Patents

A method for regenerating a working electrode of an electrochemical device functioning in electrolyser mode comprising a working electrode (bio-anode) covered with a biofilm, a cathode and optionally a reference electrode, a positive nominal potential difference (ddp) being applied, during nominal operation, either between the bio-anode and the cathode, or between the bio-anode and the reference electrode, characterised in that it comprises either a reduction in the ddp of at least 10% of the ddp applied between the bio-anode to be regenerated and the cathode, in the absence of a reference electrode, or a reduction in the working potential imposed on the working electrode (the bio-anode) to be regenerated relative to the reference electrode of at least 0.05 V/SHE, allowing the nominal operation of the electrolyser to be restored. Regeneration can be carried out by the production of H2 at the surface of the bio-anode by changing its polarity by inserting a counter-electrode into the anode chamber of the bio-anode.

The present invention relates to the electrochemical domain, and more particularly to electrochemical processes using bioelectrochemical devices, that is to say electrochemical devices of which at least one of the electrodes is in contact with microorganisms.

The present invention relates to a method for synthesising organic molecules from carbon-containing sources and dihydrogen, as well as a device for implementing said method. The method according to the invention can make use of carbon-containing sources and/or dihydrogen from renewable resources.

The invention relates to a bioelectrochemical reactor which comprises: - an anode chamber having at least two bioanodes and an anodic electrolyte comprising anodic electroactive microorganisms, - a cathode chamber comprising at least one biocathode, and a cathodic electrolyte comprising cathodic electroactive microorganisms, - the anode chamber being separated from the cathode chamber by, running from the anode chamber to the cathode chamber, a cation exchange membrane and an anion exchange membrane, said cation and anion exchange membranes being separated from each other by an inter-membrane chamber (30), and - means for applying a potential difference between the interconnected bioanodes and the biocathode/biocathodes, the bioanodes and biocathode/biocathodes having active surfaces such that the total active surface of the biocathode/biocathodes is greater than the total active surface of the two bioanodes. The invention also relates to a method for regenerating the activity of the bioanodes of the reactor and to the use of said reactor for the electrosynthesis of organic acids and/or alcohols from organic waste.

A bio-electrochemical device comprising at least one bio-anode immersed in an electrolyte containing anodic electroactive microorganisms characterised in that it comprises a diffuser, connected to a gas source, and arranged in a zone situated below or in the lower part of the bio-anode, the diffuser having outlet openings for the gas capable of generating gas bubbles sweeping the surface of this bio-anode and/or causing turbulences around it, the bubbles being used to regenerate this bio-anode, during the functioning of the electrochemical device. A method for regenerating a bio-anode by means of the above device, that can be combined with a reduction in the difference in potential between the bio-anode and the cathode.