/03/researchers-show-direct-bacterial-production-of-methane-from-electricity-and-co2.html | work = Green Car Congress | date = 30 March 2009 | accessdate = 2009-04-09 }}</ref>
'''Electromethanogenesis''' is a form of [[Electrochemical energy conversion|electrofuel]] production where [[methane]] is produced by direct biological conversion of [[electrical current]] and [[carbon dioxide]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal|last=Cheng|first=Shaoan|last2=Xing|first2=Defeng|last3=Call|first3=Douglas F.|last4=Logan|first4=Bruce E.|date=2009-05-15|title=Direct Biological Conversion of Electrical Current into Methane by Electromethanogenesis|url=https://doi.org/10.1021/es803531g|journal=Environmental Science & Technology|volume=43|issue=10|pages=3953–3958|doi=10.1021/es803531g|issn=0013-936X}}</ref><ref name="TT" >{{Cite journal | title = Aurinkosähkön varastoinnin ongelmat ohi: bakteeri syö sähköä, tekee metaania | url = http://www.tekniikkatalous.fi/tk/article268796.ece |author1=Tuomas Kangasniemi | journal = Tekniikka & Talous | date = 2009-04-07 | accessdate = 2009-04-07 | language = fi}}</ref><ref name="Green Car" >{{Cite web | title = Researchers Show Direct Bacterial Production of Methane from Electricity and CO2 | url = http://www.greencarcongress.com/2009/03/researchers-show-direct-bacterial-production-of-methane-from-electricity-and-co2.html | work = Green Car Congress | date = 30 March 2009 | accessdate = 2009-04-09 }}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last=Blasco-Gómez|first=Ramiro|last2=Batlle-Vilanova|first2=Pau|last3=Villano|first3=Marianna|last4=Balaguer|first4=Maria Dolors|last5=Colprim|first5=Jesús|last6=Puig|first6=Sebastià|date=2017-04-20|title=On the Edge of Research and Technological Application: A Critical Review of Electromethanogenesis|url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5412455/|journal=International Journal of Molecular Sciences|volume=18|issue=4|doi=10.3390/ijms18040874|issn=1422-0067|pmc=5412455|pmid=28425974}}</ref>
[[File:Electromethanogenesis.jpg|thumb|Figure 1: Example of a two-chamber methane-producing system where electromethanogenesis takes place.]]
Methane producing technologies garnered interest from the scientific community prior to 2000, but electromethanogenesis did not become a significant area of interest until 2008.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last=Blasco-Gómez|first=Ramiro|last2=Batlle-Vilanova|first2=Pau|last3=Villano|first3=Marianna|last4=Balaguer|first4=Maria Dolors|last5=Colprim|first5=Jesús|last6=Puig|first6=Sebastià|date=2017-04-20|title=On the Edge of Research and Technological Application: A Critical Review of Electromethanogenesis|url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5412455/|journal=International Journal of Molecular Sciences|volume=18|issue=4|doi=10.3390/ijms18040874|issn=1422-0067|pmc=5412455|pmid=28425974}}</ref> Publications concerning catalytic methanation have increased from 44 to over 130 since 2008.<ref name=":0" />


