Mixed-culture biocathodes for acetate production from CO reduction in the microbial electrosynthesis: Impact of temperature.

The temperature effect on bioelectrochemical reduction of CO to acetate with a mixed-culture biocathode in the microbial electrosynthesis was explored. The results showed that maximum acetate amount of 525.84 ± 1.55 mg L and fastest acetate formation of 49.21 ± 0.49 mg L d were obtained under mesophilic conditions. Electron recovery efficiency for CO reduction to acetate ranged from 14.50 ± 2.20% to 64.86 ± 2.20%, due to propionate, butyrate and H generation. Mesophilic conditions were demonstrated to be more favorable for biofilm formation on the cathode, resulting in a stable and dense biofilm. At phylum level, the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes phylum in the biofilm remarkably increased under mesophilic conditions, compared with that at psychrophilic and thermophilic conditions. At genus level, the Clostridium, Treponema, Acidithiobacillus, Acetobacterium and Acetoanaerobium were found to be dominated genera in the biofilm under mesophilic conditions, while genera diversity decreased under psychrophilic and thermophilic conditions.