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Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism Working with the energies of life

Scientific advances, in combination with advanced of Saccharomyces bacteria. Acting as biocatalysts, the
computing, have also enabled the dynamics of electrons in microbes converted the chemical energy of organic matter
organic materials to be visualized through simulations that show from waste streams into electrons that flowed into an
how charge flows through molecular structures in real space and external circuit to provide electrical power for as long as
real time (Pelzer et al., 2017). While scientific advances can now they continued to be fed. This highly mediated relationship
demonstrate electron transfer in organic systems, the principles established a power-sharing relationship across mechanical
do not transfer to work with design at the human scale. If we are and natural bodies that are neither entirely biological, nor
to strategically manipulate “living” energy (i.e., electron flow in exclusively mechanical. The resultant cyborg “being” –
biochemical processes) within the metabolic flow of the living part microbial biofilm, part electromechanical system –
world as a design process, we must collaborate with the master thrives on different types of organic fuel to perform a range
engineers of this realm – the microbes. of metabolic tasks at room temperature, such as cleaning
wastewater, generating bioelectricity, and detoxifying
Microbes are microscopic organisms that are around a
micrometer (µm) to one millionth of a meter in size, and cannot pollutants. While bioelectrochemical systems (BES) like
the MFC produce much less power than renewables,
be seen with the naked eye. Microbes do not simply act alone as and fossil-fuels, they uniquely set natural limits to its
individuals but use a range of sophisticated signaling systems to production, creating essential natural limits to electrical
coordinate their interactions within their natural environment consumption.
to form complex structures, their equivalent of our cities. To
organize this process, they form a surface-adherent biofilm – The MFC is one example of a larger group of “living”
2
an ancient mode of bacterial growth documented in the fossil BES that represents different electrogenic biofilm-based
3
record – which is produced by and contains bacteria as well as bioreactors that also includes microbial electrolysis cells 4
other microorganisms (Vega et al., 2013).
2 The effectiveness of bioelectrochemical systems (BESs)
When produced metabolically, the natural bioavailability in urban spaces is being explored by the PHOENIX Cost
of electrons establishes limits for performing work, so that Action Network. While the development, validation and
matter and energy are coupled (not cleaved) and exchanged cost-efficiency improvement of energy-aware and limited-
within a circular, yet evolving, context. Each material ecology complexity solutions are becoming increasingly time-
can, therefore, be strategically metabolized using bioelectrical consuming, microorganisms represent one realistic hope.
systems to perform all kinds of useful, creative work, without For millennia, microbes have tirelessly been shaping the
“borrowing” unlimited resources from next-generations, or Earth’s ecosystems and with the right approach, they can
elsewhere. The passage of electrons between atoms configures help re-introduce environmental equilibrium. PHOENIX
matter, produces physical space, and, as such, generates the demonstrates that BESs are low environmental impact
basis for a changing environmental experience as a material systems that exploit the biological activity of live organisms
for pollutant reduction, recycling of useful elements, synthesis
phenomenon. The potency of this transformational capacity of new products and production of electricity, in the case of
cannot be overstated. Bioelectricity can cross the mechanical microbial fuel cells (MFC). Recent advances in the field of low
and organic divide, providing energy and data for electronic power electronics enable the exploitation of these sustainable
systems and additional molecular transformation for organic and environmentally friendly technologies. The activities of
systems, while working at much lower power thresholds than PHOENIX will be related to the characterization of BESs
energy generated by fossil fuels or renewables. Whatever technologies and their implementation as bio-remediator,
bioelectricity lacks in power; however, it makes up for biosensors, and bio-reactors connected to sustainable
through the quality of its operations, creating the potential urban planning, educational and socio-economic aspects.
for an era of low power (bio) electronics that is powered The integration of biotechnologies in the urban context is
and informed by metabolic transactions occurring at room a key priority for appropriate rational urban planning and
minimum environmental impact. (www. https://www.cost.
temperature. eu/actions/CA19123/)
A “living” technological platform that can bridge this 3 Bioreactors are vessels or tanks in which whole cells or cell-
organic-technological divide was developed in 1911 by free enzymes transform raw materials into biochemical
Potter. Using the metabolic power of electrogenic anaerobic products and/or less undesirable by-products. The microbial
biofilms that produce electrons as they metabolize waste, cell itself is a miniature bioreactor; other examples include
shake flasks, Petri dishes, and industrial fermenters.
he brought the worlds of electricity and biology together 4 The microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) is one of the most
to create a “living” battery, or microbial fuel cell (MFC) efficient technologies for waste-to-product conversion that
(Greenman et al., 2021). Potter’s apparatus produced uses electrochemically active bacteria to convert organic
several hundred millivolts of energy through a technical matter into hydrogen or a variety of by-products without
choreography that engaged the vital electrogenic processes polluting the environment.

Volume 5 Issue 4 (2023) 6 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.0862