Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 8, 2026

GC-based Detection of Aldononitrile Acetate Derivatized Glucosamine and Muramic Acid for Microbial Residue Determination in Soil
Published on: May 19, 2012
Effect of the electric supply interruption on a microbial electrosynthesis system converting inorganic carbon into
Mélida Del Pilar Anzola Rojas1, Marcelo Zaiat2, Ernesto Rafael Gonzalez3
1Separation and Conversion Technology, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, Belgium; São Carlos Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo (USP), Brazil.
Abstract:
Microbial electrosynthesis (MES) technology relies on the direct use of electrons to convert CO2 into long chain organic chemicals. Therefore, MES has been proposed to be coupled to the renewable electricity supply, mainly from solar and wind sources. However, those energies suffer fluctuations and interruptions of variable duration, which can have an adverse effect on MES performance. Such effects on MES has been evaluated for the first time under different interruptions time. H-cell-MES reactors were disconnected from power supply during 4, 6, 8, 16, 32 and 64 h. Interruptions affected the acetate production rate, causing a decrease of until 77% after 64 h off. However, after all the interruptions, the acetate production was restored, taking between 7 and 16 h for the reduction current to turn steady. Therefore, microbial community on MES proved to be resilient and able to recover the electro-autotrophic activity despite the duration of current supply interruptions.
Related Concept Videos
The Carbon Cycle
Carbon Skeletons
Gravimetry: Inorganic And Organic Precipitating Agents
Inorganic Nitrogen Assimilation
Acetals and Thioacetals as Protecting Groups for Aldehydes and Ketones
In the presence of multiple functional groups, when selective reduction of one group over the other is desired, groups like aldehydes and ketones that form acetals...
Nerve Supply of the GI Tract
The enteric nervous system consists of two major plexuses: the myenteric plexus (Auerbach's plexus) and the submucosal plexus (Meissner's plexus). These plexuses are located within the layers of...

