Phys.org  May 24, 2024 Microbial CO2 electroreduction (mCO2ER) offers a promising approach for producing high value multicarbon reductants from CO2 by combining CO2 fixing microorganisms with conducting materials. The solubility and availability of CO2 in an aqueous electrolyte pose significant limitations in this system. A team of researchers in South Korea demonstrated the efficient production of long-chain multicarbon reductants within a wet amine-based catholyte medium during mCO2ER. Optimizing the concentration of the biocompatible CO2 absorbent, monoethanolamine (MEA) led to enhanced CO2 fixation in the electroautotroph bacteria. MEA in the catholyte medium redirected the carbon flux towards carotenoid biosynthesis during mCO2ER. […]