Current to Biomass: Media Optimization and Strain Selection from Cathode-Associated Microbial Communities in a Two-Chamber Electro-Cultivation Reactor

Cathode-associated microbial communities (caMCs) are the functional key elements in conversion of excess electrical energy into biomass. In this study, we investigated development electrochemical caMCs based on two-chamber electrolytic cells (MECs) after optimization media composition. Microbial obtained from a historical soil sample were inoculated cathode chamber MECs. The inorganic medium with (A) carbon dioxide air or (B) 100 mM sodium bicarbonate as source was used absence any organic source. After 12 days operation, experimental results showed that (1) bacterial community group B exhibited lush growth and (2) single strain TX168 Epilithonimonas bovis isolated A indicated activity synthesized large volumes biomass using bicarbonate. We also analyzed MECs reference samples without electro-cultivation 16S rRNA gene sequencing. groups dominated by genera Acinetobacter Pseudomonas. further cultured different agars to isolate specific electroactive strains. Overall, our study highlights possibility converting importance selecting appropriate enrich strains