Microorganisms that Generate Solutions: technological prospection of microbial electrosynthesis in the fight against CO₂
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.9771/cp.v19i3.67210Keywords:
Microbial Electrosynthesis, Carbon Sequestration, Sustainable Innovation.Abstract
Microbial electrosynthesis emerges as a strategic alternative in response to the climate crisis, enabling the capture of carbon dioxide (CO₂) and its conversion into value-added organic compounds through the metabolic activity of electrogenic microorganisms. This study presents a technological prospecting of the development of this technique between 2010 and 2024, with particular emphasis on the pandemic period. Scientific publications indexed in Scopus and ScienceDirect were analyzed, as well as patent documents retrieved from WIPO, EPO, PI, and Lens.org databases, using the descriptors “microbial electrosynthesis,” “bioelectrochemical CO₂ reduction,” “microbial CO₂ reduction,” and “microbial CO₂ conversion.” Although the prospective approach does not allow exhaustive coverage, the adopted methodological framework enabled the identification of consistent trends and relevant research gaps. The findings highlight the consolidation of microbial electrosynthesis as a key technology for the bioeconomy, carbon neutralization, and organic waste valorization, underscoring its innovative potential in industrial and educational applications and the need for interdisciplinary investment aligned with public policies.
Downloads
References
AL-MAMUN, Abdullah; AHMED, Waqar; JAFARY, Tahereh; NAYAK, Jagdeep Kumar; AL-NUAIMI, Ali; SANA, Ahmad. Recent advances in microbial electrosynthesis system: Metabolic investigation and process optimization. Fuel, v. 345, 128289, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2023.128289
BEHERA, B. K. et al. Carbon capture and utilization: A review of emerging technologies. Environmental Research, v. 208, p. 112689, 2022.
BIAN, B. et al. Electroactive bacteria and biocathode in microbial electrosynthesis: From mechanism to applications. Bioresource Technology, v. 302, p. 122825, 2020.
CHEN, Y. et al. Recent advances in microbial electrosynthesis: from pathways to applications. Progress in Materials Science, v. 135, p. 101076, 2023. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmatsci.2023.101076.
CHRISTODOULOU, X. et al. The use of carbon dioxide in microbial electrosynthesis: Advancements, sustainability and economic feasibility. Journal of CO₂ Utilization, v. 18, p. 390-399, 2017.
DAS, S.; SINGH, S.; KUMAR, S. Bioelectrochemical systems: Recent advances and future perspectives. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, v. 113, p. 109271, 2019.
ETZKOWITZ, H.; LEYDESDORFF, L. The dynamics of innovation: from National Systems and “Mode 2” to a Triple Helix of University-industry-government relations. Research Policy, v. 29, n. 2, p. 109-123, 2000.
FLEISCHMANN, M.; ZHANG, T.; KRAUSE, S. Microbial Electrochemical Technologies: Recent Advances and Future Outlook. Chem Electro Chem, v. 7, p. 1-19, 2020.
GLAVEN, R. H. Microbial electrosynthesis – progress, challenges and future opportunities. Microbial Biotechnology, v. 12, n. 6, p. 1220-1224, 2019.
GOPAKUMARI-SATHEESH-CHANDRAN, L. et al. Microbial electrosynthesis: carbonaceous electrode materials for CO₂ conversion. Materials Horizons, v. 10, p. 292-312, 2023.
GRAHAM, S.; DE RUYTER, A. Propriedade intelectual: patentes como ferramenta estratégica de inovação. São Paulo: Editora Senac, 2021.
GUL, M.; AHMAD, S. Technological innovation and climate change mitigation: empirical evidence from G20 countries. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, v. 26, p. 15426–15438, 2019.
HEIMANN, T. Bioeconomy and SDGs: Does the bioeconomy support the achievement of the SDGs? Earth’s Future, v. 7, p. 43-57, 2019.
IGBARASHI, K.; KATO, S. Extracellular electron transfer in acetogenic bacteria and its application for conversion of carbon dioxide into organic compounds. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, v. 101, p. 6301-6307, 2017.
INSTITUTO CLIMA E SOCIEDADE. Emissões no Brasil: Relatório Anual de Emissões de GEE. Rio de Janeiro: Instituto Clima e Sociedade, 2022.
INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR MICROBIAL ELECTROCHEMISTRY AND TECHNOLOGY. LA-ISMET, Fortaleza, Brasil, 2 a 4 setembro 2024. Disponível em: https://is-met.org/meetings/. Acesso em: 17 maio. 2025.
INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR MICROBIAL ELECTROCHEMISTRY AND TECHNOLOGY. A-ISMET, Ain Sokhna, Egito, 5 a 7 fevereiro 2025. Disponível em: https://is-met.org/meetings/. Acesso em: 17 maio. 2025.
JOURDIN, L. Microbial Electrosynthesis from Carbon Dioxide: Performance Enhancement and Elucidation of Mechanisms. 2016. 168. Tese (Doutorado) – University of Queensland, Queensland, 2016.
JOURDIN, L.; BURDYNY, T. Microbial Electrosynthesis: Where Do We Go from Here? Trends in Biotechnology, v. 39, p. 359-369, 2021.
KRACKERMEIER, F.; VASSILEV, I.; KRÖMER, J. O. Microbial electron transport and energy conservation – The foundation for optimizing bioelectrochemical systems. Frontiers in Microbiology, v. 6, 2015.
