Driving Bacterial Carbon Dioxide Fixation with Conductive Materials

Abstract

“Biocathode MCL,” designated for its main bacterial constituents (Marinobacter, Chromatiaceae, and Labrenzia), is a stable microbial community enriched from seawater that forms biofilms on the surfaces of electrodes. These biofilms are effective to perform carbon fixation without the need for external electrical power nor sunlight applied thereto.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of fixing carbon, the method comprising:
 providing an unpoised electrode immersed in a medium; and   growing a biofilm attached to the electrode, wherein the biofilm utilizes a surface of the electrode as an electron donor, and   wherein the biofilm and electrode are effective to perform carbon fixation without the need for external electrical power nor sunlight.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the medium is (a) seawater, (b) water comprising unwanted waste, or (c) a combination of (a) and (b). 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electrode comprises graphite, carbon cloth, or indium tin oxide. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the biofilm comprises Ca. Tenderia electrophaga. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the medium comprises a mineral electron donor. 
     
     
         6 . A method of fixing carbon, the method comprising:
 providing an unpoised electrode immersed in natural or artificial seawater, wherein the electrode comprises graphite, carbon cloth, or indium tin oxide; and   growing a biofilm comprising Ca. Tenderia electrophaga attached to the electrode, wherein the biofilm utilizes a surface of the electrode as an electron donor, and   wherein the biofilm and electrode are effective to perform carbon fixation without the need for external electrical power nor sunlight.   
     
     
         7 . A method of fixing carbon, the method comprising:
 providing an unpoised electrode immersed in a medium comprising one or more electron donors; and   growing a biofilm attached to the electrode, wherein the biofilm utilizes a surface of the electrode as an electron donor, and   wherein the medium operates as an electron donor for carbon fixation by the biofilm without an external source of power applied to the electrode.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the medium is (a) seawater, (b) water comprising unwanted waste, or (c) a combination of (a) and (b). 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the electrode comprises graphite, carbon cloth, or indium tin oxide. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the biofilm comprises Ca. Tenderia electrophaga.