ABSTRACT
This chapter highlights the role of biocathodic microorganisms that is, electrotroph in biocommodities production through bioelectrochemical systems, such as microbial fuel cells and microbial electrolysis cells. However, electrotrophic biofilms on cathode which are capable of reducing CO2 are more difficult to grow, and consequently make it harder to study than the exoelectrogenic biofilms on anodes. Microorganisms usually deposit on both electrodes in the form of electroactive biofilm—anodic microbes called exoelctrogens, and cathodic microbes called electrotrophs. Biocathodic electrotrophs are known to convert complex organic substrates into electricity, hydrogen, or other useful biochemical compounds. Electrotrophs are known to produce many valuable chemicals, such as methane, ethanol, and formic acid, and are best known to be used as biosensors to detect biological oxygen demand of water to ensure its purity level. Biocathode, a major biofuel, can be harnessed by electrotrophic microbial communities through bioelectrochemical system by utilizing CO2 as an electron acceptor.
