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Palacios PA, Philips J, Bentien A, Kofoed MVW. Relevance of extracellular electron uptake mechanisms for electromethanogenesis applications. Biotechnol Adv 2024; 73:108369. [PMID: 38685440 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2024.108369] [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: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
Electromethanogenesis has emerged as a biological branch of Power-to-X technologies that implements methanogenic microorganisms, as an alternative to chemical Power-to-X, to convert electrical power from renewable sources, and CO2 into methane. Unlike biomethanation processes where CO2 is converted via exogenously added hydrogen, electromethanogenesis occurs in a bioelectrochemical set-up that combines electrodes and microorganisms. Thereby, mixed, or pure methanogenic cultures catalyze the reduction of CO2 to methane via reducing equivalents supplied by a cathode. Recent advances in electromethanogenesis have been driven by interdisciplinary research at the intersection of microbiology, electrochemistry, and engineering. Integrating the knowledge acquired from these areas is essential to address the specific challenges presented by this relatively young biotechnology, which include electron transfer limitations, low energy and product efficiencies, and reactor design to enable upscaling. This review approaches electromethanogenesis from a multidisciplinary perspective, putting emphasis on the extracellular electron uptake mechanisms that methanogens use to obtain energy from cathodes, since understanding these mechanisms is key to optimize the electrochemical conditions for the development of these systems. This work summarizes the direct and indirect extracellular electron uptake mechanisms that have been elucidated to date in methanogens, along with the ones that remain unsolved. As the study of microbial corrosion, a similar bioelectrochemical process with Fe0 as electron source, has contributed to elucidate different mechanisms on how methanogens use solid electron donors, insights from both fields, biocorrosion and electromethanogenesis, are combined. Based on the repertoire of mechanisms and their potential to convert CO2 to methane, we conclude that for future applications, electromethanogenesis should focus on the indirect mechanism with H2 as intermediary. By summarizing and linking the general aspects and challenges of this process, we hope that this review serves as a guide for researchers working on electromethanogenesis in different areas of expertise to overcome the current limitations and continue with the optimization of this promising interdisciplinary technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Andrea Palacios
- Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 10C, 8200 Aarhus, Denmark.
| | - Jo Philips
- Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 10C, 8200 Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Anders Bentien
- Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Aarhus University, Aabogade 40, Aarhus N, 8200 Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Michael Vedel Wegener Kofoed
- Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 10C, 8200 Aarhus, Denmark
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2
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Jiang Z, Tang Y, Chen X, Chen X, Wang H, Zhang H, Zheng C, Chen J. Enhancing electricity-driven methanogenesis by assembling biotic-abiotic hybrid system in anaerobic membrane bioreactor. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2024; 391:129945. [PMID: 37914054 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2023.129945] [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: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/28/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
Biotic-abiotic hybrid systems are promising technologies to enhance methane production in anaerobic wastewater treatment. However, the dense structure of the extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) present in anaerobic granular sludge (AGS) poses challenges with respect to the implementation of hybrid systems and efficient interspecies electron transfer. In this study, the use of AGS with a Ni/Fe layered double hydroxide@activated carbon (Ni/Fe LDH@C-AGS) was investigated in an anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR). The hybrid system showed a significant increase of 82% in methane production. Further research revealed that Ni/Fe LDH@C regulated the dense structure of EPS, stimulated the production of cytochromes, and facilitated the decomposition of nonconductive substances. Surprisingly, the hybrid system also promoted resistance to membrane fouling and extended membrane life by 81%. This study provides insights into the operation of a biotic-abiotic hybrid system by regulating the dense structure of EPS ultimately resulting in an enhanced methane production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuwu Jiang
- College of Ecological Environment and Urban Construction, Fujian University of Technology, Fuzhou, Fujian 350118, China.
| | - Yi Tang
- College of Ecological Environment and Urban Construction, Fujian University of Technology, Fuzhou, Fujian 350118, China
| | - Xinyan Chen
- Fujian Provincial Engineering Research Center of Rural Waste Recycling Technology, College of Environment and Safety Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350116, China
| | - Xueming Chen
- Fujian Provincial Engineering Research Center of Rural Waste Recycling Technology, College of Environment and Safety Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350116, China
| | - Haoshuai Wang
- College of Ecological Environment and Urban Construction, Fujian University of Technology, Fuzhou, Fujian 350118, China
| | - Hongyu Zhang
- College of Ecological Environment and Urban Construction, Fujian University of Technology, Fuzhou, Fujian 350118, China
| | - Chaoqun Zheng
- College of Ecological Environment and Urban Construction, Fujian University of Technology, Fuzhou, Fujian 350118, China
| | - Jinfeng Chen
- College of Ecological Environment and Urban Construction, Fujian University of Technology, Fuzhou, Fujian 350118, China.
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3
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Feng X, Kazama D, Sato K, Kobayashi H. Complete genome sequence of Mycolicibacterium mageritense strain H4_3_1 isolated from a hybrid biological-inorganic system reactor. Microbiol Resour Announc 2023; 12:e0023023. [PMID: 37787567 PMCID: PMC10586093 DOI: 10.1128/mra.00230-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023] Open
Abstract
We report the complete genome of Mycolicibacterium mageritense strain H4_3_1, which was isolated from a reactor of a hybrid biological-inorganic system. This genome will provide useful information about hydrogen-oxidizing bacteria as well as mycolicibacteria in non-host environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Feng
- Department of Systems Innovation, Graduate School of Engineering, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Daichi Kazama
- Department of Systems Innovation, Graduate School of Engineering, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kozo Sato
- Department of Systems Innovation, Graduate School of Engineering, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Frontier Research Center for Energy and Resources (FRCER), Graduate School of Engineering, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hajime Kobayashi
- Department of Systems Innovation, Graduate School of Engineering, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Frontier Research Center for Energy and Resources (FRCER), Graduate School of Engineering, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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4
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Cheng J, Su X, Liu M, Lu Z, Xu J, He Y. Simultaneous regulation of biocathodic γ-HCH dechlorination and CH 4 production by tailoring the structure and function of biofilms based on quorum sensing. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 335:122357. [PMID: 37567403 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122357] [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: 04/29/2023] [Revised: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023]
Abstract
Dechlorination of chlorinated organic pollutants and methanogenesis are attractive biocathode reductions in microbial electrolysis cells (MECs). Quorum sensing (QS) is applied to regulate microbial communications. However, how acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs)-dependent QS organize the assembly of the biocathode microbial community, and then regulate multiple biocathode reductions remains unclear. By applying N-butanoyl homoserine lactone (C4-HSL), N-hexanoyl homoserine lactone (C6-HSL) and 3-oxo-hexanoyl homoserine lactone (3OC6-HSL) in γ-hexachlorocyclohexane (γ-HCH) contaminated MECs, this study investigated the changes of biofilm microbial structure and function and the mechanisms of AHLs-QS on γ-HCH dechlorination and CH4 production. Exogenous C4-HSL and 3OC6-HSL increased cytochrome c production and enriched dechlorinators, electroactive bacteria but not methanogens to accelerate γ-HCH dechlorination and inhibit CH4 production. C6-HSL facilitated dechlorination and CH4 production by enhancing biofilm electroactivity and increasing membrane transportation. Besides, exogenous C6-HSL restored the electron transfer capacity that was damaged by the concurrent addition of acylase, an endogenous AHL quencher. From the perspective of microbial assembly, this study sheds insights into and provides an efficient strategy to selectively accelerate dechlorination and CH4 production by harnessing microbial structure based on QS systems to meet various environmental demands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Cheng
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Institute of Soil and Water Resources and Environmental Science, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
| | - Xin Su
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Institute of Soil and Water Resources and Environmental Science, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
| | - Meng Liu
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Institute of Soil and Water Resources and Environmental Science, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
| | - Zhijiang Lu
- Department of Environmental Science and Geology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, 48201, United States.
| | - Jianming Xu
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Institute of Soil and Water Resources and Environmental Science, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
| | - Yan He
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Institute of Soil and Water Resources and Environmental Science, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China; Key Laboratory of Environment Remediation and Ecological Health, Ministry of Education, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
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5
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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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Tian Y, Wu J, Liang D, Li J, Liu G, Lin N, Li D, Feng Y. Insights into the Electron Transfer Behaviors of a Biocathode Regulated by Cathode Potentials in Microbial Electrosynthesis Cells for Biogas Upgrading. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:6733-6742. [PMID: 37036348 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c09871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Bioelectrochemical-based biogas upgrading is a promising technology for the storage of renewable energy and reduction of the global greenhouse gas emissions. Understanding the electron transfer behavior between the electrodes and biofilm is crucial for the development of this technology. Herein, the electron transfer pathway of the biofilm and its catalytic capability that responded to the cathode potential during the electromethanogenesis process were investigated. The result suggested that the dominant electron transfer pathway shifted from a direct (DET) to indirect (IDET) way when decreasing the cathode potential from -0.8 V (Bio-0.8 V) to -1.0 V (Bio-1.0 V) referred to Ag/AgCl. More IDET-related redox substances and high content of hydrogenotrophic methanogens (91.9%) were observed at Bio-1.0 V, while more DET-related redox substances and methanogens (82.3%) were detected at Bio-0.8 V. H2, as an important electron mediator, contributed to the electromethanogenesis up to 72.9% of total CH4 yield at Bio-1.0 V but only ∼17.3% at Bio-0.8 V. Much higher biogas upgrading performance in terms of CH4 production rate, final CH4 content, and carbon conversion rate was obtained with Bio-1.0 V. This study provides insight into the electron transfer pathway in the mixed culture constructed biofilm for biogas upgrading.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, No. 73 Huanghe Road, Nangang District, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150090, China
| | - Jing Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, No. 73 Huanghe Road, Nangang District, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150090, China
| | - Dandan Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, No. 73 Huanghe Road, Nangang District, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150090, China
| | - Jiannan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, No. 73 Huanghe Road, Nangang District, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150090, China
| | - Guohong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, No. 73 Huanghe Road, Nangang District, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150090, China
| | - Nan Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, No. 73 Huanghe Road, Nangang District, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150090, China
| | - Da Li
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, No. 73 Huanghe Road, Nangang District, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150090, China
| | - Yujie Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, No. 73 Huanghe Road, Nangang District, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150090, China
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7
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Ghaderikia A, Taskin B, Yilmazel YD. Start-up strategies of electromethanogenic reactors for methane production from cattle manure. WASTE MANAGEMENT (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2023; 159:27-38. [PMID: 36731254 DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2023.01.027] [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: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
This study qualitatively assessed the impacts of different start-up strategies on the performance of methane (CH4) production from cattle manure (CM) in electromethanogenic reactors. Single chamber MECs were operated with an applied voltage of 0.7 V and the impact of electrode acclimatization with a simple substrate, acetate (ACE) vs a complex waste, CM, was compared. Upon biofilm formation on the sole carbon source (ACE or CM), several MECs (ACE_CM and CM_ACE) were subjected to cross-feeding (switching substrate to CM or ACE) during the test period to evaluate the impact of the primary substrate. Even though there was twice as much peak current density via feeding ACE during biofilm formation, this did not translate into higher CH4 production during the test period, when reactors were fed with CM. Higher or similar CH4 production was recorded in CM_CM reactors compared to ACE_CM at various soluble chemical oxygen demand (sCOD) concentrations. Additionally, feeding ACE as primary substrate did not significantly impact either COD removals or coulombic efficiencies. On the other hand, the use of anaerobic digester (AD) seed as an inoculum in CM-fed MECs (CM_CM), relative to no inoculum added MECs (Blank), increased the initial CH4 production rate by 45% and reduced the start-up time by 20%. In CM-fed MECs, Geobacter dominated bacterial communities of bioanodes and hydrogenotrophic methanogen Methanoculleus dominated archaeal communities of biocathodes. Community cluster analysis revealed the significance of primary substrate in shaping electrode biofilm; thus, it should be carefully selected for successful start-up of electromethanogenic reactors treating wastes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amin Ghaderikia
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Bilgin Taskin
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Van Yuzuncu Yil University, Van, Turkey
| | - Yasemin Dilsad Yilmazel
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey.
