Electrobiotechnology
Research Topics
- Development and engineering of electrobiorefineries
- Interfacing microbial and electrochemical synthesis for sustainble chemistry
- Energetics of electroactive microorganisms and microbial electrochemical systems
- Study of the microbial ecology of electroactive microbial cultures
- Development of electrobioreactors as well as new methods and protocols in the field
- Fancy ad hoc projects (related to microbiology and/ or electrochemistry)
Part of a vibrant international community
Team-leaders
Dr. Benjamin Korth
Deputy group leader and team-leader
Thermodynamics of electroactive microorganisms
Dr. Paniz Izadi
Team leader
Bio ǀ electrochemical carbon dioxide conversion
Scientists
Dr. Micjel Chávez Morejón
Dr. Katharina Röhring
(part-time)
Dr. Navid Saeidi
(part-time)
Dr.-Ing. Reinhold Lehneis
(part-time)
Dr. Matthias Schmidt
Dr. Manish Kumar
PhD Students
Shabnam Pouresmaeil (DBFZ)
Yvonne Schößow
Aykut Kas
Alicia Mier-Jimenez (placed in lab of Dr. Bin Lai)
Lea Seibert
(jointly with Dr. Rohan Karande at Leipzig University)
Mansi Saich
in
SmartManure
Technicians
Anne Kuchenbuch
Cornelia Dilßner
Undergraduates & Guests
Susanne Stenz (Leipzig University, Student assistant)
Bente Dana Wagner (Leipzig University, Research internship & M.Sc.-student)
Alicia Thonicke (TU Dresden, Student assistant)
Ella Mondschein
Index:
You could use our publication index for further requests.
2025 (1)
- Röhring, K., Harnisch, F. (2025):
3D-printed add-on allows using commercially available rotating disc electrodes in tilted position
Electrochem. Commun. 170 , art. 107854 10.1016/j.elecom.2024.107854
2024 (19)
- Angenent, L.T., Casini, I., Schröder, U., Harnisch, F., Molitor, B. (2024):
Electrical-energy storage into chemical-energy carriers by combining or integrating electrochemistry and biology
Energy Environ. Sci. 17 (11), 3682 - 3699 10.1039/D3EE01091K - Brandenburg, F., Röhring, K., Hunger, S., Kuchenbuch, A., Harnisch, F. (2024):
Elektrobioreaktoren für alle! – Technische Anforderungen und Innovationen [Electrobioreactors for everyone! - Technical requirements and innovations]
Biospektrum 30 (1), 120 - 122 10.1007/s12268-024-2094-0 - Cabezas, A., Cercado, B., Chouchane, H., Corton, E., Gomaa, O., Harnisch, F., Limson, J., Reginatto Spiller, V., Vargas, I. (2024):
Microbial electrochemistry and technology capacity building challenges—focus on Latin America & Caribbean and Africa
J. Solid State Electrochem. 28 (3-4), 1023 - 1039 10.1007/s10008-023-05761-x - Ceballos-Escalera, A., Pous, N., Korth, B., Harnisch, F., Balaguer, M.D., Puig, S. (2024):
Ex-situ electrochemical characterisation of fixed-bed denitrification biocathodes: A promising strategy to improve bioelectrochemical denitrification
Chemosphere 347 , art. 140699 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140699 - da Rosa Braun, P.H., Kuchenbuch, A., Toselli, B., Rezwan, K., Harnisch, F., Wilhelm, M. (2024):
Influence of the 3D architecture and surface roughness of SiOC anodes on bioelectrochemical system performance: a comparative study of freeze-cast, 3D-printed, and tape-cast materials with uniform composition
Mater. Renew. Sustain. Energy 13 (1), 81 - 96 10.1007/s40243-023-00253-4 - Dai, S., Harnisch, F., Chávez Morejón, M., Keller, N.S., Korth, B., Vogt, C. (2024):
Microbial electricity-driven anaerobic phenol degradation in bioelectrochemical systems
