Recent advances in electro-fermentation technology: Sustainable approach for enhanced chemical bioproduction from...

Microbial fermentations are often constrained by intracellular redox imbalance, impacting cell growth, product formation and overall efficiency of the process. Electro-fermentation (EF) is an emerging technology integrating the advantages of microbial fermentation with electrochemical systems to overcome the constraints imposed by redox imbalance. In electro-fermentation, microbes interact with electrodes to ensure intracellular redox balanceleading to maximal output of target products. This review presents the latest research progresses from mix-culture EF to pure-culture EF, highlighting its potential as a promising method for efficient and sustainable production of chemicals. The review first examines the principles of electro-fermentation, focusing on the cathodic and anodic electro-fermentation modes and the electron transfer mechanisms. Further, the review explores various reactors, environmental factors, and optimization strategies that enhance the performance of electro-fermentation systems. With the continuous development of abundant high-value products produced by electro-fermentation, its application potential in green bioproduction has received significant attention. Finally, this review discusses the current challenges and limitations faced by electro-fermentation and proposes feasible research directions for improving its efficiency and scalability in the future.