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8
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Feng X, He S, Sato T, Kondo T, Uema K, Sato K, Kobayashi H. Enrichment of hydrogen-oxidizing bacteria using a hybrid biological-inorganic system. J Biosci Bioeng 2023; 135:250-257. [PMID: 36650080 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiosc.2022.12.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Revised: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Hybrid biological-inorganic (HBI) systems comprising inorganic water-splitting catalysts and aerobic hydrogen-oxidizing bacteria (HOB) have previously been used for CO2 conversion. In order to identify new biocatalysts for CO2 conversion, the present study used an HBI system to enrich HOB directly from environmental samples. Three sediment samples (from a brackish water pond, a beach, and a tide pool) and two activated sludge samples (from two separate sewage plants) were inoculated into HBI systems using a cobalt phosphorus (Co-P) alloy and cobalt phosphate (CoPi) as inorganic catalysts with a fixed voltage of 2.0 V. The gas composition of the reactor headspaces and electric current were monitored. An aliquot of the reactor medium was transferred to a new reactor when significant consumption of H2 and CO2 was detected. This process was repeated twice (with three reactors in operation for each sample) to enrich HOB. Increased biomass concomitant with increased H2 and CO2 consumption was observed in the third reactor, indicating enrichment of HOB. 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing demonstrated enrichment of sequences related to HOB (including bacteria from Mycobacterium, Hydrogenophaga, and Xanthobacter genera) over successive sub-cultures. Finally, four different HOB belonging to the Mycobacterium, Hydrogenophaga, Xanthobacter, and Acidovorax genera were isolated from reactor media, representing potential candidates as HBI system biocatalysts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Feng
- Department of Systems Innovation, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
| | - Sijia He
- Department of Systems Innovation, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
| | - Taiki Sato
- Department of Systems Innovation, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
| | - Takumi Kondo
- Department of Systems Innovation, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
| | - Koyo Uema
- Department of Systems Innovation, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
| | - Kozo Sato
- Department of Systems Innovation, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan; Frontier Research Center for Energy and Resource (FRCER), Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
| | - Hajime Kobayashi
- Department of Systems Innovation, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan; Frontier Research Center for Energy and Resource (FRCER), Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan.
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9
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Cheng J, Liu M, Su X, Rittmann BE, Lu Z, Xu J, He Y. Conductive Materials on Biocathodes Altered the Electron-Transfer Paths and Modulated γ-HCH Dechlorination and CH 4 Production in Microbial Electrochemical Systems. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:2739-2748. [PMID: 36724064 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c06097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Adding conductive materials to the cathode of a microbial electrochemical system (MES) can alter the route of interspecies electron transfer and the kinetics of reduction reactions. We tested reductive dechlorination of γ-hexachlorocyclohexane (γ-HCH), along with CH4 production, in MES systems whose cathodes were coated with conductive magnetite nanoparticles (NaFe), biochar (BC), magnetic biochar (FeBC), or anti-conductive silica biochar (SiBC). Coating with NaFe enriched electroactive microorganisms, boosted electro-bioreduction, and accelerated γ-HCH dechlorination and CH4 production. In contrast, BC only accelerated dechlorination, while FeBC only accelerated methanogenesis, because of their assemblies of functional taxa that selectively transferred electrons to those electron sinks. SiBC, which decreased electro-bioreduction, yielded the highest CH4 production and increased methanogens and the mcrA gene. This study provides a strategy to selectively control the distribution of electrons between reductive dechlorination and methanogenesis by adding conductive or anti-conductive materials to the MES's cathode. If the goal is to maximize dechlorination and minimize methane generation, then BC is the optimal conductive material. If the goal is to accelerate electro-bioreduction, then the best addition is NaFe. If the goal is to increase the rate of methanogenesis, adding anti-conductive SiBC is the best.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Cheng
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Institute of Soil and Water Resources and Environmental Science, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou310058, China
| | - Meng Liu
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Institute of Soil and Water Resources and Environmental Science, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou310058, China
| | - Xin Su
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Institute of Soil and Water Resources and Environmental Science, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou310058, China
| | - Bruce E Rittmann
- Biodesign Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona85287-5701, United States
| | - Zhijiang Lu
- Department of Environmental Science and Geology, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan48201, United States
| | - Jianming Xu
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Institute of Soil and Water Resources and Environmental Science, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou310058, China
| | - Yan He
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Institute of Soil and Water Resources and Environmental Science, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou310058, China
- Key Laboratory of Environment Remediation and Ecological Health, Ministry of Education, Hangzhou310058, China
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10
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Wang S, Adekunle A, Raghavan V. Bioelectrochemical systems-based metal removal and recovery from wastewater and polluted soil: Key factors, development, and perspective. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2022; 317:115333. [PMID: 35617867 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.115333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Bioelectrochemical systems (BES) are considered efficient and sustainable technologies for bioenergy generation and simultaneously removal/recovery metal (loid)s from soil and wastewater. However, several current challenges of BES-based metal removal and recovery, especially concentrating target metals from complex contaminated wastewater or soil and their economic feasibility of engineering applications. This review summarized the applications of BES-based metal removal and recovery systems from wastewater and contaminated soil and evaluated their performances on electricity generation and metal removal/recovery efficiency. In addition, an in depth review of several key parameters (BES configurations, electrodes, catalysts, metal concentration, pH value, substrate categories, etc.) of BES-based metal removal and recovery was carried out to facilitate a deep understanding of their development and to suggest strategies for scaling up their specific application fields. Finally, the future intervention on multifunctional BES to improve their performances of mental removal and recovery were revealed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuyao Wang
- Bioresource Engineering, McGill University, 21111 Lakeshore Road, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, H9X 3V9, Canada.
| | - Ademola Adekunle
- National Research Council of Canada, 6100 Avenue Royalmount, Montréal, QC, H4P 2R2, Canada.
| | - Vijaya Raghavan
- Bioresource Engineering, McGill University, 21111 Lakeshore Road, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, H9X 3V9, Canada.
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11
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Li Y, Ma Y, Zhan J, Zhang Y, Zhao Z, Zhao Z. Combining metal-microbe and microbe-microbe dual direct electron transfer on Fe(0)-cathode of bio-electrochemical system to enhance anaerobic digestion of cellulose wastewater. CHINESE CHEM LETT 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cclet.2021.09.097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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12
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Zakaria BS, Guo H, Kim Y, Dhar BR. Molecular biology and modeling analysis reveal functional roles of propionate to acetate ratios on microbial syntrophy and competition in electro-assisted anaerobic digestion. WATER RESEARCH 2022; 216:118335. [PMID: 35358877 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.118335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2022] [Revised: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
This study examined the significance of propionate to acetate (HPr/HAc) ratios on microbial syntrophy and competition in microbial electrolysis cell-assisted anaerobic digestion (MEC-AD). In addition to molecular biology and phylogenetic analysis, a numerical MEC-AD model was developed by modifying Anaerobic Digestion Model No.1 to predict the effects of different HPr/HAc ratios (0.5, 1.5, 2.5, and 5). The HPr/HAc ratios of 0.5 and 1.5 maintained efficient syntrophy among electroactive bacteria, hydrogenotrophic methanogens, and homoacetogens, leading to higher methane yields. In contrast, higher HPr/HAc ratios of 2.5 and 5 were detrimental to methanogenesis. Both microbial community analysis and numerical modeling results suggested that higher propionate levels could promote the enrichment of H2-utilizing acetogens, thereby triggering their competition with hydrogenotrophic methanogens. Moreover, protein fraction in extracellular polymeric substances and the relative expression of genes associated with extracellular electron transfer in both anode and cathode biofilms were markedly decreased with increasing HPr/HAc ratios, indicating partial inhibition of microbial electroactivity. Overall, these results illuminate deep insight into anaerobic syntrophy, contributing to the process kinetics and methane yields in MEC-AD systems. Furthermore, from a practical viewpoint, the results can also be helpful in effective control of MEC-AD operation without propionate accumulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Basem S Zakaria
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1H9, Canada
| | - Hui Guo
- Civil Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4L8, Canada
| | - Younggy Kim
- Civil Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4L8, Canada
| | - Bipro Ranjan Dhar
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1H9, Canada.
