Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1016/j.coche.2026.101244
Licence creative commons licence
Title (Primary) Microbial electro synthesis from CO2 and methanol — methanol-assisted microbial electrosynthesis
Author Yao, H. ORCID logo ; Kokko, M.
Source Titel Current Opinion in Chemical Engineering
Year 2026
Department MEB
Volume 52
Page From art. 101244
Language englisch
Topic T7 Bioeconomy
Supplements Supplement 1
Abstract In microbial electrosynthesis (MES), CO2 is converted to carboxylates by utilizing renewable electricity. To accelerate the production of longer-chain carboxylates, butyrate, and caproate, additional electron donors, such as methanol, could be utilized. Methanol is present in some industrial wastewaters and could be produced in the future via renewable routes. Methanol-assisted MES with a mixed culture has been reported to enhance butyrate production rates and yields. Similar to MES studies fed with only CO2, the performance of methanol-assisted MES is affected by pH, temperature, and pressure. Furthermore, the methanol to CO2 ratio is crucial. The highest butyrate production rate of 107 m−2 d−1 has been reported in methanol-assisted MES, comparable to the best-performing MES studies. In methanol-assisted MES studies, Eubacterium limosum and Eubacterium callanderi have dominated the mixed microbial cultures. Initial experiments indicate that methanol and CO2 assimilation and butyrate production proceed through the Wood-Ljundahl pathway and the reverse β-oxidation pathway.
Yao, H., Kokko, M. (2026):
Microbial electro synthesis from CO2 and methanol — methanol-assisted microbial electrosynthesis
Curr. Opin. Chem. Eng. 52 , art. 101244
10.1016/j.coche.2026.101244