Electromethanogenesis has drawn more research due to its proposed applications.<ref name=":0" /> The production of methane from electrical current may provide an approach to [[Energy storage|renewable energy storage]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal|last=Cheng|first=Shaoan|last2=Xing|first2=Defeng|last3=Call|first3=Douglas F.|last4=Logan|first4=Bruce E.|date=2009-05-15|title=Direct Biological Conversion of Electrical Current into Methane by Electromethanogenesis|url=https://doi.org/10.1021/es803531g|journal=Environmental Science & Technology|volume=43|issue=10|pages=3953–3958|doi=10.1021/es803531g|issn=0013-936X}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite journal|last=Jafary|first=Tahereh|last2=Daud|first2=Wan Ramli Wan|last3=Ghasemi|first3=Mostafa|last4=Kim|first4=Byung Hong|last5=Md Jahim|first5=Jamaliah|last6=Ismail|first6=Manal|last7=Lim|first7=Swee Su|date=2015-07-01|title=Biocathode in microbial electrolysis cell; present status and future prospects|url=http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364032115001483|journal=Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews|language=en|volume=47|pages=23–33|doi=10.1016/j.rser.2015.03.003|issn=1364-0321}}</ref> Electrical current produced from [[Renewable energy|renewable energy sources]] may, through electromethanogenesis, be converted into methane which may then be used as a [[biofuel]].<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> It may also be a useful method for the capture of carbon dioxide which may be used for air purification.<ref name=":1" />
Methane producing technologies garnered interest from the scientific community prior to 2000, but electromethanogenesis did not become a significant area of interest until 2008. Publications concerning catalytic methanation have increased from 44 to over 130 since 2008<ref name=":0" />. Electromethanogenesis has drawn more research due to its proposed applications. The production of methane from electrical current may provide an approach to [[Energy storage|renewable energy storage]]<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" />. Electrical current produced from [[Renewable energy|renewable energy sources]] may, through electromethanogenesis, be converted into methane which may then be used as a [[biofuel]]<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" />. It may also be a useful method for the capture of carbon dioxide which may be used for air purification<ref name=":1" />.


This technique can follow two different mechanisms--'''biotic''' or '''abiotic'''.<ref name=":3">{{Cite journal|last=Geppert|first=Florian|last2=Liu|first2=Dandan|last3=van Eerten-Jansen|first3=Mieke|last4=Weidner|first4=Eckhard|last5=Buisman|first5=Cees|last6=ter Heijne|first6=Annemiek|date=2016-11-01|title=Bioelectrochemical Power-to-Gas: State of the Art and Future Perspectives|url=http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167779916301482|journal=Trends in Biotechnology|language=en|volume=34|issue=11|pages=879–894|doi=10.1016/j.tibtech.2016.08.010|issn=0167-7799}}</ref><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":1" /> The biotic mechanism involves direct electron transfer and utilizes a [[microbial electrolysis cell]] to carry out the mechanism.<ref name="Cheng2009">{{Cite journal|author1=Shaoan Cheng|author2=Defeng Xing|author3=Douglas F. Call|author4=Bruce E. Logan|date=March 26, 2009|title=Direct Biological Conversion of Electrical Current into Methane by Electromethanogenesis|journal=Environ. Sci. Technol.|volume=43|issue=10|pages=3953–8|bibcode=2009EnST...43.3953C|doi=10.1021/es803531g|pmid=19544913}}</ref><ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> The abiotic mechanism involves mediated electron transfer and utilizes an electrochemical system for carrying out the mechanism.<ref name=":3" /> Each mechanism involves the [[Redox|reduction]] of [[carbon dioxide]] to [[methane]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" /> This reduction is facilitated by an electrical current at the '''biocathode''' in the microbial electrolysis cell or electrochemical system.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> Electrons are transferred from the biocathodes via direct [[electron transfer]] or using hydrogen as an intermediate.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":3" /> See ''Figure 1'' for an example of a bioelectrochemical system where electromethanogenesis could be facilitated.
In nature, methane formation occurs [[Biotic component|biotically]] and [[Abiotic component|abiotically]]<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite journal|last=Batlle-Vilanova|first=Pau|last2=Puig|first2=Sebastià|last3=Gonzalez-Olmos|first3=Rafael|last4=Vilajeliu-Pons|first4=Anna|last5=Bañeras|first5=Lluís|last6=Balaguer|first6=M. Dolors|last7=Colprim|first7=Jesús|date=2014-01-16|title=Assessment of biotic and abiotic graphite cathodes for hydrogen production in microbial electrolysis cells|url=http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360319913027420|journal=International Journal of Hydrogen Energy|language=en|volume=39|issue=3|pages=1297–1305|doi=10.1016/j.ijhydene.2013.11.017|issn=0360-3199}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite journal|last=Geppert|first=Florian|last2=Liu|first2=Dandan|last3=van Eerten-Jansen|first3=Mieke|last4=Weidner|first4=Eckhard|last5=Buisman|first5=Cees|last6=ter Heijne|first6=Annemiek|date=2016-11-01|title=Bioelectrochemical Power-to-Gas: State of the Art and Future Perspectives|url=http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167779916301482|journal=Trends in Biotechnology|language=en|volume=34|issue=11|pages=879–894|doi=10.1016/j.tibtech.2016.08.010|issn=0167-7799}}</ref>. Abiogenic methane is produced on a smaller scale and the required chemical reactions do not necessitate [[Organic matter|organic materials]]<ref name=":0" />. Biogenic methane is produced in [[Hypoxia (environmental)|anaerobic]] natural environments where methane forms as the result of the breakdown of organic materials by [[Microorganism|microbes]]—or microorganisms<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":4">{{Cite journal|last=Hara|first=Masahiro|last2=Onaka|first2=Yutaka|last3=Kobayashi|first3=Hajime|last4=Fu|first4=Qian|last5=Kawaguchi|first5=Hideo|last6=Vilcaez|first6=Javier|last7=Sato|first7=Kozo|date=2013|title=Mechanism of Electromethanogenic Reduction of CO2 by a Thermophilic Methanogen|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2013.06.637|journal=Energy Procedia|volume=37|pages=7021–7028|doi=10.1016/j.egypro.2013.06.637|issn=1876-6102}}</ref>. Researchers have found that the biogenic methane production process can be replicated in a laboratory environment through electromethanogenesis<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":4" />. The [[Redox|reduction]] of CO<sub>2</sub> in electromethanogenesis is facilitated by an electrical current at a '''biocathode''' in a [[microbial electrolysis cell]] (MEC) and with the help of microbes and electrons (Equation 1) or abiotically produced hydrogen (Equation 2)<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" /><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" />.


