Research

Microbial fuel cells

In a MFC, microorganisms interact with electrodes using electrons, which are either removed or supplied through an electrical circuit (Rabaey et al., 2007). MFCs are the major type of bioelectrochemical systems (BESs) which convert biomass spontaneously into electricity through the metabolic activity of the microorganisms. MFC is considered to be a promising sustainable technology to meet increasing energy needs, especially using wastewaters as substrates, which can generate electricity and accomplish wastewater treatment simultaneously, thus may offset the operational costs of wastewater treatment plant 

Microbial electrosynthesis

Microbial electrosynthesis (MES) is a currently evolving facet of BES in which CO2 can be transformed into value added chemicals and fuels by utilizing a small amount of electrical energy in microbial catalytic system. The excess energy generated by renewable sources like solar photovoltaics and wind-turbines during the off-hours, can be effectively utilized for the transformation of CO2 through the MES approach. Bioelectrochemical reduction of CO2 in MES is a specific application of autotrophic bioproduction technology which is electricity-driven, CO2 negative and independent of biomass.

CO2 Electroreduction

Electrochemical CO2R (eCO2R) is considered as one of the most useful techniques for the decarbonization process. Such a process is controllable by means of electrode potential and operating temperature and allows for the possibility to exploit the power of renewables to convert CO2 and water into value-added fuels and chemicals.  The employed electrocatalysts, local electrode potential, the type and composition of electrolytes are crucial to the efficiency and selectivity of a CO2 reduction process. 

Bioeconomy

A biobased economy is the transition of life sciences or a knowledge contribution from life sciences into new, sustainable and environment-friendly processes and products to the economy. A biobased economy covers different socio-economic sectors including agriculture, environment, food, chemistry, pharmaceuticals, and health. The member countries of the European Union (EU) have included the concept of a knowledge and biobased economy to their research agendas.

Projects