Institute for Process Engineering

Chair of thermal process engineering

The aim of the project is the development if bio-electrochemical processes which can be used for renewable electrical energy production and/or sustainable production of industrial chemicals.

The combination of biotechnological and electrochemical processes aims to achieve high energy efficiency. Bio-electrochemical systems (BES) are very attractive with respect to their ability to convert chemical energy into electrical energy and vice versa while using microbes as catalyst. However, the lack of understanding of electroactive biofilms makes the industrial application of BES rather limited. The aim of this project therefore is to resolve this issue by the development of a computational framework for studying the dynamic structuring of the biofilm with respect to thickness and cell density as well as effective diffusivity and electron transfer. This computational framework will enable a deeper understanding of the electron transfer mechanisms in biofilms and will serve as a starting point for studies with mixed cultures.