An effectively operating microbial electrolysis cell requires an inexpensive electron donor in combination with a defined and stable electron‐transferring microbial community. Here, a defined co‐culture of Raoultella electrica and Geobacter sulfurreducens was established to generate current during glycerol oxidation. Maximum current densities of 0.20 mA cm⁻² and coulombic efficiencies of 21 % were achieved. Glycerol metabolization into acetate by R. electrica and further acetate utilization by the current‐producing G. sulfurreducens were detected. Based on these observations, a physico‐chemical model was established and used to describe quantitatively the relationships between current density, metabolite concentrations and bacterial growth. The competition for acetate between G. sulfurreducens and R. electrica was identified as the major limitation of the system. This detailed quantitative understanding of the physiological interactions opens the door for target‐oriented genetic engineering of the microbes.

中文翻译：

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地细菌硫还原菌和Raoultella Electrica的共培养物对生物电化学甘油氧化的性能建模

有效运行的微生物电解池需要廉价的电子供体，以及确定且稳定的电子传输微生物群落。在这里，建立了Raoultella electrica和Geobacter sulfreducens的定义共培养物，以在甘油氧化过程中产生电流。实现了0.20 mA cm ^-2的最大电流密度和21％的库仑效率。甘油代谢成乙酸由R. ELECTRICA和进一步利用乙酸由电流产生G.硫还原被检测到。基于这些观察，建立了一个物理化学模型，并用于定量描述电流密度，代谢物浓度和细菌生长之间的关系。对之间醋酸竞争G.硫还原和R. ELECTRICA被确定为系统的主要限制。对生理相互作用的详细定量了解为微生物的靶向基因工程打开了大门。