Efficient degradation of rice straw in the reactors packed by carbon fiber textiles

Riboflavin-loaded carbon cloth aids the anaerobic digestion of cow dung by promoting direct interspecies electron transfer

Cow dung generates globally due to increased beef and milk consumption, but its treatment efficiency remains low. Previous studies have shown that riboflavin-loaded conductive materials can improve anaerobic digestion through enhance direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET). However, its effect on the practical anaerobic digestion of cow dung remained unclear. In this study, carbon cloth loaded with riboflavin (carbon cloth-riboflavin) was added into an anaerobic digester treating cow dung. The carbon cloth-riboflavin reactor showed a better performance than other two reactors. The metagenomic analysis revealed that Methanothrix on the surface of the carbon cloth predominantly utilized the CO2 reduction for methane production, further enhanced after riboflavin addition, while Methanothrix in bulk sludge were using the acetate decarboxylation pathway. Furthermore, the carbon cloth-riboflavin enriched various major methanogenic pathways and activated a large number of enzymes associated with DIET. Riboflavin's presence altered the microbial communities and the abundance of functional genes relate to DIET, ultimately leading to a better performance of anaerobic digestion for cow dung.

Electric-Inducive Microbial Interactions in a Thermophilic Anaerobic Digester Revealed by High-Throughput Sequencing of Micron-Scale Single Flocs

Although conductive materials have been shown to improve efficiency in anaerobic digestion (AD) by modifying microbial interactions, the interacting network under thermophilic conditions has not been examined. To identify the true taxon-taxon associations within thermophilic anaerobic digestion (TAD) microbiome and reveal the influence of carbon cloth (CC) addition, we sampled micron-scale single flocs (40-70 μm) randomly isolated from lab-scale thermophilic digesters. Results revealed that CC addition not only significantly boosted methane yield by 25.3% but also increased the spatial heterogeneity of the community in the sludge medium. After CC addition, an evident translocation of Pseudomonas from the medium to the biofilm was observed, showing their remarkable capacity for biofilm formation. Additionally, Clostridium and Thermotogaceae tightly aggregated and steadily co-occurred in the medium and biofilm of the TAD microbiome, which might be associated with their unique extracellular sugar metabolizing style. Finally, CC induced syntrophic interaction between Syntrophomonas and denitrifiers of Rhodocyclaceae. The upregulated respiration-associated electron transferring genes (Cyst-c, complex III) on the cellular membranes of these collaborating partners indicated a potential coupling of the denitrification pathway with syntrophic acetate oxidation via direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET). These findings provide an insight into how conductive materials promote thermophilic digestion performance and open the path for improved community monitoring of biotreatment systems.

Analysis of a bio-electrochemical reactor containing carbon fiber textiles for the anaerobic digestion of tomato plant residues

A bio-electrochemical system packed with supporting material can promote anaerobic digestion for several types of organic waste. To expand the target organic matters of a BES, tomato plant residues (TPRs), generated year-round as agricultural and cellulosic waste, were treated using three methanogenic reactors: a continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR), a carbon fiber textile (CFT) reactor, and a bio-electrochemical reactor (BER) including CFT with electrochemical regulation (BER + CFT). CFT had positive effects on methane fermentation and methanogen abundance. The microbial population stimulated by electrochemical regulation, including hydrogenotrophic methanogens, cellulose-degrading bacteria, and acetate-degrading bacteria, suppressed acetate accumulation, as evidenced by the low acetate concentration in the suspended fraction in the BER + CFT. These results indicated that the microbial community in the BER + CFT facilitated the efficient decomposition of TPR and its intermediates such as acetate to methane.

Stimulation of the anaerobic digestion of the dry organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) with carbon-based conductive materials

Growth of bacterial and archaeal species capable of interspecies electron exchange was stimulated by addition of conductive materials (carbon cloth or granular activated carbon (GAC)) to anaerobic digesters treating dog food (a substitute for the dry-organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW)). Methane production (772-1428mmol vs <80mmol), volatile solids removal (78%-81% vs 54%-64%) and COD removal efficiencies (∼80% vs 20%-30%) were all significantly higher in reactors amended with GAC or carbon cloth than controls. OFMSW degradation was also significantly accelerated and VFA concentrations were substantially lower in reactors amended with conductive materials. These results suggest that both conductive materials (carbon cloth and GAC) can promote conversion of OFMSW to methane even in the presence of extremely high VFA concentrations (∼500mM).

