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Wu KK, Zhao L, Wang ZH, Sun ZF, Wu JT, Chen C, Xing DF, Yang SS, Wang AJ, Zhang YF, Ren NQ. Simultaneous biogas upgrading and medium-chain fatty acids production using a dual membrane biofilm reactor. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 249:120915. [PMID: 38029487 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Utilizing H2-assisted ex-situ biogas upgrading and acetate recovery holds great promise for achieving high value utilization of biogas. However, it faces a significant challenge due to acetate's high solubility and limited economic value. To address this challenge, we propose an innovative strategy for simultaneous upgrading of biogas and the production of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs). A series of batch tests evaluated the strategy's efficiency under varying initial gas ratios (v/v) of H2, CH4, CO2, along with varying ethanol concentrations. The results identified the optimal conditions as initial gas ratios of 3H2:3CH4:2CO2 and an ethanol concentration of 241.2 mmol L-1, leading to maximum CH4 purity (97.2 %), MCFAs yield (54.2 ± 2.1 mmol L-1), and MCFAs carbon-flow distribution (62.3 %). Additionally, an analysis of the microbial community's response to varying conditions highlighted the crucial roles played by microorganisms such as Clostridium, Proteiniphilum, Sporanaerobacter, and Bacteroides in synergistically assimilating H2 and CO2 for MCFAs production. Furthermore, a 160-day continuous operation using a dual-membrane aerated biofilm reactor (dMBfR) was conducted. Remarkable achievements were made at a hydraulic retention time of 2 days, including an upgraded CH4 content of 96.4 ± 0.3 %, ethanol utilization ratio (URethanol) of 95.7 %, MCFAs production rate of 28.8 ± 0.3 mmol L-1 d-1, and MCFAs carbon-flow distribution of 70 ± 0.8 %. This enhancement is proved to be an efficient in biogas upgrading and MCFAs production. These results lay the foundation for maximizing the value of biogas, reducing CO2 emissions, and providing valuable insights into resource recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai-Kai Wu
- School of Environment, State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China; Department of Environmental & Resource Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby DK-2800, Denmark
| | - Lei Zhao
- School of Environment, State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China.
| | - Zi-Han Wang
- School of Environment, State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Zhong-Fang Sun
- School of Environment, State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Jie-Ting Wu
- School of Environment, Liaoning University, Shenyang 110000, China
| | - Chuan Chen
- School of Environment, State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - De-Feng Xing
- School of Environment, State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Shan-Shan Yang
- School of Environment, State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Ai-Jie Wang
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Biotechnology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Yi-Feng Zhang
- Department of Environmental & Resource Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby DK-2800, Denmark
| | - Nan-Qi Ren
- School of Environment, State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China; School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), Shenzhen 518055, China
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Alvarez‐Guzmán CL, Muñoz‐Páez KM, Valdez‐Vazquez I. Effect of electron donors on CO 2 fixation from a model cement industry flue gas by non-photosynthetic microbial communities in batch and continuous reactors. Microb Biotechnol 2023; 16:2387-2400. [PMID: 37837250 PMCID: PMC10686125 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.14353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of different inorganic compounds as electron donors for the capture of CO2 from a model cement flue gas CO2 /O2 /N2 (4.2:13.5:82.3% v/v) using a non-photosynthetic microbial community. The inoculum obtained from a H2 -producing reactor was acclimated to CO2 consumption achieving 100% of CO2 removal after 45 days. Na2 S, MnCl2 , NaNO2 , NH4 Cl, Na2 S2 O3 , and FeCl2 were used as energy source for CO2 fixation by the acclimated microbial community showing different efficiencies, being Na2 S the best electron donor evaluated (100% of CO2 consumption) and FeCl2 the less effective (28% of CO2 consumption). In all treatments, acetate and propionate were the main endpoint metabolites. Moreover, scaling the process to a continuous laboratory biotrickling filter using Na2 S as energy source showed a CO2 consumption of up to 77%. Analysis of the microbial community showed that Na2 S and FeCl2 exerted a strong selection on the microbial members in the community showing significant differences (PERMANOVA, p = 0.0001) compared to the control and the other treatments. Results suggest that the CO2 fixing pathways used by the microbial community in all treatments were the 3-hydroxypropionate-4-hydroxybutyrate cycle and the Wood-Ljungdahl pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Lizeth Alvarez‐Guzmán
- Instituto de Ingeniería, Unidad Académica JuriquillaUniversidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoSantiago de QueréteroMexico
| | - Karla María Muñoz‐Páez