KUMARAVEL, S. et al. Trends and Advances in Microbial Electrochemical Systems for Carbon Capture and Utilization. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, v. 132, p. 110056, 2020.
LI, X. et al. Efficient CO₂ conversion into carboxylates using flow-through bioelectrochemical systems. Trends in Biotechnology, v. 42, n. 5, p. 512-525, 2024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tibtech.2024.03.004.
LI, Yixin; CAO, Mingfeng; GUPTA, Vijai Kumar; WANG, Yuanpeng. Metabolic engineering strategies to enable microbial electrosynthesis utilization of CO₂: recent progress and challenges. Critical Reviews in Biotechnology, v. 44, n. 3, p. 401–418, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1080/07388551.2023.2179867
LIU, Z. et al. Role of microbial electrosynthesis system in CO₂ capture and conversion: a recent advancement toward cathode development. Frontiers in Microbiology, v. 14, p. 1192187, 2023.
LOGAN, B. E.; RABAEY, K. Microbial electrochemical technologies. Nature Reviews Microbiology, v. 10, p. 307-319, 2012.
McARTHUR, J. W. Clean energy technologies and developing countries. Washington: Brookings Institution, 2013.
MURILLO-LUNA, José Luis; HERNÁNDEZ-TRASOBARES, Alejandro. Drivers of corporate environmental innovation: The role of the Triple Helix collaboration. Journal of Cleaner Production, v. 425, p. 139463, 2023. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.139463.
NEVIN, K. P. et al. Microbial electrosynthesis: feeding microbes electricity to convert carbon dioxide and water to multicarbon extracellular organic compounds. mBio, v. 1, n. 2, p. e00103-10, 2011.
OC – OBSERVATÓRIO DO CLIMA. Relatório de Emissões de Gases de Efeito Estufa no Brasil (SEEG). São Paulo: Observatório do Clima, 2021.
OECD – ORGANISATION FOR ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT. Science, Technology and Innovation Outlook 2020: Adapting to the Covid-19 crisis. Paris: OECD Publishing, 2020.
PANT, D. et al. Bioelectrochemical systems (BES) for sustainable energy production and product recovery from organic wastes and industrial wastewaters. RSC Advances, v. 2, n. 4, p. 1248-1263, 2012.
PHILP, M.; WINICKOFF, D. Realizing the circular bioeconomy. Nature Biotechnology, v. 36, p. 532-535, 2018.
QURAISHI, M. et al. Valorisation of CO₂ into Value-Added Products via Microbial Electrosynthesis (MES) and Electro-Fermentation Technology. Fermentation, v. 7, n. 4, p. 291, 2021.
RABAEY, K.; ROZENDAL, R. A. Microbial electrosynthesis – revisiting the electrical route for microbial production. Nature Reviews Microbiology, v. 8, p. 706-716, 2010.
THULLURU, Lakshmi Pathi; GHANGREKAR, Makarand M.; CHOWDHURY, Shamik. Progress and perspectives on microbial electrosynthesis for valorisation of CO₂ into value-added products. Journal of Environmental Management, v. 332, p. 117323, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.117323.
VENKATA MOHAN, S.; PANDEY, A.; VARJANI, S. Microbial electrochemical technology: sustainable platform for fuels, chemicals and remediation. [S.l.]: Elsevier, 2018.
VENKATA MOHAN, S. et al. Moving towards biorefinery and circular economy: Role of microbial electrochemical technologies in achieving sustainability. Bioresource Technology Reports, v. 7, p. 100272, 2019.
YAU, H. H.; HAYES, M.; KALATHIL, S. Bioelectrochemical systems for CO₂ capture and utilization: current status and future perspectives. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, v. 165, p. 112527, 2022.
ZHANG, H. et al. Advances in cathode materials for microbial electrosynthesis of organic acids. Bioelectrochemistry, v. 148, p. 108293, 2022. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bioelechem.2022.108293.
ZHAO, Z. et al. China’s innovation policy and clean energy technologies: institutional evolution and strategic directions. Energy Policy, v. 164, p. 112876, 2022.
ZHOU, Chunyan; ETZKOWITZ, Henry. Triple Helix Twins: innovation and sustainability. Sustainability, v. 13, n. 12, p. 6535, 2021. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su13126535.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Cadernos de Prospecção
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
O autor declara que: - Todos os autores foram nomeados. - Está submetendo o manuscrito com o consentimento dos outros autores. - Caso o trabalho submetido tiver sido contratado por algum empregador, tem o consentimento do referido empregador. - Os autores estão cientes de que é condição de publicação que os manuscritos submetidos a esta revista não tenham sido publicados anteriormente e não sejam submetidos ou publicados simultaneamente em outro periódico sem prévia autorização do Conselho Editorial. - Os autores concordam que o seu artigo ou parte dele possa ser distribuído e/ou reproduzido por qualquer forma, incluindo traduções, desde que sejam citados de modo completo esta revista e os autores do manuscrito. - Revista Cadernos de Prospecção está licenciado com uma Licença Creative Commons Attribution 4.0. Esta licença permite que outros remixem, adaptem e criem a partir do seu trabalho para fins não comerciais, e embora os novos trabalhos tenham de lhe atribuir o devido crédito e não possam ser usados para fins comerciais, os usuários não têm de licenciar esses trabalhos derivados sob os mesmos termos.
Este obra está licenciado com uma Licença Creative Commons Atribuição 4.0 Internacional.