(1) CO<sub>2</sub> + 8H<sup>+</sup> + 8e<sup>-</sup> ↔ CH<sub>4</sub> + 2H<sub>2</sub>O
Research can still be done in the field of electromethanogenesis. One limitation to electromethanogenesis is energy loss in methane-producing bioelectrochemical systems.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":3" /> This occurs as a result of overpotentials occurring at the [[anode]], membrane, and [[cathode]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":3" /> Another problem with the technique is the mass transfer of substrates to, and products away from, the electrode.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3" />

(2) CO<sub>2</sub> + 4H<sub>2</sub> ↔ CH<sub>4</sub> + 2H<sub>2</sub>O

=== Biocathode ===
A biocathode is a cathode used in a microbial electrolysis cell during electromethanogenesis that utilizes microorganisms to catalyze the process of accepting electrons and protons from the anode<ref name=":5">{{Cite journal|last=Croese|first=Elsemiek|last2=Pereira|first2=Maria Alcina|last3=Euverink|first3=Gert-Jan W.|last4=Stams|first4=Alfons J. M.|last5=Geelhoed|first5=Jeanine S.|date=2011-12|title=Analysis of the microbial community of the biocathode of a hydrogen-producing microbial electrolysis cell|url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3210952/|journal=Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology|volume=92|issue=5|pages=1083–1093|doi=10.1007/s00253-011-3583-x|issn=0175-7598|pmc=3210952|pmid=21983651}}</ref>. A biocathode is usually made of a cheap material, such as carbon or graphite, like the anode in the MEC<ref name=":2" />. The microbe population that is placed on the biocathode must be able to pick up electrons from the electrode material (carbon or graphite) and convert those electrons to hydrogen<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":2" />.

