Electro-Fermentation for Biofuel and Biochemical Production
Electro-fermentation (EF) is an emerging bioprocess with the ability to regulate the metabolism of electrochemically active microorganisms. In various fermentation processes, electrodes perform either as an electron acceptor or donor, facilitating the formation and movement of electrons and protons....
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-04-01
|
| Series: | Fermentation |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5637/11/4/219 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850144082815352832 |
|---|---|
| author | Priya Pilania Keshani Bhushan Urmila Gupta Phutela |
| author_facet | Priya Pilania Keshani Bhushan Urmila Gupta Phutela |
| author_sort | Priya Pilania |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Electro-fermentation (EF) is an emerging bioprocess with the ability to regulate the metabolism of electrochemically active microorganisms. In various fermentation processes, electrodes perform either as an electron acceptor or donor, facilitating the formation and movement of electrons and protons. The bioelectric activity created by external electrodes enhances the metabolic reactions, resulting in a higher yield of value-added chemicals. The conventional fermentation process has a number of limitations in terms of usability and economic feasibility, whereas electro-fermentation presents a hybrid technology, minimizing redox instabilities and enhancing the metabolic process in general to achieve increased product production and a higher biomass yield. Electrochemically active microorganisms such as <i>Geobacter</i> and <i>Shewanella</i> species can carry out the exchange of electrons with electrodes directly or indirectly by using electron mediators. Furthermore, the integration of microbial fuel cells (MFCs) with microbial electrolysis cells (MECs) precludes the need for external manipulation of the fermentation system as the required change in electrochemical gradient is provided by the MFC counterpart. The major beneficial aspects of electro-fermentation include its role as a potential tool for enhancing the production of value-added compounds. The mixed-culture system clearly had a favorable impact on the synthesis of butyric acid from rice straw. Furthermore, cathodic electro-fermentation (CEF) exhibited benefits over anaerobic fermentation, influencing NADH/NAD<sup>+</sup>, enabling a higher product titer, and reducing the accumulation of byproducts. Hence, in this review, we emphasize the importance of electro-fermentation over conventional fermentation for biofuel and biochemical production, covering its fundamentals, interactions, types, future challenges, and ability to provide several benefits to boost the fermentation process, such as the process efficiency and product yield, on an industrial scale. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c3c09e7c7ada49beab0f2967cdbbc8c4 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2311-5637 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Fermentation |
| spelling | doaj-art-c3c09e7c7ada49beab0f2967cdbbc8c42025-08-20T02:28:28ZengMDPI AGFermentation2311-56372025-04-0111421910.3390/fermentation11040219Electro-Fermentation for Biofuel and Biochemical ProductionPriya Pilania0Keshani Bhushan1Urmila Gupta Phutela2Department of Microbiology, Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar 125004, Haryana, IndiaDepartment of Microbiology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana 141004, Punjab, IndiaDepartment of Microbiology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana 141004, Punjab, IndiaElectro-fermentation (EF) is an emerging bioprocess with the ability to regulate the metabolism of electrochemically active microorganisms. In various fermentation processes, electrodes perform either as an electron acceptor or donor, facilitating the formation and movement of electrons and protons. The bioelectric activity created by external electrodes enhances the metabolic reactions, resulting in a higher yield of value-added chemicals. The conventional fermentation process has a number of limitations in terms of usability and economic feasibility, whereas electro-fermentation presents a hybrid technology, minimizing redox instabilities and enhancing the metabolic process in general to achieve increased product production and a higher biomass yield. Electrochemically active microorganisms such as <i>Geobacter</i> and <i>Shewanella</i> species can carry out the exchange of electrons with electrodes directly or indirectly by using electron mediators. Furthermore, the integration of microbial fuel cells (MFCs) with microbial electrolysis cells (MECs) precludes the need for external manipulation of the fermentation system as the required change in electrochemical gradient is provided by the MFC counterpart. The major beneficial aspects of electro-fermentation include its role as a potential tool for enhancing the production of value-added compounds. The mixed-culture system clearly had a favorable impact on the synthesis of butyric acid from rice straw. Furthermore, cathodic electro-fermentation (CEF) exhibited benefits over anaerobic fermentation, influencing NADH/NAD<sup>+</sup>, enabling a higher product titer, and reducing the accumulation of byproducts. Hence, in this review, we emphasize the importance of electro-fermentation over conventional fermentation for biofuel and biochemical production, covering its fundamentals, interactions, types, future challenges, and ability to provide several benefits to boost the fermentation process, such as the process efficiency and product yield, on an industrial scale.https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5637/11/4/219biochemicalbiofuelelectro-fermentationmicrobial electrolysis cells |
| spellingShingle | Priya Pilania Keshani Bhushan Urmila Gupta Phutela Electro-Fermentation for Biofuel and Biochemical Production Fermentation biochemical biofuel electro-fermentation microbial electrolysis cells |
| title | Electro-Fermentation for Biofuel and Biochemical Production |
| title_full | Electro-Fermentation for Biofuel and Biochemical Production |
| title_fullStr | Electro-Fermentation for Biofuel and Biochemical Production |
| title_full_unstemmed | Electro-Fermentation for Biofuel and Biochemical Production |
| title_short | Electro-Fermentation for Biofuel and Biochemical Production |
| title_sort | electro fermentation for biofuel and biochemical production |
| topic | biochemical biofuel electro-fermentation microbial electrolysis cells |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5637/11/4/219 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT priyapilania electrofermentationforbiofuelandbiochemicalproduction AT keshanibhushan electrofermentationforbiofuelandbiochemicalproduction AT urmilaguptaphutela electrofermentationforbiofuelandbiochemicalproduction |