Abstract

Bio electrocatalytic synthesis is the conversion of electrical energy into value-added products using biocatalysts. These methods merge the specificity and selectivity of biocatalysis and energy-related electrocatalysis to address challenges in the sustainable synthesis of pharmaceuticals, commodity chemicals, fuels, feedstocks and fertilizers. However, the specialized experimental setups and domain knowledge for bio electrocatalysis pose a significant barrier to adoption. This review introduces key concepts of bioelectrosynthetic systems. We provide a tutorial on the methods of biocatalyst utilization, the setup of bioelectrosynthetic cells, and the analytical methods for assessing bio electrocatalysts. Key applications of bio electrosynthesis in ammonia production and small-molecule synthesis are outlined for both enzymatic and microbial systems. This review serves as a necessary introduction and resource for the non-specialist interested in bioelectrosynthetic research.

Department(s)

Chemistry

Publication Status

Full Access

Comments

NSF Center for Synthetic Organic Electrochemistry, University of Utah, Grant 2002158

Keywords and Phrases

Biocatalysis; Bioelectrochemistry; Electrocatalysis; Electrochemistry; Electrosynthesis

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

1521-3773; 1433-7851

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2025 Wiley; Gesellschaft Deutscher Chemiker, All rights reserved.

Publication Date

13 Nov 2023

PubMed ID

37428529

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Chemistry Commons

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