Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 8, 2026

Characterizing Electron Transport through Living Biofilms
Published on: June 1, 2018
Competition between Methanogens and Acetogens in Biocathodes: A Comparison between Potentiostatic and Galvanostatic
Sam D Molenaar1,2, Pradip Saha3, Annemerel R Mol4,5
1Wetsus, European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology, Oostergoweg 9, 8911 MA Leeuwarden, The Netherlands. sam.molenaar@wetsus.nl.
Abstract:
Microbial electrosynthesis is a useful form of technology for the renewable production of organic commodities from biologically catalyzed reduction of CO₂. However, for the technology to become applicable, process selectivity, stability and efficiency need strong improvement. Here we report on the effect of different electrochemical control modes (potentiostatic/galvanostatic) on both the start-up characteristics and steady-state performance of biocathodes using a non-enriched mixed-culture inoculum. Based on our results, it seems that kinetic differences exist between the two dominant functional microbial groups (i.e., homoacetogens and methanogens) and that by applying different current densities, these differences may be exploited to steer product selectivity and reactor performance.
Related Concept Videos
Microbial Nutrition
Diversity of Archaea I
Metabolism of Chemolithotrophs
Overview of Archaea
Diversity of Archaea III
Amino Acid Catabolism

