Centre National De La Recherche Scientifique

Institut National Polytechnique De Toulouse

Institut National De Recherche En Sciences Et Technologies Pour I'environnement Et I'agriculture (irstea)

Institut National De Recherche Pour L'agriculture, L'alimentation Et L'environnement

Suez Groupe

Elie Le Quemener

Théodore Bouchez

Alain Bergel

Elise Blanchet

Benjamin Erable

Luc Etcheverry

Alain Huyard

Nicolas Bernet

Arnaud Bridier

Sylvain Moreau

Jianghao Tian

Pierre Mauricrace

Eric Trably

A bioelectrochemical reactor () has an anode chamber () having at least two bioanodes (), and an anodic electrolyte () with an anodic electroactive microorganisms,&#x2014;a cathode chamber () with at least one biocathode (), and a cathodic electrolyte () with a cathodic electroactive microorganisms. The anode chamber () is separated from the cathode chamber () by, running from the anode chamber to the cathode chamber, a cation exchange membrane () and an anion exchange membrane (). The cation and anion exchange membranes are separated from each other by an inter-membrane chamber (), and means for applying a potential difference between the interconnected bioanodes and the biocathode/biocathodes. The bioanodes and biocathode/biocathodes have active surfaces such that the total active surface of the biocathode/biocathodes () is greater than the total active surface of the two bioanodes (). The arrangement includes a method for regenerating the activity of the bioanodes of the reactor and to the use of said reactor for the electrosynthesis of organic acids and/or alcohols from organic waste.

Bioelectrochemical reactor with double bioanode, method for anodic regeneration and use of the reactor for microbial electrosynthesis

A method for controlling the activity of an electrochemical device () comprising a bioanode () and a biocathode () immersed in an electrolyte (A,C) containing microorganisms, the anode compartment () and cathode compartment () being separated by at least one membrane (), optionally a reference electrode, a difference in potential being applied between the bioanode () and the biocathode (), or between the bioanode and the reference electrode, characterised in that the operation of the device is governed by a dual control: &#x2014;a priority control of the difference in potential between the bioanode and the biocathode, or between the bioanode and the reference electrode, between a minimum limit value allowing the development of an electroactive biofilm at the bioanode and a maximum limit value lower than the oxidation potential of said biofilm, and&#x2014;a secondary control, when the first control is in place, optimising the Faradaic efficiency of the biocathode. A device allowing said method to be carried out.

Method and device for controlling the activity of a bioelectrochemical system comprising both a bioanode and a biocathode

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Narbonne, France

Elie Le Quemener