Electrobiochemistry and whole-cell biocatalysis: Power to value-added products through separated anode/cathode reactions

这个跨学科的研究项目旨在通过分离的阳极/阴极反应探索生物电化学和全细胞生物催化，以生产增值化合物。对于阴极的微生物合成，大肠杆菌将配备高效甲烷和分子氢转化模块，从而能够生产大宗和精细化学品。蛋白质工程技术将被用来改善电子转移的有效电驱动生物催化。将探索使用H2作为介体以优化甲烷转化和有价值的产物合成。通过实施酶级联和电极工程，将在阳极实现C1源的有效电-酶生物转化。这种方法将使模块化的酶固定化，有效的电子转移，介质的稳定性，和容易的产品去除。还可以引入脂肪酶以提高系统效率。为了改善氧化还原反应，零间隙电解槽技术将沿着选择性渗透膜，以保护细菌和有价值的产品。使用显微镜和成像技术对电解池进行广泛的表征将使我们能够优化阳极和阴极材料的组成和条件。工艺设计和数学建模将用于优化电驱动合成工艺，同时考虑H2驱动和CO2固定生产系统。这些模型将指导工艺参数的优化，电极工程，和微生物/酶电合成。

This interdisciplinary research project aims to explore bioelectrochemistry and whole-cell biocatalysis through separated anode/cathode reactions for value-added compound production. For microbial synthesis at the cathode, Escherichia coli will be equipped with modules for efficient methane and molecular hydrogen conversion, enabling the production of bulk and fine chemicals. Protein engineering techniques will be employed to improve electron transfer for efficient electro-driven biocatalysis. The use of H2 as a mediator will be explored to optimize methane conversion and valuable product synthesis. Efficient electro-enzymatic bioconversion of C1 sources at the anode will be achieved through the implementation of an enzyme cascade and electrode engineering. This approach will enable modular enzyme immobilization, effective electron transfer, stability of mediators, and easy product removal. Lipases may also be introduced to enhance system efficiency. To improve redox reactions, the zero-gap electrolyzer technique will be employed along with selective permeable membranes to protect bacteria and valuable products. Extensive characterization of the electrolysis cells using microscopy and imaging techniques will allow us to optimize the composition and conditions of anode and cathode materials. Process design and mathematical modeling will be employed to optimize electrodriven synthesis processes, considering both H2-driven and CO2-fixing production systems. These models will guide the optimization of process parameters, electrode engineering, and microbial/enzymatic electrosynthesis.