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13
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Gao T, Zhang H, Xu X, Teng J. Mutual effects of CO 2 absorption and H 2-mediated electromethanogenesis triggering efficient biogas upgrading. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 818:151732. [PMID: 34826488 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151732] [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: 10/05/2021] [Revised: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Anaerobic digestion coupled with bioelectrochemical system (BES) is a promising approach for biogas upgrading with low energy input. However, the alkalinity generation from electromethanogenesis is invariably ignored which could serve as a potential assistant for CO2 removal through the transformation into dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC). Herein, a novel bioelectrochemical CO2 conversion in the methanogenic BES was proposed based on active CO2 capture and in-situ microbial utilization. It was found that the BES using a stainless steel/carbon felt hybrid biocathode (BES-SSCF reactor) achieved a CH4 yield of 0.33 ± 0.03 LCH4/gCODremoval and increased CH4 production rate by 28.3% of BES-CF reactor at 1.0 V applied voltage. As the experiment progressed, CH4 content increased to 93.1% and CO2 content in the upgraded biogas maintained at below 3%. The continuous proton consumption from H2 evolution reaction in the hybrid biocathode was capable of creating a slightly alkaline condition in the BES-SSCF reactor and thereby the CO2 capture as bicarbonate was enhanced through endogenous alkalinity absorption. Microbial community analysis revealed that significant enrichment of Methanobacterium and Methanosarcina at the BES-SSCF cathodic biofilm was favorable for bicarbonate reduction into CH4 via establishment of H2-mediated electron transfer. Consequently, the remained CO2 and DIC only accounted for 12% of total carbon in the BES-SSCF reactor and the high conversion rate of CO2 to CH4 (82.3%) was achieved. These results unraveled an innovative CO2 utilization mechanism integrating CO2 absorption with H2-mediated electromethanogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianyu Gao
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, PR China; Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (MOE), School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, No. 2 Linggong Road, Dalian 116024, PR China
| | - Hanmin Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (MOE), School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, No. 2 Linggong Road, Dalian 116024, PR China.
| | - Xiaotong Xu
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (MOE), School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, No. 2 Linggong Road, Dalian 116024, PR China
| | - Jiaheng Teng
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (MOE), School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, No. 2 Linggong Road, Dalian 116024, PR China
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Litti YV, Russkova YI, Zhuravleva EA, Parshina SN, Kovalev AA, Kovalev DA, Nozhevnikova AN. Electromethanogenesis: a Promising Biotechnology for the Anaerobic Treatment of Organic Waste. APPL BIOCHEM MICRO+ 2022. [DOI: 10.1134/s0003683822010057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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15
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Thanarasu A, Periyasamy K, Subramanian S. An integrated anaerobic digestion and microbial electrolysis system for the enhancement of methane production from organic waste: Fundamentals, innovative design and scale-up deliberation. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 287:131886. [PMID: 34523450 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.131886] [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: 05/27/2021] [Revised: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
In the foreseeable future, renewable energy generation from electromethanogenesis to be more cost-effective energy. Electromethanogenesis system is a recent and efficient CO2 to methane technology to upgrade biogas to 100% methane for power generation. And this can be attained through by integrating anaerobic digestion with microbial electrolysis system. Microbial electrolysis system can able to support carbon reduction on cathode and oxidation on anode by CO2 capture thereby provides more CH4 production from an integrated anaerobic digestion system. Scale-up the recent advance technique of microbial electrolysis system in the anaerobic digestion process for 100% methane production for power generation is need of the hour. The overall objective of this review is to facilitate the recent technology of microbial electrolysis system in the anaerobic digestion process. At first, the function of electromethanogenesis system and innovative integrated design method are outlined. Secondly, different external parameters such as applied voltage, operating temperature, pH etc are examined for the significance on process optimization. Eventually, electrode selections, electrode spacing, surface chemistry and surface area are critically reviewed for the scale-up considerations of integration process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amudha Thanarasu
- Department of Applied Science & Technology, AC Tech Campus, Anna University, Chennai, India
| | - Karthik Periyasamy
- Department of Applied Science & Technology, AC Tech Campus, Anna University, Chennai, India
| | - Sivanesan Subramanian
- Department of Applied Science & Technology, AC Tech Campus, Anna University, Chennai, India.
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16
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Pillot G, Amin Ali O, Davidson S, Shintu L, Combet-Blanc Y, Godfroy A, Bonin P, Liebgott PP. Evolution of Thermophilic Microbial Communities from a Deep-Sea Hydrothermal Chimney under Electrolithoautotrophic Conditions with Nitrate. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9122475. [PMID: 34946077 PMCID: PMC8705573 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9122475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Revised: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent studies have shown the presence of an abiotic electrical current across the walls of deep-sea hydrothermal chimneys, allowing the growth of electroautotrophic microbial communities. To understand the role of the different phylogenetic groups and metabolisms involved, this study focused on electrotrophic enrichment with nitrate as electron acceptor. The biofilm density, community composition, production of organic compounds, and electrical consumption were monitored by FISH confocal microscopy, qPCR, metabarcoding, NMR, and potentiostat measurements. A statistical analysis by PCA showed the correlation between the different parameters (qPCR, organic compounds, and electron acceptors) in three distinct temporal phases. In our conditions, the Archaeoglobales have been shown to play a key role in the development of the community as the first colonizers on the cathode and the first producers of organic compounds, which are then used as an organic source by heterotrophs. Finally, through subcultures of the community, we showed the development of a greater biodiversity over time. This observed phenomenon could explain the biodiversity development in hydrothermal contexts, where energy sources are transient and unstable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillaume Pillot
- Aix Marseille Université, Université de Toulon, CNRS, IRD, MIO UM 110, 13288 Marseille, France; (G.P.); (O.A.A.); (S.D.); (Y.C.-B.); (P.B.)
| | - Oulfat Amin Ali
- Aix Marseille Université, Université de Toulon, CNRS, IRD, MIO UM 110, 13288 Marseille, France; (G.P.); (O.A.A.); (S.D.); (Y.C.-B.); (P.B.)
| | - Sylvain Davidson
- Aix Marseille Université, Université de Toulon, CNRS, IRD, MIO UM 110, 13288 Marseille, France; (G.P.); (O.A.A.); (S.D.); (Y.C.-B.); (P.B.)
| | - Laetitia Shintu
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS Centrale Marseille, iSm2, 13284 Marseille, France;
| | - Yannick Combet-Blanc
- Aix Marseille Université, Université de Toulon, CNRS, IRD, MIO UM 110, 13288 Marseille, France; (G.P.); (O.A.A.); (S.D.); (Y.C.-B.); (P.B.)
| | - Anne Godfroy
- Laboratoire de Microbiologie des Environnements Extrêmes, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, CNRS, IFREMER, 29280 Plouzané, France;
| | - Patricia Bonin
- Aix Marseille Université, Université de Toulon, CNRS, IRD, MIO UM 110, 13288 Marseille, France; (G.P.); (O.A.A.); (S.D.); (Y.C.-B.); (P.B.)
| | - Pierre-Pol Liebgott
- Aix Marseille Université, Université de Toulon, CNRS, IRD, MIO UM 110, 13288 Marseille, France; (G.P.); (O.A.A.); (S.D.); (Y.C.-B.); (P.B.)
- Correspondence:
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17
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Fang Z, Zhou J, Zhou X, Koffas MAG. Abiotic-biotic hybrid for CO 2 biomethanation: From electrochemical to photochemical process. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 791:148288. [PMID: 34118677 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Revised: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Converting CO2 into sustainable fuels (e.g., CH4) has great significance to solve carbon emission and energy crisis. Generally, CO2 methanation needs abundant of energy input to overcome the eight-electron-transfer barrier. Abiotic-biotic hybrid system represents one of the cutting-edge technologies that use renewable electric/solar energy to realize eight-electron-transfer CO2 biomethanation. However, the incompatible abiotic-biotic hybrid can result in low efficiency of electron transfer and CO2 biomethanation. Herein, we present the comprehensive review to highlight how to design abiotic-biotic hybrid for electric/solar-driven CO2 biomethanation. We primarily introduce the CO2 biomethanation mechanism, and further summarize state-of-the-art electrochemical and photochemical CO2 biomethanation in hybrid systems. We also propose excellent synthetic biology strategies, which are useful to design tunable methanogenic microorganisms or enzymes when cooperating with electrode/semiconductor in hybrid systems. This review provides theoretical guidance of abiotic-biotic hybrid and also shows the bright future of sustainable fuel production in the form of CO2 biomethanation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Fang
- Biofuels Institute, School of Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China.
