Katharina Neubert

PhD student
Electrobiotechnology working group at Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ

[Katharina Neubert @kat_neubert]

@KWilson1971 For the acid concentration: we use in-line extraction to continuously extract the MCCAs up to the desired concentration for the electrochemical conversion, so the MCCAs are not accumulated in the bioreactor

[Katharina Neubert @kat_neubert]

The fruitful liaison betwenn microbiology and electrochemistry #RSCPoster #RSCChemBio #RSCCat #RSCEnergy #RSCEnv

[Katharina Neubert @kat_neubert]

@KWilson1971 Thanks for the question! Chain length is controlled on several levels in the mesophilic stage: 1. Lactate concentration: either C4, C6, C8 or C3, C5, C7 acids are formed via different metabolic pathways 2. Low pH: inhibition of methanogens, thus all C is used for chain elongation

[Katharina Neubert @kat_neubert]

@psobolewskiPhD Thanks for the follow up question! Changing the reaction conditions (e.g. pH, electrode material, substrate) can lead to another reaction pathway giving alkenes, alcohols, esters and ethers as electrolysis products. But we focus on the production of alkanes as drop-in fuel.

[Katharina Neubert @kat_neubert]

@psobolewskiPhD The MCCAs have mainly a chain length of 4 to 8 C-atoms. During electrolysis they are converted to C6 till C14 alkanes.
There is some older work on di-acids that is currently revived (by others). There is potential, but controlling the degree of polymerization seems a challenge.