Microbial electrosynthesis feasibility evaluation at high bicarbonate concentrations with enriched homoacetogenic biocathode

An enrichment methodology was developed for a homoacetogenic biocathode that is able to function at high concentrations of bicarbonates for the microbial electrosynthesis (MES) of acetate from carbon dioxide. The study was performed in two stages; enrichment of consortia in serum bottles and the development of a biocathode in MES. A homoacetogenic consortium was sequentially grown under increasing concentrations of bicarbonate, in serum bottles, at room temperature. The acetate production rate was found to increase with the increase in the bicarbonate concentration and evidenced a maximum production rate of 260 mg/L d−1 (15 g HCO3−/L). On the contrary, carbon conversion efficiency decreased with the increase in the bicarbonate concentration, which evidenced a maximum at 2.5 g HCO3−/L (90.16%). Following a further increase in the bicarbonate concentration up to 20 g HCO3−/L, a visible inhibition was registered with respect to the acetate production rate and the carbon conversion efficiency. Well adapted biomass from 15 g HCO3−/L was used to develop biocathodic catalyst for MES. An effective biocathode was developed after 4 cycles of operation, during which acetate production was improved gradually, evidencing a maximum production rate of 24.53 mg acetate L−1 d−1 (carbon conversion efficiency, 47.72%). Compared to the enrichment stage, the carbon conversion efficiency and the rate of acetate production in MES were found to be low. The production of acetate induced a change in the catholyte pH, from neutral conditions towards acidic conditions. [Display omitted] •Homoacetogenic mixed consortia was enriched under high bicarbonate concentrations.•Enriched consortia showed faster adaptation (in 4 cycles) and biocathode formation.•Microbial electrosynthesis (MES) sustained at 15 g/L of bicarbonate concentrations.•MES produced acetate at 24 mg/L-day along with carbon conversion efficiency of 48%.•Catholyte pH was maintained in favorable range for stable biocathode function.