| | - Jun Zhou
- College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, China
| | - Xiangtong Zhou
- Institute of Environmental Health and Ecological Safety, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
| | - Mattheos A G Koffas
- Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY 12180, USA
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Cheng J, Li S, Yang X, Huang X, Lu Z, Xu J, He Y. Regulating the dechlorination and methanogenesis synchronously to achieve a win-win remediation solution for γ-hexachlorocyclohexane polluted anaerobic environment. WATER RESEARCH 2021; 203:117542. [PMID: 34412017 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Revised: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 08/07/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The wish for rapid degradation of chlorinated organic pollutants along with the increase concern with respect to greenhouse effect and bioenergy methane production have created urgent needs to explore synchronous regulation approach. Microbial electrolysis cell was established under four degressive cathode potential settings (from -0.15V to -0.60V) to regulate γ-hexachlorocyclohexane (γ-HCH) reduction while CH4 cumulation in this study. The synchronous facilitation of γ-HCH reduction and CH4 cumulation was occurred in -0.15V treatment while the facilitation of γ-HCH reductive removal together with the inhibition of CH4 cumulation was showed in -0.30V treatment. Electrochemical patterns via cyclic voltammetry and morphological performances via scanning electron microscopy illustrated bioelectrostimulation promoted redox reactions and helped to construct mature biofilms located on bioelectrodes. Also, bioelectrostimulated regulation pronouncedly affected the bacteria and archaeal communities and subsequently assembled distinctly core sensitive responders across bioanode, biocathode and plankton. Clostridum, Longilinea and Methanothrix relatively accumulated in the plankton, and Cupriavidus and Methanospirillum, and Perimonas and Nonoarcheaum in biocathode and bioanode, respectively; while Pseudomonas, Stenotrophomonas, Methanoculleus and Methanosarcina were diffusely enriched. Microbial interactions in the ecological network were more complicated in -0.15V and -0.30V cathodic potential treatments, coincident with the increasement of γ-HCH reduction. The co-existence between putative dechlorinators and methanogens was less significant in -0.30V treatment when compared to that in -0.15V treatment, relevant with the variations of CH4 cumulation. In all, this study firstly corroborated the availability to synchronously regulate γ-HCH reductive removal and methanogenesis. Besides, it paves an advanced approach controlling γ-HCH reduction in cooperation with CH4 cumulation, of which to achieve γ-HCH degradation facilitation along with biogas (CH4) production promotion with -0.15V cathode potential during anaerobic γ-HCH contaminated wastewater digestion, or to realize γ-HCH degradation facilitation with the inhibition of CH4 emission with -0.30V cathode potential for an all-win remediation in γ-HCH polluted anaerobic environment such as paddy soil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Cheng
- Institute of Soil and Water Resources and Environmental Science, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Shuyao Li
- Institute of Soil and Water Resources and Environmental Science, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Xueling Yang
- Institute of Soil and Water Resources and Environmental Science, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Xiaowei Huang
- Institute of Soil and Water Resources and Environmental Science, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Zhijiang Lu
- Department of Environmental Science and Geology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, United States
| | - Jianming Xu
- Institute of Soil and Water Resources and Environmental Science, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Yan He
- Institute of Soil and Water Resources and Environmental Science, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Hangzhou 310058, China.
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19
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Empower C1: Combination of Electrochemistry and Biology to Convert C1 Compounds. ADVANCES IN BIOCHEMICAL ENGINEERING/BIOTECHNOLOGY 2021; 180:213-241. [PMID: 34518909 DOI: 10.1007/10_2021_171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
The idea to somehow combine electrical current and biological systems is not new. It was subject of research as well as of science fiction literature for decades. Nowadays, in times of limited resources and the need to capture greenhouse gases like CO2, this combination gains increasing interest, since it might allow to use C1 compounds and highly oxidized compounds as substrate for microbial production by "activating" them with additional electrons. In this chapter, different possibilities to combine electrochemistry and biology to convert C1 compounds into useful products will be discussed. The chapter first shows electrochemical conversion of C1 compounds, allowing the use of the product as substrate for a subsequent biosynthesis in uncoupled systems, further leads to coupled systems of biology and electrochemical conversion, and finally reaches the discipline of bioelectrosynthesis, where electrical current and C1 compounds are directly converted by microorganisms or enzymes. This overview will give an idea about the potentials and challenges of combining electrochemistry and biology to convert C1 molecules.
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20
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Dykstra CM, Pavlostathis SG. Hydrogen sulfide affects the performance of a methanogenic bioelectrochemical system used for biogas upgrading. WATER RESEARCH 2021; 200:117268. [PMID: 34098269 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/14/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Methanogenic bioelectrochemical systems (BESs) can convert carbon dioxide (CO2) to methane (CH4) and may be used for anaerobic digester biogas upgrading. However, the effect of hydrogen sulfide (H2S), a common biogas component, on BES performance is unknown. Thus, the objective of this study was to assess the effect of H2S addition to the cathode headspace on BES performance at a range of initial gas-phase H2S concentrations (0-6% v/v), as well as its effect on the anode and cathode microbial communities. As the initial cathode headspace H2S increased from 0 to 2% (v/v), biocathodic CH4 production increased by two-fold to 3.56 ± 0.36 mmol/L-d, due to dissolved H2S transport from the cathode to the anode where H2S was oxidized. Elemental sulfur and sulfate were H2S oxidation products detected in the anode. Above 3% initial cathode headspace H2S, biocathodic CH4 production declined due to inhibition. A phylotype most closely related to Methanobrevibacter arboriphilus dominated the cathode archaeal communities. In the sulfide-amended BES, a phylotype similar to the exoelectrogen Ochrobactrum anthropi was enriched in both the anode and cathode, whereas phylotypes related to sulfate-reducing and sulfur oxidizing Bacteria were detected in the bioanode. Thus, sulfide transport and oxidation in the anode play an important role in methanogenic BESs treating sulfide-bearing biogas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christy M Dykstra
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 311 Ferst Drive, Atlanta, GA 30332-0512, United States; Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, CA 92182, United States.
| | - Spyros G Pavlostathis
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 311 Ferst Drive, Atlanta, GA 30332-0512, United States
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21
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Zakaria BS, Dhar BR. Characterization and significance of extracellular polymeric substances, reactive oxygen species, and extracellular electron transfer in methanogenic biocathode. Sci Rep 2021; 11:7933. [PMID: 33846480 PMCID: PMC8041852 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-87118-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The microbial electrolysis cell assisted anaerobic digestion holds great promises over conventional anaerobic digestion. This article reports an experimental investigation of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), reactive oxygen species (ROS), and the expression of genes associated with extracellular electron transfer (EET) in methanogenic biocathodes. The MEC-AD systems were examined using two cathode materials: carbon fibers and stainless-steel mesh. A higher abundance of hydrogenotrophic Methanobacterium sp. and homoacetogenic Acetobacterium sp. appeared to play a major role in superior methanogenesis from stainless steel biocathode than carbon fibers. Moreover, the higher secretion of EPS accompanied by the lower ROS level in stainless steel biocathode indicated that higher EPS perhaps protected cells from harsh metabolic conditions (possibly unfavorable local pH) induced by faster catalysis of hydrogen evolution reaction. In contrast, EET-associated gene expression patterns were comparable in both biocathodes. Thus, these results indicated hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis is the key mechanism, while cathodic EET has a trivial role in distinguishing performances between two cathode electrodes. These results provide new insights into the efficient methanogenic biocathode development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Basem S. Zakaria
- grid.17089.37Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Alberta, 9211-116 Street NW, Edmonton, AB T6G 1H9 Canada
| | - Bipro Ranjan Dhar
- grid.17089.37Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Alberta, 9211-116 Street NW, Edmonton, AB T6G 1H9 Canada
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22
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Zhou H, Xing D, Xu M, Su Y, Ma J, Angelidaki I, Zhang Y. Optimization of a newly developed electromethanogenesis for the highest record of methane production. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2021; 407:124363. [PMID: 33199142 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.124363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Revised: 10/08/2020] [Accepted: 10/21/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The development of an effective biocathode with high catalytic ability and dense biomass is a major challenge for the industrial applications of electromethanogenesis (EM) process. In our previous study, intact anaerobic granular sludge (AnGS) biocathode and EM hybrid system (AnGS-EM) showed superior ability and stability when treating raw biogas, but its maximum CO2-to-CH4 conversion potential and the response to different operating conditions are still unknown. Herein, we optimized the performance of the AnGS-EM system and explored its maximum CH4 production capacity. The AnGS-EM system achieved a maximum methane production rate of 202.15 L CH4/m2catproj/d, which is over 3 times higher than the maximum value reported so far. Within a certain range, the methane production rate increased with the buffer concentration, applied voltage, and bicarbonate concentration. Excessive applied voltage and carbonate concentration not only led to resource waste but also inhibited methanogen performance. The AnGS biocathode could withstand oxygen exposure for 24 h, the acidic (pH of 5.5), and alkaline conditions (pH over 9). Illumina sequencing results showed that hydrogenotrophic methanogen (especially Methanobacterium) were dominant. This work using AnGS as biocathode for CH4 synthesis offers insight into the development of scalable, efficient, and cost-effective biocathode for biofuels and value-added chemicals production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huihui Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resources and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China; Department of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Defeng Xing
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resources and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China.
| | - Mingyi Xu
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Yanyan Su
- Carlsberg Research Laboratory, Bjerregaardsvej 5, 2500 Valby, Denmark
| | - Jun Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resources and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Irini Angelidaki
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Yifeng Zhang
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Lyngby, Denmark.
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Analysis of a Methanogen and an Actinobacterium Dominating the Thermophilic Microbial Community of an Electromethanogenic Biocathode. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2021; 2021:8865133. [PMID: 33746613 PMCID: PMC7943316 DOI: 10.1155/2021/8865133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2020] [Revised: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Electromethanogenesis refers to the bioelectrochemical synthesis of methane from CO2 by biocathodes. In an electromethanogenic system using thermophilic microorganisms, metagenomic analysis along with quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and fluorescence in situ hybridization revealed that the biocathode microbiota was dominated by the methanogen Methanothermobacter sp. strain EMTCatA1 and the actinobacterium Coriobacteriaceae sp. strain EMTCatB1. RNA sequencing was used to compare the transcriptome profiles of each strain at the methane-producing biocathodes with those in an open circuit and with the methanogenesis inhibitor 2-bromoethanesulfonate (BrES). For the methanogen, genes related to hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis were highly expressed in a manner similar to those observed under H2-limited conditions. For the actinobacterium, the expression profiles of genes encoding multiheme c-type cytochromes and membrane-bound oxidoreductases suggested that the actinobacterium directly takes up electrons from the electrode. In both strains, various stress-related genes were commonly induced in the open-circuit biocathodes and biocathodes with BrES. This study provides a molecular inventory of the dominant species of an electromethanogenic biocathode with functional insights and therefore represents the first multiomics characterization of an electromethanogenic biocathode.