Environ. Sci. Ecotechnol. 17 , art. 100307 10.1016/j.ese.2023.100307 - Digel, L., Mierzwa, M., Bonné, R., Zieger, S., Pavel, I., Ferapontova, E., Koren, K., Boesen, T., Harnisch, F., Marshall, I., Nielsen, L.P., Kuhn, A. (2024):
Cable bacteria skeletons as catalytically active electrodes
Angew. Chem.-Int. Edit. 63 (6), e202312647 10.1002/anie.202312647 - Dzofou Ngoumelah, D., Bjerkan Heggeset, T.M., Haugen, T., Sulheim, S., Wentzel, A., Harnisch, F., Kretzschmar, J. (2024):
Effect of model methanogens on the electrochemical activity, stability, and microbial community structure of Geobacter spp. dominated biofilm anodes
npj Biofilms Microbiomes 10 , art. 17 10.1038/s41522-024-00490-z - Dzofou Ngoumelah, D., Bjerkan Heggeset, T.M., Haugen, T., Sulheim, S., Wentzel, A., Harnisch, F., Kretzschmar, J. (2024):
Author correction: Effect of model methanogens on the electrochemical activity, stability, and microbial community structure of Geobacter spp. dominated biofilm anodes
npj Biofilms Microbiomes 10 , art. 41 10.1038/s41522-024-00513-9 - Harnisch, F., Deutzmann, J.S., Boto, S.T., Rosenbaum, M.A. (2024):
Microbial electrosynthesis: opportunities for microbial pure cultures
Trends Biotechnol. 42 (8), 1035 - 1047 10.1016/j.tibtech.2024.02.004 - Harnisch, F., ter Heijne, A., Paquete, C.M. (2024):
Editorial letter of VSI: European scent of ISMET
Bioelectrochemistry 160 , art. 108772 10.1016/j.bioelechem.2024.108772 - Izadi, P., Song, J., Singh, C., Pant, D., Harnisch, F. (2024):
Assessing the electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction performance requires more than reporting coulombic efficiency
Adv. Energy Sustain. Res. 5 (6), art. 2400031 10.1002/aesr.202400031 - Lehneis, R., Harnisch, F., Thrän, D. (2024):
Electricity production landscape of run-of-river power plants in Germany
Resources 13 (12), art. 174 10.3390/resources13120174 - Linssen, R., de Smit, S., Röhring, K., Harnisch, F., ter Heijne, A. (2024):
Revealing cellular (poly)sulphide storage in electrochemically active sulphide oxidising bacteria using rotating disc electrodes
Bioelectrochemistry 158 , art. 108710 10.1016/j.bioelechem.2024.108710 - Linssen, R., Harnisch, F., Ter, A., de Smit, S., Röhring, K. (2024):
Dataset accompanying "Revealing cellular (poly)sulphide storage in electrochemically active sulphide oxidising bacteria using rotating disc electrodes"
4TU.ResearchData 10.4121/a2279322-c37c-418e-8776-694f10f31d84.v1 - Rosa, L.F.M., Röhring, K., Harnisch, F. (2024):
Electrolysis of medium chain carboxylic acids to aviation fuel at technical scale
Fuel 356 , art. 129590 10.1016/j.fuel.2023.129590 - Saeidi, N., Lai, A., Harnisch, F., Sigmund, G. (2024):
A FAIR comparison of activated carbon, biochar, cyclodextrins, polymers, resins, and metal organic frameworks for the adsorption of per- and polyfluorinated substances
Chem. Eng. J. 498 , art. 155456 10.1016/j.cej.2024.155456 - ter Heijne, A., Harnisch, F. (2024):
Microbial electrodes
Nat. Rev. Method. Prim. 4 , art. 60 10.1038/s43586-024-00332-4 - Tüllinghoff, A., Sträuber, H., Baleeiro, F.C.F., Aurich, A., Chávez Morejón, M., Meisel, K., Cyffka, K.-F., Harnisch, F., Bühler, K., Thrän, D. (2024):
Towards net zero land biotechnology – a potential assessment for selected bioprocesses in Germany
Research Square 10.21203/rs.3.rs-5460981/v1
2023 (17)
- Boto, S.T., Bardl, B., Harnisch, F., Rosenbaum, M.A. (2023):
