Hydrogen gas production in a microbial electrolysis cell by electrohydrogenesis

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• 作者：Nathan Wrana ; Richard Sparling ; Nazim Cicek ; David B. Levin
• 关键词：Biohydrogen ; Microbial electrolysis cell ; Electrohydrogenesis ; Electricigen ; Renewable
• 刊名：Journal of Cleaner Production
• 出版年：2010
• 出版时间：December 2010
• 年：2010
• 卷：18
• 期：Supplement 1
• 页码：S105-S111
• 全文大小：344 K

文摘

Electrohydrogenesis is a bio-electrochemical process where organic material is microbially oxidized to protons and electrons, which in turn are reduced to form hydrogen gas (H₂). The reactor in which these reactions occur is termed a microbial electrolysis cell (MEC). The microorganisms that colonize the anode are known as electricigens and behave as biological catalysts, significantly reducing the energy required to drive this process. Electricigens are capable of complete substrate degradation, leading to very high cathodic H₂ recovery efficiencies from sources previously considered organic waste. In this short review, the origination of the bio-electrochemical system (BES) is introduced, mechanisms for electron transfer between microbe and electrode are discussed, the challenges these electrochemical systems face are presented, and finally an overview of current MEC systems and their respective performance is evaluated. Electrohydrogenesis has established itself as a promising technology for sustainable H₂ production from renewable sources.