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Chen G, Ye D, Chen R, Li J, Zhu X, Liao Q. Enhanced efficiency for carbon dioxide electroreduction to formate by electrodeposition Sn on Cu nanowires. J CO2 UTIL 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcou.2020.101409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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25
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Estrada-Arriaga EB, Reynoso-Deloya MG, Guillén-Garcés RA, Falcón-Rojas A, García-Sánchez L. Enhanced methane production and organic matter removal from tequila vinasses by anaerobic digestion assisted via bioelectrochemical power-to-gas. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2021; 320:124344. [PMID: 33166883 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2020.124344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Revised: 10/24/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
In this study, showed a strategy to generate methane and remove organic matter removal from tequila vinasses through of anaerobic digestion assisted via bioelectrochemical power to-gas. Specific methanogenic activity (SMA) assays in batch mode were tested and a single-stage bioelectrochemical upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor (UASB) was evaluated to generate methane during tequila vinasses treatment. The results showed that the methane production in the bioelectrochemical UASB reactor applied at low voltage of 0.5 V and under HRT of 7 d was higher than the in the conventional UASB reactor. The specific methane production rate in bioelectrochemical UASB reactor was up to 2.9 NL CH4/L d, with a maximum methane yield of 0.32 NL CH4/g CODremoved. Similar COD removals were observed in the bioelectrochemical UASB reactor and conventional reactors (92-93%). High carbon dioxide reduction and hydrogen production were observed in the bioelectrochemical UASB reactor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edson Baltazar Estrada-Arriaga
- Subcoordinación de Tratamiento de Aguas Residuales, Instituto Mexicano de Tecnología del Agua, Paseo Cuauhnáhuac 8532, Progreso, Jiutepec, Morelos C.P. 62550, Mexico.
| | - Ma Guadalupe Reynoso-Deloya
- Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Paseo Cuauhnahuac 8532, Progreso, Jiutepec, Morelos C.P. 62550, Mexico
| | - Rosa Angélica Guillén-Garcés
- Universidad Politécnica del Estado de Morelos, Paseo Cuauhnáhuac 566, Lomas del Texcal, Jiutepec, Morelos 62550, Mexico
| | - Axel Falcón-Rojas
- Subcoordinación de Tecnologías Apropiadas, Instituto Mexicano de Tecnología del Agua, Paseo Cuauhnáhuac 8532, Progreso, Jiutepec, Morelos C.P. 62550, Mexico
| | - Liliana García-Sánchez
- Subcoordinación de Tecnologías Apropiadas, Instituto Mexicano de Tecnología del Agua, Paseo Cuauhnáhuac 8532, Progreso, Jiutepec, Morelos C.P. 62550, Mexico
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Chen H, Simoska O, Lim K, Grattieri M, Yuan M, Dong F, Lee YS, Beaver K, Weliwatte S, Gaffney EM, Minteer SD. Fundamentals, Applications, and Future Directions of Bioelectrocatalysis. Chem Rev 2020; 120:12903-12993. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.0c00472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hui Chen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Utah, 315 South 1400 East, RM 2020, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States
| | - Olja Simoska
- Department of Chemistry, University of Utah, 315 South 1400 East, RM 2020, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States
| | - Koun Lim
- Department of Chemistry, University of Utah, 315 South 1400 East, RM 2020, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States
| | - Matteo Grattieri
- Department of Chemistry, University of Utah, 315 South 1400 East, RM 2020, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States
| | - Mengwei Yuan
- Department of Chemistry, University of Utah, 315 South 1400 East, RM 2020, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States
| | - Fangyuan Dong
- Department of Chemistry, University of Utah, 315 South 1400 East, RM 2020, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States
| | - Yoo Seok Lee
- Department of Chemistry, University of Utah, 315 South 1400 East, RM 2020, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States
| | - Kevin Beaver
- Department of Chemistry, University of Utah, 315 South 1400 East, RM 2020, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States
| | - Samali Weliwatte
- Department of Chemistry, University of Utah, 315 South 1400 East, RM 2020, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States
| | - Erin M. Gaffney
- Department of Chemistry, University of Utah, 315 South 1400 East, RM 2020, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States
| | - Shelley D. Minteer
- Department of Chemistry, University of Utah, 315 South 1400 East, RM 2020, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States
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Park JG, Jiang D, Lee B, Jun HB. Towards the practical application of bioelectrochemical anaerobic digestion (BEAD): Insights into electrode materials, reactor configurations, and process designs. WATER RESEARCH 2020; 184:116214. [PMID: 32726737 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2020.116214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Revised: 07/10/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Anaerobic digestion (AD) is one of the most widely adopted bioenergy recovery technologies globally. Despite the wide adoption, AD has been challenged by the unstable performances caused by imbalanced substrate and/or electron availability among different reaction steps. Bioelectrochemical anaerobic digestion (BEAD) is a promising concept that has demonstrated potential for balancing the electron transfer rates and enhancing the methane yield in AD during shocks. While great progress has been made, a wide range of, and sometimes inconsistent engineering and technical strategies were attempted to improve BEAD. To consolidate past efforts and guide future development, a comprehensive review of the fundamental bioprocesses in BEAD is provided herein, followed by a critical evaluation of the engineering and technical optimizations attempted thus far. Further, a few novel directions and strategies that can enhance the performance and practicality of BEAD are proposed for future research to consider. This review and outlook aim to provide a fundamental understanding of BEAD and inspire new research ideas in AD and BEAD in a mechanism-informed fashion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun-Gyu Park
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Republic of Korea; Department of Environmental Engineering, Montana Technological University, Butte, MT 59701, USA
| | - Daqian Jiang
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Montana Technological University, Butte, MT 59701, USA
| | - Beom Lee
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Republic of Korea; Nature Engineering Co., LTD., 1 Chungdae-ro, Cheongju 28644, Republic of Korea
| | - Hang-Bae Jun
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Republic of Korea.
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David A, Rathinam NK, Sani RK. Bioelectrosynthesis technology for enhancing methane production using a thermophilic methanogenic consortium. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2020; 314:123892. [PMID: 32718806 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2020.123892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2020] [Revised: 07/16/2020] [Accepted: 07/17/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
This work investigated the electrocatalytic activity of a thermophilic methanogenic consortia (TMC) for developing a bioelectrosynthesis process to convert food and paper wastes to methane. Electroanalytical techniques were used to analyze the electrocatalytic activity of the TMC biofilm formed onto the electrodes. The developed electromethanogenesis process enhanced the yield of methane by 54.7% than control experiments. Scanning electron micrographs of the TMC bioelectrodes showed that the electrosynthesis process accelerates biofilm formation onto the electrodes leading to enhanced direct electron transfer reactions at electrode-electrolyte interface. This study will help in developing a novel approach for valorization of food and paper waste to biofuels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aditi David
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Rapid City, SD 57701, USA
| | - Navanietha Krishnaraj Rathinam
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Rapid City, SD 57701, USA; Composite and Nanocomposite Advanced Manufacturing Center - Biomaterials (CNAM-Bio Center), Rapid City, SD 57701, USA; BuG ReMeDEE Consortium, Rapid City, SD 57701, USA
| | - Rajesh K Sani
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Rapid City, SD 57701, USA; Composite and Nanocomposite Advanced Manufacturing Center - Biomaterials (CNAM-Bio Center), Rapid City, SD 57701, USA; BuG ReMeDEE Consortium, Rapid City, SD 57701, USA.
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Methanothermobacter thermautotrophicus strain ΔH as a potential microorganism for bioconversion of CO2 to methane. J CO2 UTIL 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcou.2020.101210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
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Dykstra CM, Cheng C, Pavlostathis SG. Comparison of Carbon Dioxide with Anaerobic Digester Biogas as a Methanogenic Biocathode Feedstock. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:8949-8957. [PMID: 32544322 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.9b07438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
BES biogas upgrading studies have typically used bicarbonate or commercial gas mixtures as a biocathode substrate instead of anaerobic digester biogas. Therefore, the objective of this study was to (i) compare the performance of a methanogenic BES between CO2-fed and biogas-fed cycles; (ii) investigate possible factors that may account for observed performance differences; and (iii) assess the performance of a biogas-fed biocathode at various applied cathode potentials. The maximum 1-d CH4 production rate in a biogas-fed biocathode (3003 mmol/m2-d) was 350% higher than in a CO2-fed biocathode (666 mmol/m2-d), and the biogas-fed biocathode was capable of maintaining high performance despite a variable biogas feed composition. Anode oxidation of reduced gases (e.g., CH4 and H2S) from biogas may theoretically contribute 4% to 35% of the total charge transfer from anode to cathode at applied cathode potentials of -0.80 to -0.55 V (vs SHE). The introduction of biogas did not significantly change the biocathode archaeal community (dominated by a Methanobrevibacter sp. phylotype), but the bacterial community shifted away from Bacteroidetes and toward Proteobacteria, which may have contributed to the improved performance of the biogas-fed system. This study shows that anaerobic digester biogas is a promising biocathode feedstock for BES biogas upgrading.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christy M Dykstra
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0512, United States
- School of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering, San Diego State University, San Diego, California 92182-0003, United States
| | - Cheng Cheng
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0512, United States
- College of Environment and Ecology, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400045, P. R. China
| | - Spyros G Pavlostathis
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0512, United States
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Functional Group Distribution of the Carrier Surface Influences Adhesion of Methanothermobacter thermautotrophicus. ARCHAEA-AN INTERNATIONAL MICROBIOLOGICAL JOURNAL 2020; 2020:9432803. [PMID: 32047361 PMCID: PMC7006891 DOI: 10.1155/2020/9432803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2019] [Accepted: 01/08/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Various support carriers are used for high-density retention of methanogenic archaea in anaerobic wastewater treatment systems. Although the physicochemical properties of carrier materials and microorganisms influence the adhesion of methanogenic archaea, details about the underlying mechanism remain poorly characterized. We applied seven types of chemical surface modifications to carbon felts to clarify the adhesion properties of Methanothermobacter thermautotrophicus, a representative thermophilic hydrogenotrophic methanogen. The relationship between carrier surface properties and methanogen adhesion was evaluated. M. thermautotrophicus adhesion was significantly increased up to 2.6 times in comparison with control on carbon felts treated with NaOH, HCl, H2SO4, or Na2HPO4. Treated carbon felts showed a lower water contact angle, but no correlation between the carrier surface contact angle and methanogen adhesion was observed. On the other hand, at the surface of the carrier that showed improved adhesion of methanogens, the ratio of -COOH : -OH was 1 : 0.65. Such a ratio was not observed with treated carriers for which methanogen adhesion was not improved. Therefore, in the adhesion of M. thermautotrophicus, the functional group abundance was important as well as physical surface properties such as the hydrophobicity. Hydrogenotrophic methanogens are involved in active methanation during the startup of anaerobic digestion. Additionally, these methanogenic archaea function as methanogenic cathode catalysts. Therefore, anaerobic digestion performance will greatly improve by controlling the adhesion of hydrogenotrophic methanogens such as M. thermautotrophicus.