Microbial electrosynthesis with Clostridium ljungdahlii benefits from hydrogen electron mediation and permits a greater variety of products
Green Chem. 25 (11), 4375 - 4386 10.1039/D3GC00471F - Chávez Morejón, M., Franz, A., Karande, R., Harnisch, F. (2023):
Integrated electrosynthesis and biosynthesis for the production of adipic acid from lignin-derived phenols
Green Chem. 25 (12), 4662 - 4666 10.1039/D3GC01105D - Chávez Morejón, M., Kurig, N., Tschauder, Y.S., Harnisch, F., Palkovits, R. (2023):
Electrochemical cellobiose valorization: Anodic oxidation to cellobionic acid and cathodic reduction to cellobitol
ChemistrySelect 8 (27), e202301823 10.1002/slct.202301823 - Dai, S., Harnisch, F., Bin-Hudari, M.S., Keller, N.-S., Vogt, C., Korth, B. (2023):
Improving the performance of bioelectrochemical sulfate removal by applying flow mode
Microb. Biotechnol. 16 (3), 595 - 604 10.1111/1751-7915.14157 - Dzofou Ngoumelah, D., Harnisch, F., Sulheim, S., Heggeset, T.M.B., Aune, I.H., Wentzel, A., Kretzschmar, J. (2023):
A unified and simple medium for growing model methanogens
Front. Microbiol. 13 , art. 1046260 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1046260 - Dzofou Ngoumelah, D., Kuchenbuch, A., Harnisch, F., Kretzschmar, J. (2023):
Combining Geobacter spp. dominated biofilms and anaerobic digestion effluents─The effect of effluent composition and electrode potential on biofilm activity and stability
Environ. Sci. Technol. 57 (6), 2584 - 2594 10.1021/acs.est.2c07574 - Guo, Y., Rosa, L.F.M., Shan, Y., Harnisch, F., Müller, S. (2023):
Labor division of electroactive and carbon degrading microorganisms in bioelectrochemical laminar flow reactors
J. Environ. Chem. Eng. 11 (5), art. 111074 10.1016/j.jece.2023.111074 - Harnisch, F., Lehneis, R. (2023):
The power grids need to be made ready for a circular and bio-based economy
Next Sustainability 2 , art. 100010 10.1016/j.nxsust.2023.100010 - Harnisch, F., Sleutels, T., ter Heijne, A. (2023):
Basic electrochemistry for biotechnology
Wiley-VCH, 221 pp. - Izadi, P., Kas, A., Haus, P., Harnisch, F. (2023):
On the stability of electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction to formate at indium electrodes at biocompatible conditions
Electrochim. Acta 462 , art. 142733 10.1016/j.electacta.2023.142733 - Kas, A., Izadi, P., Harnisch, F. (2023):
Cover profile: High salt electrolyte solutions challenge the electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction to formate at indium and tin cathodes
ChemElectroChem 10 (23), e202300655 10.1002/celc.202300655 - Kas, A., Izadi, P., Harnisch, F. (2023):
High salt electrolyte solutions challenge the electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction to formate at indium and tin cathodes
ChemElectroChem 10 (23), e202300311 10.1002/celc.202300311 - Kas, A., Izadi, P., Harnisch, F. (2023):
Front cover: High salt electrolyte solutions challenge the electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction to formate at indium and tin cathodes (ChemElectroChem 23/2023)
ChemElectroChem 10 (23), e202300656 10.1002/celc.202300656 - Korth, B., Pereira, J., Sleutels, T., Harnisch, F., ter Heijne, A. (2023):
Comparing theoretical and practical biomass yields calls for revisiting thermodynamic growth models for electroactive microorganisms