=== Mechanism ===
[[File:Electromethanogenesis.jpg|link=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Electromethanogenesis.jpg|thumb|380x380px|Figure 1: Example of a two-chamber methane-producing system where electromethanogenesis takes place.]]
The mechanism of electromethanogenesis is outlined in Figure 1. Water is introduced into the system with the anode, biocathode, and microbes. At the anode, microbes attract H<sub>2</sub>O molecules which are then oxidized after an electrical current is turned on from the power source. Oxygen is released from the anode side. The protons and electrons oxidized from the H<sub>2</sub>O move across the membrane where they move into the material that makes up the biocathode. The new microbe on the biocathode has the ability to transfer the new electrons from the biocathode material and convert them into protons. These protons are then used in the major pathway that drives methane production in electromethanogenesis—CO<sub>2</sub> reduction. CO<sub>2</sub> is brought in on the biocathode side of the system where it is reduced by the protons produced by the microorganisms to yield H<sub>2</sub>O and methane (CH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>). Methane is produced and can then be released from the biocathode side and stored<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" /><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Zhou|first=Huihui|last2=Xing|first2=Defeng|last3=Xu|first3=Mingyi|last4=Angelidaki|first4=Irini|last5=Zhang|first5=Yifeng|date=2019|title=The Highest Methane Production Rate Ever by Electromethanogenesis Using Intact Anaerobic Granular Sludge as Biocathode|url=https://orbit.dtu.dk/en/publications/the-highest-methane-production-rate-ever-by-electromethanogenesis|language=English}}</ref>.

=== Limitations ===
One limitation is the energy loss in methane-producing bioelectrochemical systems. This occurs as a result of [[Overpotential|overpotentials]] occurring at the [[anode]], membrane, and biocathode. The energy loss reduces efficiency significantly<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" />. Another limitation is the biocathode. Because the biocathode so important in electron exchange and methane formation, its make-up can have a dramatic effect on the efficiency of the reaction<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" />. Efforts are being made to improve the biocathodes used in electromethanogenesis through combining new and existing materials, reshaping the materials, or applying different "pre-treatments" to the biocathode surface, thereby increasing biocompatibility<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":3" />.


==See also==
==See also==

Revision as of 04:25, 13 December 2020

Electromethanogenesis is a form of electrofuel production where methane is produced by direct biological conversion of electrical current and carbon dioxide.[1][2][3][4]

Methane producing technologies garnered interest from the scientific community prior to 2000, but electromethanogenesis did not become a significant area of interest until 2008. Publications concerning catalytic methanation have increased from 44 to over 130 since 2008[4]. Electromethanogenesis has drawn more research due to its proposed applications. The production of methane from electrical current may provide an approach to renewable energy storage[1][4]. Electrical current produced from renewable energy sources may, through electromethanogenesis, be converted into methane which may then be used as a biofuel[1][4]. It may also be a useful method for the capture of carbon dioxide which may be used for air purification[1].

In nature, methane formation occurs biotically and abiotically[1][5][6]. Abiogenic methane is produced on a smaller scale and the required chemical reactions do not necessitate organic materials[4]. Biogenic methane is produced in anaerobic natural environments where methane forms as the result of the breakdown of organic materials by microbes—or microorganisms[4][7]. Researchers have found that the biogenic methane production process can be replicated in a laboratory environment through electromethanogenesis[4][7]. The reduction of CO2 in electromethanogenesis is facilitated by an electrical current at a biocathode in a microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) and with the help of microbes and electrons (Equation 1) or abiotically produced hydrogen (Equation 2)[1][4][6][7].

(1) CO2 + 8H+ + 8e- ↔ CH4 + 2H2O

(2) CO2 + 4H2 ↔ CH4 + 2H2O

Biocathode

A biocathode is a cathode used in a microbial electrolysis cell during electromethanogenesis that utilizes microorganisms to catalyze the process of accepting electrons and protons from the anode[8]. A biocathode is usually made of a cheap material, such as carbon or graphite, like the anode in the MEC[5]. The microbe population that is placed on the biocathode must be able to pick up electrons from the electrode material (carbon or graphite) and convert those electrons to hydrogen[8][5].

Mechanism

Figure 1: Example of a two-chamber methane-producing system where electromethanogenesis takes place.

The mechanism of electromethanogenesis is outlined in Figure 1. Water is introduced into the system with the anode, biocathode, and microbes. At the anode, microbes attract H2O molecules which are then oxidized after an electrical current is turned on from the power source. Oxygen is released from the anode side. The protons and electrons oxidized from the H2O move across the membrane where they move into the material that makes up the biocathode. The new microbe on the biocathode has the ability to transfer the new electrons from the biocathode material and convert them into protons. These protons are then used in the major pathway that drives methane production in electromethanogenesis—CO2 reduction. CO2 is brought in on the biocathode side of the system where it is reduced by the protons produced by the microorganisms to yield H2O and methane (CH4+). Methane is produced and can then be released from the biocathode side and stored[4][6][7][9].