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Li J, Li Z, Xiao S, Fu Q, Kobayashi H, Zhang L, Liao Q, Zhu X. Startup cathode potentials determine electron transfer behaviours of biocathodes catalysing CO2 reduction to CH4 in microbial electrosynthesis. J CO2 UTIL 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcou.2019.09.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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Genome Analyses and Genome-Centered Metatranscriptomics of Methanothermobacter wolfeii Strain SIV6, Isolated from a Thermophilic Production-Scale Biogas Fermenter. Microorganisms 2019; 8:microorganisms8010013. [PMID: 31861790 PMCID: PMC7022856 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8010013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2019] [Revised: 12/13/2019] [Accepted: 12/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
In the thermophilic biogas-producing microbial community, the genus Methanothermobacter was previously described to be frequently abundant. The aim of this study was to establish and analyze the genome sequence of the archaeal strain Methanothermobacter wolfeii SIV6 originating from a thermophilic industrial-scale biogas fermenter and compare it to related reference genomes. The circular chromosome has a size of 1,686,891 bases, featuring a GC content of 48.89%. Comparative analyses considering three completely sequenced Methanothermobacter strains revealed a core genome of 1494 coding sequences and 16 strain specific genes for M. wolfeii SIV6, which include glycosyltransferases and CRISPR/cas associated genes. Moreover, M. wolfeii SIV6 harbors all genes for the hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis pathway and genome-centered metatranscriptomics indicates the high metabolic activity of this strain, with 25.18% of all transcripts per million (TPM) belong to the hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis pathway and 18.02% of these TPM exclusively belonging to the mcr operon. This operon encodes the different subunits of the enzyme methyl-coenzyme M reductase (EC: 2.8.4.1), which catalyzes the final and rate-limiting step during methanogenesis. Finally, fragment recruitment of metagenomic reads from the thermophilic biogas fermenter on the SIV6 genome showed that the strain is abundant (1.2%) within the indigenous microbial community. Detailed analysis of the archaeal isolate M. wolfeii SIV6 indicates its role and function within the microbial community of the thermophilic biogas fermenter, towards a better understanding of the biogas production process and a microbial-based management of this complex process.
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High-Level Abundances of Methanobacteriales and Syntrophobacterales May Help To Prevent Corrosion of Metal Sheet Piles. Appl Environ Microbiol 2019; 85:AEM.01369-19. [PMID: 31420342 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01369-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2019] [Accepted: 08/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Iron sheet piles are widely used in flood protection, dike construction, and river bank reinforcement. Their corrosion leads to gradual deterioration and often makes replacement necessary. Natural deposit layers on these sheet piles can prevent degradation and significantly increase their life span. However, little is known about the mechanisms of natural protective layer formation. Here, we studied the microbially diverse populations of corrosion-protective deposit layers on iron sheet piles at the Gouderak pumping station in Zuid-Holland, the Netherlands. Deposit layers, surrounding sediment and top sediment samples were analyzed for soil physicochemical parameters, microbially diverse populations, and metabolic potential. Methanogens appeared to be enriched 18-fold in the deposit layers. After sequencing, metagenome assembly and binning, we obtained four nearly complete draft genomes of microorganisms (Methanobacteriales, two Coriobacteriales, and Syntrophobacterales) that were highly enriched in the deposit layers, strongly indicating a potential role in corrosion protection. Coriobacteriales and Syntrophobacterales could be part of a microbial food web degrading organic matter to supply methanogenic substrates. Methane-producing Methanobacteriales could metabolize iron, which may initially lead to mild corrosion but potentially stimulates the formation of a carbonate-rich protective deposit layer in the long term. In addition, Methanobacteriales and Coriobacteriales have the potential to interact with metal surfaces via direct interspecies or extracellular electron transfer. In conclusion, our study provides valuable insights into microbial populations involved in iron corrosion protection and potentially enables the development of novel strategies for in situ screening of iron sheet piles in order to reduce risks and develop more sustainable replacement practices.IMPORTANCE Iron sheet piles are widely used to reinforce dikes and river banks. Damage due to iron corrosion poses a significant safety risk and has significant economic impact. Different groups of microorganisms are known to either stimulate or inhibit the corrosion process. Recently, natural corrosion-protective deposit layers were found on sheet piles. Analyses of the microbial composition indicated a potential role for methane-producing archaea. However, the full metabolic potential of the microbial communities within these protective layers has not been determined. The significance of this work lies in the reconstruction of the microbial food web of natural corrosion-protective layers isolated from noncorroding metal sheet piles. With this work, we provide insights into the microbiological mechanisms that potentially promote corrosion protection in freshwater ecosystems. Our findings could support the development of screening protocols to assess the integrity of iron sheet piles to decide whether replacement is required.
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35
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Zakaria BS, Dhar BR. Progress towards catalyzing electro-methanogenesis in anaerobic digestion process: Fundamentals, process optimization, design and scale-up considerations. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2019; 289:121738. [PMID: 31300305 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2019.121738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2019] [Revised: 06/26/2019] [Accepted: 06/30/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Electro-methanogenesis represents an emerging bio-methane production pathway that can be achieved through integrating microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) with conventional anaerobic digester (AD). Since 2009, a significant number of publications have reported superior methane productivity and kinetics from MEC-AD integrated systems. The overall objective of this review is to communicate the recent advances towards promoting electro-methanogenesis in the anaerobic digestion process. Firstly, the electro-methanogenesis pathways and functional roles of key microbial members are summarized. Secondly, various extrinsic process parameters, such as applied voltage/potential, pH, and temperature are discussed with emphasis on process optimization. Moreover, available methods for the inoculation and start-up of MEC-AD process are critically reviewed. Finally, system design and scale-up considerations, such as the selection of electrode materials, surface area and surface chemistry of electrode materials, and electrode spacing are summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Basem S Zakaria
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Alberta, 9211-116 Street NW, Edmonton, AB T6G 1H9, Canada
| | - Bipro Ranjan Dhar
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Alberta, 9211-116 Street NW, Edmonton, AB T6G 1H9, Canada.
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Ragab A, Katuri KP, Ali M, Saikaly PE. Evidence of Spatial Homogeneity in an Electromethanogenic Cathodic Microbial Community. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:1747. [PMID: 31417533 PMCID: PMC6685142 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.01747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2019] [Accepted: 07/15/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Microbial electrosynthesis (MES) has been gaining considerable interest as the next step in the evolution of microbial electrochemical technologies. Understanding the niche biocathode environment and microbial community is critical for further developing this technology as the biocathode is key to product formation and efficiency. MES is generally operated to enrich a specific functional group (e.g., methanogens or homoacetogens) from a mixed-culture inoculum. However, due to differences in H2 and CO2 availability across the cathode surface, competition and syntrophy may lead to overall variability and significant beta-diversity within and between replicate reactors, which can affect performance reproducibility. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the distribution and potential spatial variability of the microbial communities in MES methanogenic biocathodes. Triplicate methanogenic biocathodes were enriched in microbial electrolysis cells for 5 months at an applied voltage of 0.7 V. They were then transferred to triplicate dual-chambered MES reactors and operated at -1.0 V vs. Ag/AgCl for six batches. At the end of the experiment, triplicate samples were taken at different positions (top, center, bottom) from each biocathode for a total of nine samples for total biomass protein analysis and 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Microbial community analyses showed that the biocathodes were highly enriched with methanogens, especially the hydrogenotrophic methanogen family Methanobacteriaceae, Methanobacterium sp., and the mixotrophic Methanosarcina sp., with an overall core community representing > 97% of sequence reads in all samples. There was no statistically significant spatial variability (p > 0.05) observed in the distribution of these communities within and between the reactors. These results suggest deterministic community assembly and indicate the reproducibility of electromethanogenic biocathode communities, with implications for larger-scale reactors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ala'a Ragab
- Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, Water Desalination and Reuse Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Krishna P Katuri
- Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, Water Desalination and Reuse Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Muhammad Ali
- Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, Water Desalination and Reuse Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Pascal E Saikaly
- Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, Water Desalination and Reuse Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
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Song H, Choi O, Pandey A, Kim YG, Joo JS, Sang BI. Simultaneous production of methane and acetate by thermophilic mixed culture from carbon dioxide in bioelectrochemical system. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2019; 281:474-479. [PMID: 30853369 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2019.02.115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2018] [Revised: 02/21/2019] [Accepted: 02/23/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
A thermophilic bioelectrochemical system was operated with mixed culture at 60 °C, while introducing only carbon dioxide. Methane production was initially observed in a membrane-less single chamber without a mediator, but eventually acetate was also found as 10.5 g/L after 137 days of operation. Comparing the microbial communities before and after the electricity supply using next-generation sequencing technology, acetoclastic methanogens such as Methanosaeta concilii were increased, and this result also indicates the production of acetate in bioelectrochemical CO2 conversion system. With the advent of sulfate-reducing bacteria, Desulfotomaculum peckii was considered to be an acetate production promoter. These high production results for both methane and acetate can be applied to CO2 storage using excess electricity for value-added chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyojeong Song
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Hanyang University, 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea
| | - Okkyoung Choi
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Hanyang University, 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea
| | - Ashock Pandey
- Centre for Innovation and Translational Research, CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Lucknow 226 001, India
| | - Young Gook Kim
- Korea Electric Power Research Institute, 105 Munji-ro, Yooseong-gu, Daejeon 34056, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji Sun Joo
- Korea Electric Power Research Institute, 105 Munji-ro, Yooseong-gu, Daejeon 34056, Republic of Korea
| | - Byoung-In Sang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Hanyang University, 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea.