Towards engineering application: Potential mechanism for enhancing anaerobic digestion of complex organic waste with different types of conductive materials

Conductive materials have been widely investigated to accelerate and stabilize the conversion of organic wastes to methane. However, the potential mechanisms involved with different types of conductive materials are still unclear. In this study, magnetite (Fe₃O₄) and granular activated carbon (GAC), as the two typical conductive materials, were respectively supplemented to acidogenesis and methanogenesis of a two-phase anaerobic digestion (AD) system in an attempt to explore their different mechanisms. The results showed that, magnetite supplemented to the acidogenic phase could enhance the decomposition of complex organics into simples, but significantly raise the hydrogen partial pressure as well as enrich the hydrogen-utilizing methanogens, which were not expected for aceticlastic methanogenesis known as a mainstream of methanogenesis in most of traditional digesters. GAC supplemented to the methanogenic phase had less influences on syntrophic metabolism of alcohols and fatty acids when acidogenesis was ineffective or out of work. Microbial community analysis suggested that direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET) had been established on the GAC, though the insignificant improvement of performances. Once magnetite was supplemented to the acidogenesis to improve the acidification efficiency, the syntrophic conversion of alcohols and fatty acids to methane in the GAC-supplemented methanogenic phase was significantly improved. These results suggested that, DIET was unlikely to participate in the direct decomposition of complex organics, even in the presence of GAC, but it could work effectively once acidogenesis functioned well.

Toward the complete utilization of rice straw: Methane fermentation and lignin recovery by a combinational process involving mechanical milling, supporting material and nanofiltration

Rice straw was mechanically milled using a process consuming 1.9MJ/kg-biomass, and 10g/L of unmilled or milled rice straw was used as the carbon source for methane fermentation in a digester containing carbon fiber textile as the supporting material. Milling increased methane production from 226 to 419mL/L/day at an organic loading rate of 2180mg-dichromate chemical oxygen demand/L/day, corresponding to 260mLCH4/gVS. Storage of the fermentation effluent at room temperature decreased the weight of the milled rice straw residue from 3.81 to 1.00g/L. The supernatant of the effluent was subjected to nanofiltration. The black concentrates deposited on the nanofiltration membranes contained 53.0-57.9% lignin. Solution nuclear magnetic resonance showed that lignin aromatic components such as p-hydroxyphenyl (H), guaiacyl (G), and syringyl (S) were retained primarily, and major lignin interunit structures such as the β-O-4-H/G unit were absent. This combinational process will aid the complete utilization of rice straw.

Dry co-digestion of sewage sludge and rice straw under mesophilic and thermophilic anaerobic conditions

Dry anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge can recover biogas as energy; however, its low C/N ratio limits it as a single substrate in the anaerobic digestion. Rice straw is an abundant agricultural residue in China, which is rich in carbon and can be used as carbon source. In the present study, the performance of dry co-digestion of sewage sludge and rice straw was investigated under mesophilic (35 °C) and thermophilic (55 °C) conditions. The operational factors impacting dry co-digestion of sewage sludge and rice straw such as C/N ratio, moisture content, and initial pH were explored under mesophilic conditions. The results show that low C/N ratios resulted in a higher biogas production rate, but a lower specific biogas yield; low moisture content of 65 % resulted in the instability of the digestion system and a low specific biogas yield. Initial pH ranging 7.0-9.0 did not affect the performance of the anaerobic digestion. The C/N ratio of 26-29:1, moisture content of 70-80 %, and pH 7.0-9.0 resulted in good performance in the dry mesophilic co-digestion of sewage sludge and rice straw. As compared with mesophilic digestion, thermophilic co-digestion of sewage sludge and rice straw significantly enhanced the degradation efficiency of the substrates and the specific biogas yield (p < 0.05) at the conditions of C/N ratio 26:1, moisture content 80 %, and natural initial pH. Although high concentrations of ammonia-nitrogen (NH4-N, 1500 mg/kg wet weight) were formed during thermophilic digestion, there was no obvious inhibition occurred. The results indicated that rice straw can be used as carbon source for the dry co-digestion of sewage sludge under mesophilic and thermophilic conditions.

