2013 Fiscal Year Final Research Report
Development of low-carbon bioelectrode systems to catalyze fuel gas production
| Project/Area Number |
23780074
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
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| Allocation Type | Multi-year Fund |
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| Research Field |
Applied microbiology
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| Research Institution | The University of Tokyo |
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Principal Investigator |
KOBAYASHI Hajime 東京大学, 工学(系)研究科(研究院), 准教授 (50549269)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2011 – 2013
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| Keywords | バイオエネルギー / エネルギー変換 / バイオ水素 / バイオメタン / 生電気化学的反応 / バイオカソード |
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| Research Abstract |
Biocathodes capable of catalyzing CH4 and H2 production in bio-electrochemical systems were established by using thermophilic microorganisms as biocatalysts. The CH4-producing biocathode showed the highest electromethanogenic activity so far reported with the current to CH4 conversion efficiency of over 95%. The electrochemical analyses showed that the biocathodic electromethanogenesis was catalyzed via two pathways depend on the cathode potential. The H2-producing biocathode showed the current to H2 conversion efficiency of ca. 80%, which was comparable to those of the metal catalysts. Molecular phylogenetic analyses of microbial consortia associated with the biocathodes suggested a possibility that diverse thermophiles have catalytic activities for electrochemical reactions.
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