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38
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Zhang Z, Song Y, Zheng S, Zhen G, Lu X, Kobayashi T, Xu K, Bakonyi P. Electro-conversion of carbon dioxide (CO 2) to low-carbon methane by bioelectromethanogenesis process in microbial electrolysis cells: The current status and future perspective. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2019; 279:339-349. [PMID: 30737066 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2019.01.145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2018] [Revised: 01/29/2019] [Accepted: 01/30/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Given the aggravated greenhouse effect caused by CO2 and the current energy shortage, CO2 capture and reuse has been gaining ever-increasing concerns. Microbial Electrolysis Cells (MECs) has been considered to be a promising alternative to recycle CO2 bioelectrochemically to low-carbon electrofuels such as CH4 by combining electroactive microorganisms with electrochemical stimulation, enabling both CO2 fixation and energy recovery. In spite of the numerous efforts dedicated in this field in recent years, there are still many problems that hinder CO2 bioelectroconversion technique from the scaling-up and potential industrialization. This review comprehensively summarized the working principles, extracellular electron transfers behaviors, and the critical factors limiting the wide-spread utilization of CO2 electromethanogenesis. Various characterization and electrochemical testing methods for helping to uncover the underlying mechanisms in CO2 electromethanogenesis have been introduced. In addition, future research needs for pushing forward the development of MECs technology in real-world CO2 fixation and recycling were elaborated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongyi Zhang
- Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, PR China
| | - Ying Song
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University, 6-6-06 Aramaki Aza Aoba, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8579, Japan
| | - Shaojuan Zheng
- Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, PR China
| | - Guangyin Zhen
- Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, PR China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, 1515 North Zhongshan Rd. (No. 2), Shanghai 200092, PR China.
| | - Xueqin Lu
- Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, PR China; Institute of Eco-Chongming (IEC), 3663 N. Zhongshan Rd., Shanghai 200062, PR China
| | - Takuro Kobayashi
- Center for Material Cycles and Waste Management Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8506, Japan
| | - Kaiqin Xu
- Center for Material Cycles and Waste Management Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8506, Japan
| | - Péter Bakonyi
- Research Institute on Bioengineering, Membrane Technology and Energetics, University of Pannonia, Egyetem ut 10, 8200 Veszprém, Hungary
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Rathinam NK, Bibra M, Salem DR, Sani RK. Thermophiles for biohydrogen production in microbial electrolytic cells. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2019; 277:171-178. [PMID: 30679062 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2019.01.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2018] [Revised: 01/05/2019] [Accepted: 01/07/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Thermophiles are promising options to use as electrocatalysts for bioelectrochemical applications including microbial electrolysis. They possess several interesting characteristics such as ability to catalyze a broad range of substrates at better rates and over a broad range of operating conditions, and better electrocatalysis/electrogenic activity over mesophiles. However, a very limited number of investigations have been carried out to explore the microbial reactions/pathways and the molecular mechanisms that contribute to better electrocatalysis/electrolysis in thermophiles. Here, we review the electroactive characteristics of thermophiles, their electron transfer mechanisms, and molecular insights behind the choice of thermophiles for bioelectrochemical/electrolytic processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Navanietha Krishnaraj Rathinam
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Rapid City 57701, USA; BuG ReMeDEE Consortia, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Rapid City, SD, USA; Composite and Nanocomposite Advanced Manufacturing - Biomaterials Center (CNAM-Bio Center), Rapid City, SD 57701, USA.
| | - Mohit Bibra
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Rapid City 57701, USA
| | - David R Salem
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Rapid City 57701, USA; Composite and Nanocomposite Advanced Manufacturing - Biomaterials Center (CNAM-Bio Center), Rapid City, SD 57701, USA
| | - Rajesh K Sani
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Rapid City 57701, USA; BuG ReMeDEE Consortia, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Rapid City, SD, USA; Department of Chemistry and Applied Biological Sciences, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Rapid City 57701, USA; Composite and Nanocomposite Advanced Manufacturing - Biomaterials Center (CNAM-Bio Center), Rapid City, SD 57701, USA
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40
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Bioelectrochemical CO2 Reduction to Methane: MES Integration in Biogas Production Processes. APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/app9061056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Anaerobic digestion (AD) is a widely used technique to treat organic waste and produce biogas. This article presents a practical approach to increase biogas yield of an AD system using a microbial electrosynthesis system (MES). The biocathode in MES reduces carbon dioxide with the supplied electrons and protons (H+) to form methane. We demonstrate that the MES is able to produce biogas with over 90% methane when fed with reject water obtained from a local wastewater treatment plant. The optimised cathode potential was observed in the range of −0.70 V to −0.60 V and optimised feed pH was around 7.0. With autoclaved feed, these conditions allowed methane yields of about 9.05 mmol/L(reactor)-day. A control experiment was then carried out to make a comparison between open circuit and MES methanogenesis. The highest methane yield of about 22.1 mmol/L(reactor)-day was obtained during MES operation that performed 10–15% better than the open circuit mode of operation. We suggest and describe an integrated AD-MES system, by installing MES in the reject water loop, as a novel approach to improve the efficiency and productivity of existing waste/wastewater treatment plants.
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Xu S, Zhang Y, Luo L, Liu H. Startup performance of microbial electrolysis cell assisted anaerobic digester (MEC-AD) with pre-acclimated activated carbon. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019; 5:91-98. [PMID: 31193294 PMCID: PMC6524652 DOI: 10.1016/j.biteb.2018.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2018] [Revised: 12/11/2018] [Accepted: 12/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
The feasibility of using pre-acclimated activated carbon to start up microbial electrolysis cell assisted anaerobic digester (MEC-AD) has been testified in this study. Two identical lab-scale digesters were separately packed with granular activated carbon (GAC) and powered activated carbon (PAC), which were initially acclimated as anaerobic digester and then transferred to MEC-AD. When a voltage of 0.5 V was applied, increased methane generation and substrate removal rates were observed. Hydrogenotrophic methanogens predominated in both digesters before and after transition, indicating that the pre-cultured microbial community on carbon materials could provide necessary microbiome favorable for starting up MECs. Although a low abundance of Geobacter was detected in inoculum, a rapid propagation could be realized when reactors were subjected to the electro-stimulation. The abundance of Methanosarcina closely attached to PAC was four times than that of GAC, which might be partially contributed to the improved resilience of anaerobic digester subjected to electro-stimulation. Pre-acclimated PAC/GAC are favorable for starting up MEC-AD. Methane yield was increased by ~30% when transferring AD to MEC-AD. Abundance of electroactive bacteria on pre-enriched PAC was higher than GAC. The rapid propagation of Geobacter was found in MEC-AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suyun Xu
- School of Environment and Architecture, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China
| | - Yuchen Zhang
- School of Environment and Architecture, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China
| | - Liwen Luo
- School of Environment and Architecture, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China
| | - Hongbo Liu
- School of Environment and Architecture, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093, China
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Jiang Y, May HD, Lu L, Liang P, Huang X, Ren ZJ. Carbon dioxide and organic waste valorization by microbial electrosynthesis and electro-fermentation. WATER RESEARCH 2019; 149:42-55. [PMID: 30419466 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2018.10.092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2018] [Revised: 10/29/2018] [Accepted: 10/30/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Carbon-rich waste materials (solid, liquid, or gaseous) are largely considered to be a burden on society due to the large capital and energy costs for their treatment and disposal. However, solid and liquid organic wastes have inherent energy and value, and similar as waste CO2 gas they can be reused to produce value-added chemicals and materials. There has been a paradigm shift towards developing a closed loop, biorefinery approach for the valorization of these wastes into value-added products, and such an approach enables a more carbon-efficient and circular economy. This review quantitatively analyzes the state-of-the-art of the emerging microbial electrochemical technology (MET) platform and provides critical perspectives on research advancement and technology development. The review offers side-by-side comparison between microbial electrosynthesis (MES) and electro-fermentation (EF) processes in terms of principles, key performance metrics, data analysis, and microorganisms. The study also summarizes all the processes and products that have been developed using MES and EF to date for organic waste and CO2 valorization. It finally identifies the technological and economic potentials and challenges on future system development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Jiang
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, PR China; Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA; Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil Environmental Health and Regulation, College of Resources and Environment, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350002, China
| | - Harold D May
- Hollings Marine Laboratory, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Lu Lu
- Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, 08544, USA
| | - Peng Liang
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, PR China.
| | - Xia Huang
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, PR China
| | - Zhiyong Jason Ren
- Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, 08544, USA.
