Theory of Ion and Electron Transport Coupled with Biochemical Conversions in an Electroactive Biofilm

Bioelectrochemical systems are an emerging technology for the recovery of electrical energy and chemicals from aqueous organic streams. Organic compounds are converted by bacteria that form a biofilm on the electrodes. To improve performance, a better understanding of the physical processes in these biofilms is needed. This study uses physics-based modeling to gain a theoretical understanding of the coupled transport and conversion processes of operating bioelectrochemical systems. Transport of organic molecules and electrons inside the biofilm does n00exo00ext limit current production significantly, but the accumulation of protons inside the biofilm can be a limiting factor.