Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 27, 2026

Scalable Step-by-Step Approach of Sustainable Bioplastic Production from Food Waste
Published on: July 18, 2025
Formic acid production using a microbial electrolysis desalination and chemical-production cell
Yaobin Lu1, Haiping Luo1, Kunpeng Yang1
1Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation Technology, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China.
Abstract:
The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility and optimization of formic acid production in the microbial electrolysis desalination and chemical-production cell (MEDCC). The maximum current density in the MEDCC with 72cm of the anode fiber length (72-MEDCC) reached 24.0±2.0A/m2, which was much higher than previously reported. The maximum average formic acid production rate in the 72-MEDCC was 5.28 times higher than that in the MEDCC with 24cm of the anode fiber length (37.00±1.15vs. 7.00±0.25mg/h). High performance in the 72-MEDCC was attributed to small membrane spacing (1mm), high flow rate (1500μL/min) on the membrane surface and high anode biomass. The minimum electricity consumption of 0.34±0.04kWh/kg in the 72-MEDCC was only 3.1-18.8% of those in the EDBMs. The MEDCC should be a promising technology for the formic acid production.
Related Concept Videos
Fates of Pyruvate
In aerobic organisms, pyruvate is metabolized via the citric acid cycle to produce reduced coenzymes NADH and FADH2. These coenzymes are then oxidized in the electron transport chain to produce ATP and, in the process, regenerate the NAD+ and FAD. As seen in some cell types and organisms, fermentation...
Microbial Fermentation
Electrolysis
Amino Acid Catabolism