- CONAHCYT‐Instituto de Ingeniería, Unidad Académica JuriquillaUniversidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoSantiago de QueréteroMexico
| | - Idania Valdez‐Vazquez
- Instituto de Ingeniería, Unidad Académica JuriquillaUniversidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoSantiago de QueréteroMexico
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Khandelwal A, Lens PNL. Simultaneous removal of sulfide and bicarbonate from synthetic wastewater using an algae-assisted microbial fuel cell. ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY 2023:1-10. [PMID: 37534576 DOI: 10.1080/09593330.2023.2243544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
The anaerobic digestion (AD) process is one of the most practiced technologies for the remediation of organic waste and maximization of energy recovery in terms of biogas or biomethane. The presence of other gaseous components in biogas, e.g. CO2 and H2S, often makes its direct application in engines and electricity production unsuitable. This work aimed to develop and utilize an algae-assisted microbial fuel cell (AMFC) for the purification of biogas by removing both CO2 and H2S and simultaneous bioelectricity generation. In addition to biogas clean-up, elemental sulfur recovery and CO2 utilization for algae cultivation add value to the proposed AMFC process. Experiments were performed with both sulfide and bicarbonate in their dissolved form, in the respective anodic and cathodic chambers of the AMFC. The sulfide concentration was varied from 100 to 800 mg/l and the AMFC exhibited a sulfide removal efficiency exceeding 97% at all concentrations tested. The process efficiency dropped, however, at sulfide concentrations above 300 mg/l in terms of both sulfide removal and power output. The AMFC performed best at 400 mg/l sulfide by exhibiting a power density of 24.99 mW/m3 and sulfide removal efficiency of 98.87%. The system exhibited columbic efficiency (CE %) in the range of 7.85-80%. The total alkalinity representing CO2, carbonate and bicarbonate levels in the algae-based system was reduced by 49.54%. The electrical energy recovered from the AMFC was 0.1 kWh/m3 and the total energy recovery, which is the sum of the electrical and algal lipid energy, amounted to 7.25 kWh/m3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amitap Khandelwal
- Department of Microbiology, School of Natural Sciences and Ryan Institute, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Piet N L Lens
- Department of Microbiology, School of Natural Sciences and Ryan Institute, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
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Lin Z, Tan J, Xiong Z, Fu Z, Chen J, Xie T, Zheng J, Zhang Y, Li P. Regulation of the autochthonous microbial community in excess sludge for the bioconversion of carbon dioxide to acetate without exogenic hydrogen. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2023; 378:129011. [PMID: 37011841 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2023.129011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 03/26/2023] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
The autochthonous microbial community from excess sludge was regulated for enhanced conversion of CO2 to acetate without exogenic H2. It was interesting that the acetate-fed system exhibited a surprising performance to regulate the microbial community for a high acetate yield and selectivity. As a result, some hydrogen-producing bacteria (e.g., Proteiniborus) and acetogenic bacteria with the ability of CO2 reduction were enriched by acetate feeding, 2-bromoethanesulfonate (BES) addition and CO2 stress. When the selected microbial community was applied to convert CO2, the accumulation of acetate was positively correlated to the concentration of yeast extract. Finally, the acetate yield reached up to 67.24 mM with a high product selectivity of 84 % in the presence of yeast extract (2 g/L) and sufficient CO2 in semi-continuous culture for 10 days. This work should help get new insights into the regulation of microbial community for the efficient acetate production from CO2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiwen Lin
- Department of Pharmaceutical & Biological Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610065, PR China
| | - Jinan Tan
- Department of Pharmaceutical & Biological Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610065, PR China
| | - Zhihan Xiong
- Department of Pharmaceutical & Biological Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610065, PR China
| | - Zisen Fu
- Department of Pharmaceutical & Biological Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610065, PR China
| | - Jing Chen
- Department of Pharmaceutical & Biological Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610065, PR China
| | - Tonghui Xie
- Department of Pharmaceutical & Biological Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610065, PR China
| | - Jia Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Wuliangye-flavor Liquor Solid-state Fermentation, China National Light Industry, Yibin, Sichuan 644007, PR China
| | - Yongkui Zhang
- Department of Pharmaceutical & Biological Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610065, PR China
| | - Panyu Li
- Department of Pharmaceutical & Biological Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610065, PR China.
