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Updated: Feb 15, 2026

Investigating the Microbial Community in the Termite Hindgut - Interview
Published on: May 28, 2007
The overlooked yet critical role of catholyte composition in microbial electrosynthesis
Dimitri van der Lee1,2, Mungyu Lee3,4, Minke Gabriëls1
1Department of Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology, 2629, HZ, Delft, The Netherlands.
Abstract:
The circular economy should include CO2 valorization, which could be achieved via microbial electrosynthesis (MES). In MES, the catholyte supplies all nutrients, yet its composition has been adopted from other biotechnologies, overlooking specific needs of MES. In this Perspective, we examine how catholyte design impacts MES performance at microbial, electrochemical, and process levels. We highlight mismatches in metal availability, electrode interactions, and medium origins. We propose reframing the catholyte as a key design parameter and introduce a decision-making framework for tailored formulation. This strategy has the potential to improve MES performance and serve as model for optimizing media in broader biotechnological applications.
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