Bioelectrochemical conversion and sequestration of carbon dioxide into organic compounds

Abstract

A bioelectrochemical system includes a housing defining an internal chamber. A barrier is disposed within the housing and at least partially separates the internal chamber into first and second compartments. The first compartment including at least one of autotrophic or heterotrophic microorganisms disposed therein. A cathode is disposed within the first compartment and is coupled to a power supply, and an anode is disposed within the second compartment and is coupled to the power supply. The carbon dioxide received within the first chamber is transformed into an organic compound.

1 . A bioelectrochemical system, comprising:
 a housing defining an internal chamber;   a barrier disposed within the housing and at least partially separating the internal chamber into first and second compartments, the first compartment including at least one of an autotrophic or a heterotrophic microorganisms disposed therein;   a cathode disposed within the first compartment and coupled to a power supply; and   an anode disposed within the second compartment and coupled to the power supply,   wherein carbon dioxide received within the first compartment is transformed into an organic compound.   
     
     
         2 . The bioelectrochemical system, wherein the carbon dioxide is received within the first compartment from a carbon dioxide source. 
     
     
         3 . The bioelectrochemical system of  claim 1 , wherein a biofilm that consumes oxygen is disposed on the barrier. 
     
     
         4 . The bioelectrochemical system of  claim 1 , wherein an inhibitor is disposed within the first compartment. 
     
     
         5 . The bioelectrochemical system of  claim 4 , wherein the inhibitor includes at least one of 2-bromoethane sulfonic acid (2-BESA), lumazine, 2-chloroethanesulfonate, 2 mercaptoethanesulfonate, other coenzyme M structural analogs, propynoic acid, ethyl 2 butynoate, other HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, methyl chloride, chloroform, methyl fluoride, fluoroacetate, ethylene, acetylene, nitrate, nitrite, nitroethane, 2-nitropropanol, phosphate, medium and long chain fatty acids, mevastatin, fluvastatin, and lovastatin. 
     
     
         6 . The bioelectrochemical system of  claim 1 , wherein the power supply includes a battery. 
     
     
         7 . The bioelectrochemical system of  claim 1 , wherein the power supply includes a renewable energy power source. 
     
     
         8 . The bioelectrochemical system of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is disposed within a subsurface formation. 
     
     
         9 . The bioelectrochemical system of  claim 1 , wherein a pH buffer is disposed within the first compartment to maintain a pH within the first compartment between 5.0 and 9.0. 
     
     
         10 . The bioelectrochemical system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one of autotrophic or heterotrophic microorganisms includes multiple strains of methanogenic microorganisms. 
     
     
         11 . A method, comprising:
 receiving carbon dioxide within a first compartment disposed within an internal chamber defined by a housing;   receiving an electrical potential across a cathode disposed within the first compartment and an anode disposed within a second compartment within the internal chamber, the first and second compartments at least partially separated by a barrier, the first compartment including at least one of autotrophic or heterotropic microorganisms disposed therein; and   extracting organic compounds from the first chamber that are derived from the carbon dioxide.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising receiving inhibitors in the first compartment. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the inhibitor includes at least one of 2-bromoethane sulfonic acid (2-BESA), lumazine, 2-chloroethanesulfonate, 2 mercaptoethanesulfonate, other coenzyme M structural analogs, propynoic acid, ethyl 2 butynoate, other HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, methyl chloride, chloroform, methyl fluoride, fluoroacetate, ethylene, acetylene, nitrate, nitrite, nitroethane, 2-nitropropanol, phosphate, medium and long chain fatty acids, mevastatin, fluvastatin, and lovastatin. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the carbon dioxide is received within the first compartment from a carbon dioxide source. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein a biofilm that consumes oxygen is disposed on the barrier. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the electrical potential across the cathode and anode is created by a power supply. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising receiving a pH buffer in the first compartment to maintain a pH of the first compartment between 5.0 and 9.0. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one of autotrophic or heterotrophic microorganisms include multiple strains of methanogenic microorganisms. 
     
     
         19 . A system, comprising:
 a first bioelectrochemical system disposed within a first well formed in a subsurface formation, the first bioelectrochemical system including:
 a housing defining an internal chamber; 
 a barrier disposed within the housing and at least partially separating the internal chamber into first and second compartments, the first compartment including multiple strains of methanogenic microorganisms disposed therein; 
 a cathode disposed within the first compartment and coupled to a first power supply; and 
 an anode disposed within the second compartment and coupled to the first power supply, 
   wherein carbon dioxide received within the first compartment of the first bioelectrochemical system is transformed into an organic compound.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the first power supply includes a renewable energy power source. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a second bioelectrochemical system disposed within a second well formed in the subsurface formation, the second bioelectrochemical system including:
 a housing defining an internal chamber; 
 a barrier disposed within the housing and at least partially separating the internal chamber into first and second compartments, the first compartment of the second bioelectrochemical system including anaerobic microorganisms disposed therein; 
 a cathode disposed within the first compartment and coupled to one the first power supply or a second power supply; and 
 an anode disposed within the second compartment and coupled to one of the first or second power supplies, 
   wherein carbon dioxide received within the first compartment of the second bioelectrochemical system is transformed into an organic compound.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the second power supply includes a renewable energy power source. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein a biofilm that consumes oxygen is disposed on the barrier. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein an inhibitor is disposed within the first compartment of the first bioelectrochemical system, the inhibitor including at least one of 2-bromoethane sulfonic acid (2-BESA), lumazine, 2-chloroethanesulfonate, 2 mercaptoethanesulfonate, other coenzyme M structural analogs, propynoic acid, ethyl 2 butynoate, other HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, methyl chloride, chloroform, methyl fluoride, fluoroacetate, ethylene, acetylene, nitrate, nitrite, nitroethane, 2-nitropropanol, phosphate, medium and long chain fatty acids, mevastatin, fluvastatin, and lovastatin. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein a pH buffer is disposed within the first compartment to maintain a pH within the first compartment between 5.0 and 9.0.