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Li X, Zeng C, Lu Y, Liu G, Luo H, Zhang R. Development of methanogens within cathodic biofilm in the single-chamber microbial electrolysis cell. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2019; 274:403-409. [PMID: 30551043 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2018.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2018] [Revised: 11/28/2018] [Accepted: 12/01/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the development of cathodic biofilm and its effect on methane production in a single-chamber microbial electrolysis cell (MEC). The MEC with 1 g/L acetate was successfully operated within 31 cycles (∼2400 h). The maximum methane production rate and average current capture efficiency in the MEC reached 93 L/m3·d and 82%, respectively. Distinct stratification of Methanobacteriaceae within cathodic biofilm was observed after 9 cycles of operation. The relative abundance of Methanobacteriaceae in the microbial community increased from 45.3% (0-15 μm), 57.6% (15-30 μm), 66.9% (30-45 μm) to 77.2% (45-60 μm) within the cathodic biofilm. The methane production rates were positively correlated with the mcrA gene copy numbers in the cathodic biofilm. Our results should be useful to understand the mechanism of methane and hydrogen production in the MEC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation Technology, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Cuiping Zeng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation Technology, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Yaobin Lu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation Technology, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China.
| | - Guangli Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation Technology, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Haiping Luo
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation Technology, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Renduo Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation Technology, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
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Integration of Membrane Contactors and Bioelectrochemical Systems for CO2 Conversion to CH4. ENERGIES 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/en12030361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge produces large amounts of CO2 which contribute to global CO2 emissions. Capture and conversion of CO2 into valuable products is a novel way to reduce CO2 emissions and valorize it. Membrane contactors can be used for CO2 capture in liquid media, while bioelectrochemical systems (BES) can valorize dissolved CO2 converting it to CH4, through electromethanogenesis (EMG). At the same time, EMG process, which requires electricity to drive the conversion, can be utilized to store electrical energy (eventually coming from renewables surplus) as methane. The study aims integrating the two technologies at a laboratory scale, using for the first time real wastewater as CO2 capture medium. Five replicate EMG-BES cells were built and operated individually at 0.7 V. They were fed with both synthetic and real wastewater, saturated with CO2 by membrane contactors. In a subsequent experimental step, four EMG-BES cells were electrical stacked in series while one was kept as reference. CH4 production reached 4.6 L CH4 m−2 d−1, in line with available literature data, at a specific energy consumption of 16–18 kWh m−3 CH4 (65% energy efficiency). Organic matter was removed from wastewater at approximately 80% efficiency. CO2 conversion efficiency was limited (0.3–3.7%), depending on the amount of CO2 injected in wastewater. Even though achieved performances are not yet competitive with other mature methanation technologies, key knowledge was gained on the integrated operation of membrane contactors and EMG-BES cells, setting the base for upscaling and future implementation of the technology.
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Zhen G, Zheng S, Lu X, Zhu X, Mei J, Kobayashi T, Xu K, Li YY, Zhao Y. A comprehensive comparison of five different carbon-based cathode materials in CO 2 electromethanogenesis: Long-term performance, cell-electrode contact behaviors and extracellular electron transfer pathways. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2018; 266:382-388. [PMID: 29982061 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2018.06.101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2018] [Revised: 06/26/2018] [Accepted: 06/28/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Each carbon-based material, due to the discrepancy in critical properties, has distinct capability to enrich electroactive microbes able to electrosynthesize methane from CO2. To optimize electromethanogenesis process, this study physically prepared and examined several carbon-based cathode materials: carbon stick (CS), CS twined by Ti wire (CS-Ti) or covered with carbon fiber (CS-CF), graphite felt (CS-GF) and carbon cloth (CS-CC). CS-GF electrode had constantly stable methane production (75.8 mL/L/d at -0.9 V vs. Ag/AgCl) while CS-CC showed a suppressed performance over time caused by the desposition of inorganic shell. Electrode material properties affected biofilms growth, cell-electrode contact behaviors and electron exchange. Methane formation with CS-CC biocathode was H2-concnetration dependent; CS-GF cathode possessed high antifouling properties and extensive space, enriching the microorganisms capable of catalyzing electromethanogenesis through more efficient non-H2 route. This study re-interpreted the application potentials of carbon-based materials in CO2 electroreduction and electrofuel recovery, providing valuable guidance for materials' selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangyin Zhen
- Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, PR China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, 1515 North Zhongshan Rd. (No. 2), Shanghai 200092, PR China
| | - Shaojuan Zheng
- Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, PR China
| | - Xueqin Lu
- Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, PR China; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8579, Japan.
| | - Xuefeng Zhu
- Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, PR China
| | - Juan Mei
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Environment Science and Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou 215011, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - Takuro Kobayashi
- Center for Material Cycles and Waste Management Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8506, Japan
| | - Kaiqin Xu
- Center for Material Cycles and Waste Management Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8506, Japan
| | - Yu-You Li
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8579, Japan
| | - Youcai Zhao
- The State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, 200092 Shanghai, PR China
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Zhang W, Zhang J, Lu Y. Stimulation of carbon nanomaterials on syntrophic oxidation of butyrate in sediment enrichments and a defined coculture. Sci Rep 2018; 8:12185. [PMID: 30111866 PMCID: PMC6093938 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-30745-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2018] [Accepted: 07/30/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
It remains elusive if direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET) occurs in canonical syntrophy involving short-chain fatty acids oxidation. In the present study, we determined the effects of carbon nanomaterials on syntrophic oxidation of butyrate in two lake sediment enrichments and a defined coculture comprising Syntrophomonas wolfei and Methanococcus Maripaludis. After four continuous transfers of enrichment cultivation, Syntrophomonas dominated the bacterial populations in enrichments, and the dominated methanogens comprised Methanosarcina and Methanospirillum in one enrichment (from Weiming Lake) and Methanoregula and Methanospirillum in another (from Erhai Lake). Butyrate oxidation and CH4 production was significantly accelerated by carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in both enrichments. Replacement of CNTs by magnetite caused similar stimulating effect. For the defined coculture, two carbon nanomaterials, CNTs and reduced graphene oxide (rGO), were tested, both showed consistently stimulating effects on butyrate oxidation. Addition of kaolinite, an electric nonconductive clay mineral, however, revealed no effect. The test on M. maripaludis in pure culture showed no effect by rGO and a negative effect by CNTs (especially at a high concentration). Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that microbial cells were interwoven by CNTs forming cell-CNT mixture aggregates, and in case of rGO, cells were attached to surface or wrapped-up by rGO thin sheets. Collectively, our data suggest that the presence of conductive nanomaterials likely induces DIET in syntrophic butyrate oxidation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Zhang
- College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Jianchao Zhang
- Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Yahai Lu
- College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China.
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Katuri KP, Kalathil S, Ragab A, Bian B, Alqahtani MF, Pant D, Saikaly PE. Dual-Function Electrocatalytic and Macroporous Hollow-Fiber Cathode for Converting Waste Streams to Valuable Resources Using Microbial Electrochemical Systems. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2018; 30:e1707072. [PMID: 29707854 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201707072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2017] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Dual-function electrocatalytic and macroporous hollow-fiber cathodes are recently proposed as promising advanced material for maximizing the conversion of waste streams such as wastewater and waste CO2 to valuable resources (e.g., clean freshwater, energy, value-added chemicals) in microbial electrochemical systems. The first part of this progress report reviews recent developments in this type of cathode architecture for the simultaneous recovery of clean freshwater and energy from wastewater. Critical insights are provided on suitable materials for fabricating these cathodes, as well as addressing some challenges in the fabrication process with proposed strategies to overcome them. The second and complementary part of the progress report highlights how the unique features of this cathode architecture can solve one of the intrinsic bottlenecks (gas-liquid mass transfer limitation) in the application of microbial electrochemical systems for CO2 reduction to value-added products. Strategies to further improve the availability of CO2 to microbial catalysts on the cathode are proposed. The importance of understanding microbe-cathode interactions, as well as electron transfer mechanisms at the cathode-cell and cell-cell interface to better design dual-function macroporous hollow-fiber cathodes, is critically discussed with insights on how the choice of material is important in facilitating direct electron transfer versus mediated electron transfer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krishna P Katuri
- Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering (BESE) Division, Water Desalination and Reuse Center (WDRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Shafeer Kalathil
- Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering (BESE) Division, Water Desalination and Reuse Center (WDRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ala'a Ragab
- Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering (BESE) Division, Water Desalination and Reuse Center (WDRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Bin Bian
- Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering (BESE) Division, Water Desalination and Reuse Center (WDRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Manal F Alqahtani
- Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering (BESE) Division, Water Desalination and Reuse Center (WDRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Deepak Pant
- Separation and Conversion Technology, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Boeretang 200, Mol, 2400, Belgium
| | - Pascal E Saikaly
- Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering (BESE) Division, Water Desalination and Reuse Center (WDRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
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Yu Z, Leng X, Zhao S, Ji J, Zhou T, Khan A, Kakde A, Liu P, Li X. A review on the applications of microbial electrolysis cells in anaerobic digestion. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2018; 255:340-348. [PMID: 29444757 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2018.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2017] [Revised: 01/31/2018] [Accepted: 02/01/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Anaerobic digestion (AD) has been widely used for biogas or biofuel generation from waste treatment. Because a low production rate and instability of AD occur frequently, various technologies have been applied to improvement of AD. Microbial electrolysis cells (MECs), an emerging technology, can convert organic matter into hydrogen, methane, and other value-added products. Recent studies showed that application of MEC to AD (MEC-AD) can accelerate degradation of a substrate (including recalcitrant compounds) and alter AD microbial community by enriching exoelectrogens and methanogens thus increasing biogas production. With stable microbial communities established, improvement of MEC-AD for methane production was achieved. MEC-AD process can be monitored in real-time by detecting electric signals, which linearly correlate with substrate concentrations. This review attempts to evaluate interactions among the decomposition of substrates, MEC-AD system, and the microbial community. This analysis should provide useful insights into the improvement of methane production and the performance of MEC-AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengsheng Yu
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, No. 222, Tianshuinan Road, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoyun Leng
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, No. 222, Tianshuinan Road, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, People's Republic of China; Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Biomass-Energy Conversion, Inner Mongolia University of Science and Technology, Baotou 014010, People's Republic of China
| | - Shuai Zhao
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, No. 222, Tianshuinan Road, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, People's Republic of China
| | - Jing Ji
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, No. 222, Tianshuinan Road, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, People's Republic of China
| | - Tuoyu Zhou
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, No. 222, Tianshuinan Road, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, People's Republic of China
| | - Aman Khan
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, No. 222, Tianshuinan Road, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, People's Republic of China
| | - Apurva Kakde
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, No. 222, Tianshuinan Road, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, People's Republic of China
| | - Pu Liu
- Gansu Key Laboratory of Biomonitoring and Bioremediation for Environmental Pollution, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, No. 222, Tianshuinan Road, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiangkai Li
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, No. 222, Tianshuinan Road, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, People's Republic of China.
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Yang HY, Bao BL, Liu J, Qin Y, Wang YR, Su KZ, Han JC, Mu Y. Temperature dependence of bioelectrochemical CO2 conversion and methane production with a mixed-culture biocathode. Bioelectrochemistry 2018; 119:180-188. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bioelechem.2017.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2017] [Revised: 10/02/2017] [Accepted: 10/02/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
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