Water Res. 242 , art. 120279 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120279 - Logroño, W., Kleinsteuber, S., Kretzschmar, J., Harnisch, F., De Vrieze, J., Nikolausz, M. (2023):
The microbiology of Power-to-X applications
FEMS Microbiol. Rev. 47 (2), fuad013 10.1093/femsre/fuad013 - Saeidi, N., Harnisch, F., Presser, V., Kopinke, F.-D., Georgi, A. (2023):
Electrosorption of organic compounds: State of the art, challenges, performance, and perspectives
Chem. Eng. J. 471 , art. 144354 10.1016/j.cej.2023.144354 - Stöckl, M., Lange, T., Izadi, P., Bolat, S., Teetz, N., Harnisch, F., Holtmann, D. (2023):
Application of gas diffusion electrodes in bioeconomy: An update
Biotechnol. Bioeng. 120 (6), 1465 - 1477 10.1002/bit.28383
For a full list since 2012 please see hier klicken
- Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG)
Priority Programme SPP2240: eBiotech - 2nd phase
ESCAPE2.0: Establishing a scalable bioprocess reactor platform for cathodic obligate anaerobic electrobiosynthesis
PI: F. Harnisch
Partner und Coordinator for tandem project: Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research (Prof. Dr. M. A. Rosenbaum)
Funding period: 12/2024 - 11/2027
Link (external) - Saxon State Ministry of Science and Art (SMWK)
The Biohybrid Solar Power Plant (BISON)
PIs: F. Harnisch (WP7) and Benjamin Korth (WP8)
WP7: Development of Scalable Electrochemical Modules
WP8: Development of an electrochemical Configuration with low cost and high energy efficiency
Funding period: 06/2024 - 06/2026
Link Innovation fonds "transfun" of the UFZ by the Helmholtz Association, co-funding by Leipzig University"LigNylon: Electrochemical hydrogenation of lignin-derived mix-tures of aromatic compounds for microbial synthesis of Nylon monomers"
Partners: Leipzig University) DOMO Caproleuna GmbH
PI: F. Harnisch (UFZ), CoPI: R. Karande (Leipzig University)
Funding period: 07/2023 - 07/2025- Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF)
"KMU-innovativ - KMUi-BÖ05: PHeaMOEZ - Plattform zum Hochdurchsatzscreening für elektrochemisch aktive Mikroorganismen und von Enzymen für die effiziente und langzeitstabile Biokatalyse; TP 3"
Coordinator: Sciospec Scientific Instruments GmbH
Partner: Leipzig University
PI: F. Harnisch
Funding period: 05/2023 - 04/2026
European Union (EU) - VIVALDI: innoVative bIo-based chains for CO2 VALorisation as aDded-value organIc acids
PI: F. Harnisch
Coordinator: Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona - UAB (Spanien)
Partner: VERTECH (France), VITO (Belgium), CO2 Value Europe AISBL (Belgium), ISLE (The Netherlands), Universität für Bodenkultur Wien - BOKU (Austria), Lula Tekniska Universitet - LTU (Sweden), Avantium Chemicals BV (The Netherlands), LEITAT (Spaain), SunPine AB (Sweden), Bioagra S.A. (Poland)
Estrella de Levante S.A.U. (Spain), Processium (France), Nutrition Sciences (Belgium)
Funding period: 06/2021 - 05/2025
Link (external) - Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) - CO2WIN
GAMES - Gas diffusion electrodes for coupled microbial-electrochemical syntheses from CO2
PI für TP 5: Halophilic microbial electrosynthesis: F. Harnisch
Coordinator: Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen - THM (Prof. Dr. D. Holtmann)
Partner: DECHEMA-Forschungsinstitut - DFI, Gesellschaft für Gassysteme durch Katalyse und Elektrochemie mbH - Gaskatel, ifn Forschungs- u. Technologiezentrum GmbH
Funding period: 04/2021 - 03/2025
For closed third-party-funded projcts see here