Limitations

One limitation is the energy loss in methane-producing bioelectrochemical systems. This occurs as a result of overpotentials occurring at the anode, membrane, and biocathode. The energy loss reduces efficiency significantly[4][6][7]. Another limitation is the biocathode. Because the biocathode so important in electron exchange and methane formation, its make-up can have a dramatic effect on the efficiency of the reaction[1][4]. Efforts are being made to improve the biocathodes used in electromethanogenesis through combining new and existing materials, reshaping the materials, or applying different "pre-treatments" to the biocathode surface, thereby increasing biocompatibility[4][6].

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Cheng, Shaoan; Xing, Defeng; Call, Douglas F.; Logan, Bruce E. (2009-05-15). "Direct Biological Conversion of Electrical Current into Methane by Electromethanogenesis". Environmental Science & Technology. 43 (10): 3953–3958. doi:10.1021/es803531g. ISSN 0013-936X.
  2. ^ Tuomas Kangasniemi (2009-04-07). "Aurinkosähkön varastoinnin ongelmat ohi: bakteeri syö sähköä, tekee metaania". Tekniikka & Talous (in Finnish). Retrieved 2009-04-07.
  3. ^ "Researchers Show Direct Bacterial Production of Methane from Electricity and CO2". Green Car Congress. 30 March 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-09.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Blasco-Gómez, Ramiro; Batlle-Vilanova, Pau; Villano, Marianna; Balaguer, Maria Dolors; Colprim, Jesús; Puig, Sebastià (2017-04-20). "On the Edge of Research and Technological Application: A Critical Review of Electromethanogenesis". International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 18 (4). doi:10.3390/ijms18040874. ISSN 1422-0067. PMC 5412455. PMID 28425974.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link)
  5. ^ a b c Batlle-Vilanova, Pau; Puig, Sebastià; Gonzalez-Olmos, Rafael; Vilajeliu-Pons, Anna; Bañeras, Lluís; Balaguer, M. Dolors; Colprim, Jesús (2014-01-16). "Assessment of biotic and abiotic graphite cathodes for hydrogen production in microbial electrolysis cells". International Journal of Hydrogen Energy. 39 (3): 1297–1305. doi:10.1016/j.ijhydene.2013.11.017. ISSN 0360-3199.
  6. ^ a b c d e Geppert, Florian; Liu, Dandan; van Eerten-Jansen, Mieke; Weidner, Eckhard; Buisman, Cees; ter Heijne, Annemiek (2016-11-01). "Bioelectrochemical Power-to-Gas: State of the Art and Future Perspectives". Trends in Biotechnology. 34 (11): 879–894. doi:10.1016/j.tibtech.2016.08.010. ISSN 0167-7799.
  7. ^ a b c d e Hara, Masahiro; Onaka, Yutaka; Kobayashi, Hajime; Fu, Qian; Kawaguchi, Hideo; Vilcaez, Javier; Sato, Kozo (2013). "Mechanism of Electromethanogenic Reduction of CO2 by a Thermophilic Methanogen". Energy Procedia. 37: 7021–7028. doi:10.1016/j.egypro.2013.06.637. ISSN 1876-6102.
  8. ^ a b Croese, Elsemiek; Pereira, Maria Alcina; Euverink, Gert-Jan W.; Stams, Alfons J. M.; Geelhoed, Jeanine S. (2011-12). "Analysis of the microbial community of the biocathode of a hydrogen-producing microbial electrolysis cell". Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology. 92 (5): 1083–1093. doi:10.1007/s00253-011-3583-x. ISSN 0175-7598. PMC 3210952. PMID 21983651. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  9. ^ Zhou, Huihui; Xing, Defeng; Xu, Mingyi; Angelidaki, Irini; Zhang, Yifeng (2019). "The Highest Methane Production Rate Ever by Electromethanogenesis Using Intact Anaerobic Granular Sludge as Biocathode". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)