Enhancing syntrophic metabolism in up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket reactors with conductive carbon materials

Syntrophic metabolism of alcohols and fatty acids is a critical step in anaerobic digestion, which if enhanced can better stabilize the process and enable shorter retention times. Direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET) has recently been recognized as an alternative route to hydrogen interspecies transfer as a mechanism for interspecies syntrophic electron exchange. Therefore, the possibility of accelerating syntrophic metabolism of ethanol in up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactors by incorporating conductive materials in reactor design was investigated. Graphite, biochar, and carbon cloth all immediately enhanced methane production and COD removal. As the hydraulic retention time was decreased the increased effectiveness of treatment in reactors with conductive materials increased versus the control reactor. When these conductive materials were removed from the reactors rates of syntrophic metabolism declined to rates comparable to the control reactor. These results suggest that incorporating conductive materials in the design of UASB reactors may enhance digester effectiveness.

Microbial interspecies interactions: recent findings in syntrophic consortia

Microbes are ubiquitous in our biosphere, and inevitably live in communities. They excrete a variety of metabolites and support the growth of other microbes in a community. According to the law of chemical equilibrium, the consumption of excreted metabolites by recipient microbes can accelerate the metabolism of donor microbes. This is the concept of syntrophy, which is a type of mutualism and governs the metabolism and growth of diverse microbes in natural and engineered ecosystems. A representative example of syntrophy is found in methanogenic communities, where reducing equivalents, e.g., hydrogen and formate, transfer between syntrophic partners. Studies have revealed that microbes involved in syntrophy have evolved molecular mechanisms to establish specific partnerships and interspecies communication, resulting in efficient metabolic cooperation. In addition, recent studies have provided evidence suggesting that microbial interspecies transfer of reducing equivalents also occurs as electric current via biotic (e.g., pili) and abiotic (e.g., conductive mineral and carbon particles) electric conduits. In this review, we describe these findings as examples of sophisticated cooperative behavior between different microbial species. We suggest that these interactions have fundamental roles in shaping the structure and activity of microbial communities.

Carbon cloth stimulates direct interspecies electron transfer in syntrophic co-cultures

This study investigated the possibility that the electrical conductivity of carbon cloth accelerates direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET) in co-cultures. Carbon cloth accelerated metabolism of DIET co-cultures (Geobacter metallireducens-Geobacter sulfurreducens and G.metallireducens-Methanosarcina barkeri) but did not promote metabolism of co-cultures performing interspecies H2 transfer (Desulfovibrio vulgaris-G.sulfurreducens). On the other hand, DIET co-cultures were not stimulated by poorly conductive cotton cloth. Mutant strains lacking electrically conductive pili, or pili-associated cytochromes participated in DIET only in the presence of carbon cloth. In co-cultures promoted by carbon cloth, cells were primarily associated with the cloth although the syntrophic partners were too far apart for cell-to-cell biological electrical connections to be feasible. Carbon cloth seemingly mediated interspecies electron transfer between the distant syntrophic partners. These results suggest that the ability of carbon cloth to accelerate DIET should be considered in anaerobic digester designs that incorporate carbon cloth.

Biomass retention on electrodes rather than electrical current enhances stability in anaerobic digestion

Anaerobic digestion (AD) is a well-established technology for energy recovery from organic waste streams. Several studies noted that inserting a bioelectrochemical system (BES) inside an anaerobic digester can increase biogas output, however the mechanism behind this was not explored and primary controls were not executed. Here, we evaluated whether a BES could stabilize AD of molasses. Lab-scale digesters were operated in the presence or absence of electrodes, in open (no applied potential) and closed circuit conditions. In the control reactors without electrodes methane production decreased to 50% of the initial rate, while it remained stable in the reactors with electrodes, indicating a stabilizing effect. After 91 days of operation, the now colonized electrodes were introduced in the failing AD reactors to evaluate their remediating capacity. This resulted in an immediate increase in CH4 production and VFA removal. Although a current was generated in the BES operated in closed circuit, no direct effect of applied potential nor current was observed. A high abundance of Methanosaeta was detected on the electrodes, however irrespective of the applied cell potential. This study demonstrated that, in addition to other studies reporting only an increase in methane production, a BES can also remediate AD systems that exhibited process failure. However, the lack of difference between current driven and open circuit systems indicates that the key impact is through biomass retention, rather than electrochemical interaction with the electrodes.

