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Vassilev I, Rinta-Kanto JM, Kokko M. Comparing the performance of fluidized and fixed granular activated carbon beds as cathodes for microbial electrosynthesis of carboxylates from CO 2. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2024; 403:130896. [PMID: 38795921 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2024.130896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2024] [Revised: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/28/2024]
Abstract
Microbial electrosynthesis (MES) can use renewable electricity to power microbial conversion of carbon dioxide (CO2) into carboxylates. To ensure high productivities in MES, good mass transfer must be ensured, which could be accomplished with fluidization of granular activated carbon (GAC). In this study, fluidized and fixed GAC bed cathodes were compared. Acetate production rate and current density were 42 % and 47 % lower, respectively, in fluidized than fixed bed reactors. Although similar microbial consortium dominated by Eubacterium and Proteiniphilum was observed, lowest biomass quantity was measured with fixed GAC bed indicating higher specific acetate production rates compared to fluidized GAC bed. Furthermore, charge efficiency was the highest and charge recovery in carboxylates the lowest in fixed GAC beds indicating enhanced hydrogen evolution and need for enhancing CO2 feeding to enable higher production rates of acetate. Overall, fixed GAC beds have higher efficiency for acetate production in MES than fluidized GAC beds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Igor Vassilev
- Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Tampere University, Finland
| | | | - Marika Kokko
- Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Tampere University, Finland.
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Cheng S, Li H, He X, Chen H, Li L. Improving anammox activity and reactor start-up speed by using CO 2/NaHCO 3 buffer. J Environ Sci (China) 2024; 139:60-71. [PMID: 38105078 DOI: 10.1016/j.jes.2023.05.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Anammox bacteria grow slowly and can be affected by large pH fluctuations. Using suitable buffers could make the start-up of anammox reactors easy and rapid. In this study, the effects of three kinds of buffers on the nitrogen removal and growth characteristics of anammox sludge were investigated. Reactors with CO2/NaHCO3 buffer solution (CCBS) performed the best in nitrogen removal, while 4-(2-hydroxyerhyl)piperazine-1-ethanesulfonic acid (HEPES) and phosphate buffer solution (PBS) inhibited the anammox activity. Reactors with 50 mmol/L CCBS could start up in 20 days, showing the specific anammox activity and anammox activity of 1.01±0.10 gN/(gVSS·day) and 0.83±0.06 kgN/(m3·day), respectively. Candidatus Kuenenia was the dominant anammox bacteria, with a relative abundance of 71.8%. Notably, anammox reactors could also start quickly by using 50 mmol/L CCBS under non-strict anaerobic conditions. These findings are meaningful for the quick start-up of engineered anammox reactors and prompt enrichment of anammox bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaoan Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Clean Energy Utilization, College of Energy Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China.
| | - Huahua Li
- State Key Laboratory of Clean Energy Utilization, College of Energy Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Xinyuan He
- State Key Laboratory of Clean Energy Utilization, College of Energy Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Hua Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Clean Energy Utilization, College of Energy Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Longxin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Clean Energy Utilization, College of Energy Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
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3
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Baek G, Logan BE. A comprehensive analysis of key factors influencing methane production from CO 2 using microbial methanogenesis cells. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 245:120657. [PMID: 37778082 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Revised: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
With increasing attention on carbon capture and utilization (CCU) technologies for the conversion of CO2 into chemical products, microbial methanogenesis cells (MMCs) have been extensively studied over the past few decades for biomethane production. Using rapidly accumulating data for MMCs with varying configurations and operating conditions, a comprehensive analysis was conducted here to investigate the critical factors that influence methane production rates (MPR) in these systems. A comparison of MPR and set potentials or current densities showed weak linear relationships (R2 < 0.6, p < 0.05), indicating the significant contributions of other important factors impacting methane production. A non-quantitative analysis of these additional parameters indicated the potential importance of using metal catalysts for anode materials where oxygen evolution reaction occurs, while most previous MMC research focused more on cathode materials where the biocatalytic reaction occurs. The use of undefined mixed anaerobic cultures as inocula was found to be sufficient for producing high MPRs, as the electrochemical environment at the cathode provides a strong selective pressure to converge on desirable methanogenic cultures. Other operational parameters, such as catholyte pH control and CO2 supply methods, were also important factors impacting MPR in MMCs, indicating the cumulative impact of these various factors will require careful consideration in future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gahyun Baek
- Department of Integrative Biotechnology, Sungkyunkwan University, 2066 Seoburo, Jangan-gu, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea.