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Baleeiro FCF, Varchmin L, Kleinsteuber S, Sträuber H, Neumann A. Formate-induced CO tolerance and methanogenesis inhibition in fermentation of syngas and plant biomass for carboxylate production. BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS AND BIOPRODUCTS 2023; 16:26. [PMID: 36805806 PMCID: PMC9936662 DOI: 10.1186/s13068-023-02271-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 01/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Production of monocarboxylates using microbial communities is highly dependent on local and degradable biomass feedstocks. Syngas or different mixtures of H2, CO, and CO2 can be sourced from biomass gasification, excess renewable electricity, industrial off-gases, and carbon capture plants and co-fed to a fermenter to alleviate dependence on local biomass. To understand the effects of adding these gases during anaerobic fermentation of plant biomass, a series of batch experiments was carried out with different syngas compositions and corn silage (pH 6.0, 32 °C). RESULTS Co-fermentation of syngas with corn silage increased the overall carboxylate yield per gram of volatile solids (VS) by up to 29% (0.47 ± 0.07 g gVS-1; in comparison to 0.37 ± 0.02 g gVS-1 with a N2/CO2 headspace), despite slowing down biomass degradation. Ethylene and CO exerted a synergistic effect in preventing methanogenesis, leading to net carbon fixation. Less than 12% of the electrons were misrouted to CH4 when either 15 kPa CO or 5 kPa CO + 1.5 kPa ethylene was used. CO increased the selectivity to acetate and propionate, which accounted for 85% (electron equivalents) of all products at 49 kPa CO, by favoring lactic acid bacteria and actinobacteria over n-butyrate and n-caproate producers. Inhibition of n-butyrate and n-caproate production by CO happened even when an inoculum preacclimatized to syngas and lactate was used. Intriguingly, the effect of CO on n-butyrate and n-caproate production was reversed when formate was present in the broth. CONCLUSIONS The concept of co-fermenting syngas and plant biomass shows promise in three aspects: by making anaerobic fermentation a carbon-fixing process, by increasing the yields of short-chain carboxylates (propionate and acetate), and by minimizing electron losses to CH4. Moreover, a model was proposed for how formate can alleviate CO inhibition in certain acidogenic bacteria. Testing the fermentation of syngas and plant biomass in a continuous process could potentially improve selectivity to n-butyrate and n-caproate by enriching chain-elongating bacteria adapted to CO and complex biomass.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flávio C. F. Baleeiro
- grid.7492.80000 0004 0492 3830Department of Environmental Microbiology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ, Leipzig, Germany ,grid.7892.40000 0001 0075 5874Technical Biology, Institute of Process Engineering in Life Science, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology – KIT, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Lukas Varchmin
- grid.7892.40000 0001 0075 5874Technical Biology, Institute of Process Engineering in Life Science, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology – KIT, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Sabine Kleinsteuber
- grid.7492.80000 0004 0492 3830Department of Environmental Microbiology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Heike Sträuber
- grid.7492.80000 0004 0492 3830Department of Environmental Microbiology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Anke Neumann
- Technical Biology, Institute of Process Engineering in Life Science, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology - KIT, Karlsruhe, Germany.
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Qiu S, Xia W, Xu J, Li Z, Ge S. Impacts of 2-bromoethanesulfonic sodium on methanogenesis: Methanogen metabolism and community structure. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 230:119527. [PMID: 36580800 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.119527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2022] [Revised: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Production of medium-chain carboxylic acids (MCCAs) by chain elongation (CE) presents a competitive alternative to conventional products of methane in anaerobic digestion treating organic waste streams, considering energy recovery, economic, and environmental profits. However, the system stability and performance largely rely on the selective suppression of methanogens while stimulation of CE bacteria. Commercial inhibitors such as 2-bromoethanesulfonic sodium (BES) was shown to be effective, but controversial conclusions exist on its inhibition characteristics and the inhibition mechanism remains unclear. Therefore, this study systematically investigated the responses of methanogenesis in granular sludge to various BES levels, focusing on methane production, methanogenic pathway, dynamic populations, electron transport and energy metabolism. Results showed that compared with the control, 3.0 g/L BES was sufficient to induce a 72.9% reduced level on accumulative methane production by the end of 4 cycles (28 days), which was likely to be attributed to the significantly suppressed metabolic pathways and intracellular regulations. Specifically, BES suppressed the electron transport via unproper electron carriers and reduced electron amount as indicated by the decreased level of enzymes and genes involved such as coenzyme F420, CO dehydrogenase and NADH:ubiquinone reductase (H+-translocating). Moreover, BES regulated the intracellular energy metabolism, leading to the impeded ATP synthesis but enhanced ATP consumption as evidenced by the variations on the activity or abundance of acetate kinase, A1Ao-ATP synthase, nitrogenase and ATP citrate synthase. Additionally, BES enriched hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis over acetoclastic one as supported by variations on the archaeal community structures and regulations of differentially expressed genes involved. Moreover, BES also reduced the contents of both protein and carbohydrate in extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). This study is expected to enhance understanding of BES contribution to methanogenesis inhibition but MCCAs production in CE bioreactors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuang Qiu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of Environmental and Biological Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Xiao Ling Wei 200, Nanjing 210094, Jiangsu, China
| | - Wenhao Xia
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of Environmental and Biological Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Xiao Ling Wei 200, Nanjing 210094, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jiajie Xu
- School of Marine Science, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China
| | - Zimu Li
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of Environmental and Biological Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Xiao Ling Wei 200, Nanjing 210094, Jiangsu, China
| | - Shijian Ge
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of Environmental and Biological Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Xiao Ling Wei 200, Nanjing 210094, Jiangsu, China.
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