Ethanol fermentation by xylose-assimilating Saccharomyces cerevisiae using sugars in a rice straw liquid hydrolysate concentrated by nanofiltration

Concentrating sugars using membrane separation, followed by ethanol fermentation by recombinant xylose-assimilating Saccharomyces cerevisiae, is an attractive technology. Three nanofiltration membranes (NTR-729HF, NTR-7250, and ESNA3) were effective in concentrating glucose, fructose, and sucrose from dilute molasses solution and no permeation of sucrose. The separation factors of acetate, formate, furfural, and 5-hydroxymethyl furfural, which were produced by dilute acid pretreatment of rice straw, over glucose after passage through these three membranes were 3.37-11.22, 4.71-20.27, 4.32-16.45, and 4.05-16.84, respectively, at pH 5.0, an applied pressure of 1.5 or 2.0 MPa, and 25 °C. The separation factors of these fermentation inhibitors over xylose were infinite, as there was no permeation of xylose. Ethanol production from approximately two-times concentrated liquid hydrolysate using recombinant S. cerevisiae was double (5.34-6.44 g L(-1)) that compared with fermentation of liquid hydrolysate before membrane separation (2.75 g L(-1)).

A critical review on inhibition of anaerobic digestion process by excess ammonia

Ammonia plays a vital role in the performance and stability of anaerobic digestion (AD) of N-rich organic-feedstock. Several research works were carried-out to study the effect of ammonia on the efficiency of AD of agro-food, industrial and livestock wastes/wastewater. However, excess ammonia remains a critical hitch in AD process. The mechanism of ammonia-inhibition has also been studied and there is no simple strategy available to mitigate ammonia-toxicity, when it exceeds threshold inhibition-level. For successful operation of AD systems at higher ammonia-level, adequate choice of temperature, control of pH and C/N ratio, and utilization of acclimatized-microflora to higher ammonia concentrations may ensure a stable and undisturbed digestion. This review provides a critical summary of earlier and recent research conducted on ammonia-inhibition during the anaerobic degradation of organic substrates, especially, at high ammonia concentrations. This article emphasizes that more profound knowledge on parameters influencing ammonia-inhibition is needed to apply appropriate control strategies.

Methanosarcina: the rediscovered methanogen for heavy duty biomethanation

Anaerobic digestion is an important technology in the framework of renewable energy production. The anaerobic digestion system is susceptible to perturbations due to the sensitivity of the methanogens towards environmental factors. Currently, technology is evolving from conventional waste treatment, i.e. the removal of pollutants, to very intensive biogas production from concentrated wastes, in the framework of bio-energy production. In the latter configuration Methanosarcina species appear to be of crucial importance. Methanosarcina sp. are, compared to other methanogens, quite robust towards different impairments. They are reported to be tolerant to total ammonium concentrations up to 7000 mg L(-1), salt concentrations up to 18,000 mg Na(+)L(-1), a pH shock of 0.8-1.0 units and acetate concentrations up to 15,000 mg CODL(-1). The possibilities of Methanosarcina sp. as key organisms in specific types of anaerobic digestion systems are demonstrated in this review.

A bioelectrochemical reactor containing carbon fiber textiles enables efficient methane fermentation from garbage slurry

A packed-bed system includes supporting materials to retain microorganisms and a bioelectrochemical system influences the microbial metabolism. In our study, carbon fiber textiles (CFT) as a supporting material was attached onto a carbon working electrode in a bioelectrochemical reactor (BER) that degrades garbage slurry to methane, in order to investigate the effect of combining electrochemical regulation and packing CFT. The potential on the working electrode in the BER containing CFT was set to -1.0 V or -0.8 V (vs. Ag/AgCl). BERs containing CFT exhibited higher methane production, elimination of dichromate chemical oxygen demand, and the ratio of methanogens in the suspended fraction than reactors containing CFT without electrochemical regulation at an organic loading rate (OLR) of 27.8 gCODcr/L/day. In addition, BERs containing CFT exhibited higher reactor performances than BERs without CFT at this OLR. Our results revealed that the new design that combined electrochemical regulation and packing CFT was effective.