| | - Bruce E Logan
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, 231Q Sackett Building, University Park, PA 16802, USA
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Sun A, Liu X, Zhang S, Yang Q, Huang S, Zhang N. Enhancing Nitrogen Removal Efficiency and Anammox Metabolism in Microbial Electrolysis Cell Coupled Anammox Through Different Voltage Application. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2023:129283. [PMID: 37277003 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2023.129283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The slow growth and difficulty in cultivating anammox bacteria limit the rapid start-up of anammox process and effective microbial enrichment. In this study, microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) was coupled with anammox to investigate the effects of different applying voltage methods on substrate removal efficiency and rates, microbial community structure, anammox metabolism and metabolic pathways. The results showed that applying voltage not only improved NH4+-N removal efficiency and removal rates, but also promoted electron transfer efficiency, key enzyme activity and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) secretion in the systems. Step-up voltage was more conducive to the growth of Candidatus_Kuenenia in the cathode, which promoted the rapid start-up of anammox and treating wastewater with low ammonia concentration. The main metabolic pathway in step-up voltage operation was hydrazine to nitrogen, while in constant voltage operation was hydroxylamine oxidation pathway. These findings provide a new insight into the enhancement and operation of anammox system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anran Sun
- Key Laboratory of Beijing for Water Quality Science and Water Environment Recovery Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
| | - Xiuhong Liu
- Key Laboratory of Beijing for Water Quality Science and Water Environment Recovery Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China.
| | - Shiyong Zhang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Technology, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
| | - Qing Yang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Technology, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
| | - Songqing Huang
- Key Laboratory of Beijing for Water Quality Science and Water Environment Recovery Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
| | - Nan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Beijing for Water Quality Science and Water Environment Recovery Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
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Zhao N, Liu Y, Zhang Y, Li Z. Pyrogenic carbon facilitated microbial extracellular electron transfer in electrogenic granular sludge via geobattery mechanism. WATER RESEARCH 2022; 220:118618. [PMID: 35609427 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.118618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Revised: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Electroactive pyrogenic carbon (PC) is an intriguing candidate for realizing the ambitious goals of large-scale applications of microbial electrochemical technologies (METs). In this study, PC was employed to promote the extracellular electron transfer (EET) within the electrogenic granular sludge (EGS) by acting as an electron conduit. The pecan shell-derived PC prepared at three temperatures (600, 800, and 1000 ˚C) contained rich oxygenated-functional moieties (mainly quinone) on the surface, endowing a good electron transfer capacity (EEC). The maximum current density (Jmax) of EGS with PC amendment outperformed the control EGS without PC amendment, i.e., 100-132 times higher than Jamx of EGS in the absence of PC. Among various pyrolysis temperatures, the PC derived from 600 ˚C produced the highest Jmax (0.40 A/ m2), 0.67-times, and 0.33-times higher than that of PC derived from 800 and 1000 ˚C, respectively. Furthermore, more polysaccharides were secreted in extracellular polymeric substance with PC amendments. The microbial community analysis demonstrated that the PC favored the growth of electroactive bacteria over methanogens. The metabolic pathway revealed that PC induced more functional enzymes in the quinone biosynthesis and cytochrome c and heme synthesis, resulting in an enhanced EET. The EEC of PC was responsible for the EET enhancement effect via PC acting as a geobattery to wire up the EGS and electrodes. Overall, this study pinpoints the finding of PC role in a mixed electroactive biofilm and provides a wide scenario of the PC applications in MET at large scales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nannan Zhao
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Waste Treatment and Recycling, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou, 310012, China; International Science and Technology Cooperation Platform for Low-carbon Recycling of Waste and Green Development, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou, 310012, China
| | - Yuhang Liu
- College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering of Ministry of Education, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Yifeng Zhang
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Zhongjian Li
- College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering of Ministry of Education, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China.
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Brandão Lavender M, Pang S, Liu D, Jourdin L, Ter Heijne A. Reduced overpotential of methane-producing biocathodes: Effect of current and electrode storage capacity. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2022; 347:126650. [PMID: 34974095 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2021.126650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Revised: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 12/25/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Cathode overpotential is a key factor in the energy efficiency of bioelectrochemical systems. In this study the aim is to demonstrate the role of applied current density and electrode storage capacity on cathode overpotential. To do so, eight reactors using capacitive granular activated carbon as cathode material were operated. Four reactors were controlled at -5 A m-2 and four at -10 A m-2. Additionally, to evaluate the electrode storage capacity, weekly charge/discharge tests were conducted for half of the reactors at each applied current density. Results show that cathode potential as high as -0.50 V vs. Ag/AgCl can be reached. Furthermore, the resulting low cathode overpotential is both dependent on applied current density and employment (or not) of charge/discharge tests: reactors at -10 A m-2 without charge/discharge regimes did not result in increasing cathode potential whereas reactors at -5 A m-2 and at -10 A m-2 with charge/discharge regimes did.
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Affiliation(s)
- Micaela Brandão Lavender
- Environmental Technology, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 17, Wageningen, The Netherlands; Paqell B.V., Reactorweg 301, 3542 AD Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Siqi Pang
- Environmental Technology, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 17, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Dandan Liu
- Environmental Technology, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 17, Wageningen, The Netherlands; Paqell B.V., Reactorweg 301, 3542 AD Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Ludovic Jourdin
- Environmental Technology, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 17, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Annemiek Ter Heijne
- Environmental Technology, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 17, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
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