Methods for control, measurement and enhancement of target molecule production in bioelectric reactors

摘要

Bioreactors comprising an electrical stimulation system supply a pulsed and/or modulated electrical input to microbes that use the electrical stimulation and available CO2 to produce valuable organic compounds. Electrical power, such as from renewable sources remotely located with respect to the power grid, can be converted to chemical energy in the form of the organic compounds, which can be stored and/or transported readily.

主权项

1. A method of creating an organic compound comprising:
providing a vessel comprising electrodes disposed within an aqueous solution including a population of electro-autotrophic microbes, the vessel further comprising a controller in electrical communication between the two electrodes and configured to receive power from a power supply and to apply a pulsed or modulated current between the electrodes; introducing carbon dioxide into the vessel; and applying a pulsed or modulated current between the electrodes, wherein the electro-autotrophic microbes fix carbon from the carbon dioxide introduced into the vessel to produce the organic compound in response to the pulsed or modulated current.