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Design and development of unconventional catalytic conversion processes using electrons, photons, and microorganisms

Problem statement

Our long-term commitment to sustainability and a circular carbon economy involves unconventional catalytic conversion processes. We study various processes assisted by electrons, photons, or microorganisms to produce biofuels, chemicals, electricity, or treated water. For example, bio-electro-chemical systems, including microbial fuel cells (MFCs), electrolysis cells (MECs), and photo-assisted cells (PA-MECs), are promising technologies to simultaneously produce renewable energy and clean wastewater using active microorganisms as biocatalysts.

Our work aims to synthesize multi-functional catalysts and reactors to enhance electrical conductivity, photo-efficiency, microbiological affinity, porosity, hydrophilicity, and surface area for carbonaceous electrodes. We work with materials such as graphene oxide, metallic nanoparticles, nitride and carbide basic materials, and MXenes.

We consider new platform technologies to produce renewable biofuel and chemicals and treat wastewater using the nanotechnology and reaction engineering approach as an innovative combination to increase the productivity of these processes.

Goals

  • Develop and scale up electro-photo-bio-catalyst and -reactors
  • Propose novel processes to clean wastewater and produce electricity, chemicals, and bio-hydrogen
  • Model and simulate fuel cell performance
  • Use innovative catalysts (anode and cathode material) and reactor designs to improve fuel cell performance
EPB2023

Related People

Hend Omar Mohamed
Muhammad Arief Shafarifky
Pewee Datoo Kolubah
Rushana Khairova
Sohailh Marie

Related Publications

Synergistic integration of dark fermentation and microbial electrolysis cells for hydrogen production and sustainable swine manure treatment

by Hussien, Mohamed, Jadhav, Bahaa, Jo, Jang, Kim, Kwon, Sayed, Alkadhem, Castaño, Chae
Int. J. Hydrog. Energy Year: 2025 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2025.02.453

Abstract

Microbial electrolysis cells (MECs) have garnered attention as a promising technology for biohydrogen production from organic waste streams. However, the requirement for high external applied voltages, practically exceeding 1 V, and relatively low hydrogen yields undermine the feasibility of this technology. To address these challenges, this study proposes an integrated system combining dark fermentation (DF) with MECs, leveraging the synergistic effects of the two processes to reduce energy inputs while enhancing hydrogen output significantly. The DF-MEC system effectively overcomes the high voltage and low hydrogen yield limitations of conventional MECs by utilizing the volatile fatty acids and other by-products generated during the DF stage as substrates for MEC operation, enabling stable performance at voltages below 1 V. The integrated DF-MEC system achieved a fourfold increase in hydrogen production from 25.8 to 112 mL, compared to standalone MEC operation operating at 0.8 V, yielding 1.87 ± 0.1 L H2 L−1 ·d−1, along with a chemical oxygen demand removal efficiency of 67.5 ± 1.6 % and an energy recovery rate of 30%. The proposed system is cost-effective, scalable, and environmentally sustainable, making it an attractive approach for renewable energy production and organic waste management. This study offers a compelling pathway to further optimize bioelectrochemical systems for practical large-scale biohydrogen production.

Keywords

EPB