MBC.A19

Microbial Bioelectrochemistry

Module description

Module coordinator

Prof. Dr. Miriam Agler-Rosenbaum

Requirements for module admission

One basic module

Module is required for

Project and specialization module

Type of module

Required elective module, advanced module

Frequency of offer (module cycle)

Yearly

Duration of module

1 Semester (SS)

Composition of module / types of components (lecture, exercise, seminar, practical training, excursion)

Lecture/seminar: 2 hours per week per semester

Practical training: 1 unit of 2 weeks

Credit points (ECTS credits)

10 cp

Work load in hours:

  • In-class studying
  • Self-study (incl. exam preparation)

70 h

80 h

Contents

Bacteria generate electricity? Microorganisms produce value products from electricity and carbon dioxide? Electron transfer across insulating cell membranes?

After an introduction into electrochemistry and process engineering, we will dive into these and other questions and applications of microbial bioelectrochemical systems. Thereby we will review multiple current research directions with a focus on the understanding of the underlying microbial reactions. Towards the end of the class, students will apply the gained knowledge to develop own ideas for bioelectrochemical applications in a team project work and they will intensify their knowledge in a practical course.

Learning and qualification objectives

Students know the principles of enzymatic and microbial bioelectrochemical processes. They understand the physiological processes, which allow to use bacteria as biocatalysts at electrodes and they learned the technical requirements to turn these processes into applications. The students are able to utilize and further develop the gain knowledge and examples to derive new potential applications of bioelectrochemical systems. This also requires to combine and apply the interdisciplinary complexity of bioelectrochemical systems (project work and practical course).

Requirements for admission to module exam

Pass of written exam and submission of protocol for the practical course.

Requirements for the award of credit points; exams (weighting of grades in %)

Seminar presentation (100%)