Microbial electrocatalysis to guide biofuel and biochemical bioprocessing Editorial

131 ISSN 1759-7269 10.4155/BFS.12.93 © 2013 Future Science Ltd Microbial electrocatalysis During the last 10 years, research on bioelectrochemical systems with alive microbes on anodes or cathodes (electrodes) has blossomed. We refer to microbial activity on electrodes as microbial electrocatalysis, especially when no artificial mediators are added to the cultures. Initially, researchers focused on converting organic materials in sediments or wastewater into spontaneous electric power production with microbial fuel cells. Researchers shaped an open culture of mixed microbial consortia to utilize the anode as a solid-state electron acceptor with, for example, a platinum-coated cathode for abiotic oxygen reduction. Over the years, vast leaps in current densities were made and recently a value of approximately 300 A/m was reported with 3D electrodes [1]. Others successfully used microbes as biocatalysts at the cathode to circumvent platinum. Still, the low value of electric power and the high investment and operating costs has prevented a sustainable economic model [2]. The low value of electric power can also be turned around as an advantage by using a power source to manipulate electrode potentials and to enforce higher current densities (rates). This has already resulted in microbial electrolysis cells with acetate production at the cathode via microbial electrosynthesis from CO 2 [3]. Others are exploring the use of electrodes to manage surpluses or shortages of reducing equivalents in anaerobic fermentations (guiding fermentation) [4]. This article will unveil the possible uses of electrodes in biotechnology applications.