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Lemaigre S, Gerin PA, Adam G, Klimek D, Goux X, Herold M, Frkova Z, Calusinska M, Delfosse P. Potential of acetic acid to restore methane production in anaerobic reactors critically intoxicated by ammonia as evidenced by metabolic and microbial monitoring. BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS AND BIOPRODUCTS 2023; 16:188. [PMID: 38042839 PMCID: PMC10693713 DOI: 10.1186/s13068-023-02438-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Biogas and biomethane production from the on-farm anaerobic digestion (AD) of animal manure and agri-food wastes could play a key role in transforming Europe's energy system by mitigating its dependence on fossil fuels and tackling the climate crisis. Although ammonia is essential for microbial growth, it inhibits the AD process if present in high concentrations, especially under its free form, thus leading to economic losses. In this study, which includes both metabolic and microbial monitoring, we tested a strategy to restore substrate conversion to methane in AD reactors facing critical free ammonia intoxication. RESULTS The AD process of three mesophilic semi-continuous 100L reactors critically intoxicated by free ammonia (> 3.5 g_N L-1; inhibited hydrolysis and heterotrophic acetogenesis; interrupted methanogenesis) was restored by applying a strategy that included reducing pH using acetic acid, washing out total ammonia with water, re-inoculation with active microbial flora and progressively re-introducing sugar beet pulp as a feed substrate. After 5 weeks, two reactors restarted to hydrolyse the pulp and produced CH4 from the methylotrophic methanogenesis pathway. The acetoclastic pathway remained inhibited due to the transient dominance of a strictly methylotrophic methanogen (Candidatus Methanoplasma genus) to the detriment of Methanosarcina. Concomitantly, the third reactor, in which Methanosarcina remained dominant, produced CH4 from the acetoclastic pathway but faced hydrolysis inhibition. After 11 weeks, the hydrolysis, the acetoclastic pathway and possibly the hydrogenotrophic pathway were functional in all reactors. The methylotrophic pathway was no longer favoured. Although syntrophic propionate oxidation remained suboptimal, the final pulp to CH4 conversion ratio (0.41 ± 0.10 LN_CH4 g_VS-1) was analogous to the pulp biochemical methane potential (0.38 ± 0.03 LN_CH4 g_VS-1). CONCLUSIONS Despite an extreme free ammonia intoxication, the proposed process recovery strategy allowed CH4 production to be restored in three intoxicated reactors within 8 weeks, a period during which re-inoculation appeared to be crucial to sustain the process. Introducing acetic acid allowed substantial CH4 production during the recovery period. Furthermore, the initial pH reduction promoted ammonium capture in the slurry, which could allow the field application of the effluents produced by full-scale digesters recovering from ammonia intoxication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sébastien Lemaigre
- Environmental Research and Innovation Department, Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology, Rue du Brill 41, L-4422, Belvaux, Luxembourg.
| | - Patrick A Gerin
- Earth and Life Institute, Bioengineering, Université Catholique de Louvain, Croix du Sud 2, Box L7.05.19, B-1348, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Gilles Adam
- Environmental Research and Innovation Department, Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology, Rue du Brill 41, L-4422, Belvaux, Luxembourg
| | - Dominika Klimek
- Environmental Research and Innovation Department, Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology, Rue du Brill 41, L-4422, Belvaux, Luxembourg
| | - Xavier Goux
- Environmental Research and Innovation Department, Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology, Rue du Brill 41, L-4422, Belvaux, Luxembourg
| | - Malte Herold
- Environmental Research and Innovation Department, Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology, Rue du Brill 41, L-4422, Belvaux, Luxembourg
| | - Zuzana Frkova
- Environmental Research and Innovation Department, Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology, Rue du Brill 41, L-4422, Belvaux, Luxembourg
| | - Magdalena Calusinska
- Environmental Research and Innovation Department, Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology, Rue du Brill 41, L-4422, Belvaux, Luxembourg
| | - Philippe Delfosse
- Université du Luxembourg, Campus Belval, Maison du Savoir, Avenue de l'Université 2, L-4365, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
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De Vrieze J, De Waele M, Boeckx P, Boon N. Isotope Fractionation in Biogas Allows Direct Microbial Community Stability Monitoring in Anaerobic Digestion. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2018; 52:6704-6713. [PMID: 29432683 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.8b00723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Process monitoring of anaerobic digestion is typically based on operational parameters, such as pH and volatile fatty acid concentration, that are lagging on actual microbial community performance. In this study, 13C isotope fractionation in CH4 and CO2 in the biogas was used to monitor process stability of anaerobic digestion in response to salt stress. A gradual and pulsed increase in salt concentration resulted in a decrease in methane production. No clear shift in δ13CH4 was observed in response to the gradual increase in salt concentration, and δ13CO2 of the biogas showed only a clear shift after process failure, compared with the control. In contrast, both δ13CH4 and δ13CO2 in the biogas changed in response to the pulsed increase in salt concentration. This change preceded the decrease in methane production. A significantly different bacterial and archaeal community profile was observed between the DNA and RNA level, which was also reflected in a different relation with the δ13CH4 and δ13CO2 values. This shows that isotope fractionation in the biogas can predict process stability in anaerobic digestion, as it directly reflects shifts in the total and active microbial community, yet, due to its temporal character, further validation is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jo De Vrieze
- Center for Microbial Ecology and Technology (CMET) , Ghent University , Coupure Links 653 , B-9000 Gent , Belgium
| | - Michiel De Waele
- Center for Microbial Ecology and Technology (CMET) , Ghent University , Coupure Links 653 , B-9000 Gent , Belgium
| | - Pascal Boeckx
- Isotope Bioscience Laboratory - ISOFYS , Ghent University , Coupure Links 653 , B-9000 Gent , Belgium
| | - Nico Boon
- Center for Microbial Ecology and Technology (CMET) , Ghent University , Coupure Links 653 , B-9000 Gent , Belgium
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De Vrieze J, Pinto AJ, Sloan WT, Ijaz UZ. The active microbial community more accurately reflects the anaerobic digestion process: 16S rRNA (gene) sequencing as a predictive tool. MICROBIOME 2018; 6:63. [PMID: 29609653 PMCID: PMC5879801 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-018-0449-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2016] [Accepted: 03/16/2018] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Amplicon sequencing methods targeting the 16S rRNA gene have been used extensively to investigate microbial community composition and dynamics in anaerobic digestion. These methods successfully characterize amplicons but do not distinguish micro-organisms that are actually responsible for the process. In this research, the archaeal and bacterial community of 48 full-scale anaerobic digestion plants were evaluated on DNA (total community) and RNA (active community) level via 16S rRNA (gene) amplicon sequencing. RESULTS A significantly higher diversity on DNA compared with the RNA level was observed for archaea, but not for bacteria. Beta diversity analysis showed a significant difference in community composition between the DNA and RNA of both bacteria and archaea. This related with 25.5 and 42.3% of total OTUs for bacteria and archaea, respectively, that showed a significant difference in their DNA and RNA profiles. Similar operational parameters affected the bacterial and archaeal community, yet the differentiating effect between DNA and RNA was much stronger for archaea. Co-occurrence networks and functional prediction profiling confirmed the clear differentiation between DNA and RNA profiles. CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, a clear difference in active (RNA) and total (DNA) community profiles was observed, implying the need for a combined approach to estimate community stability in anaerobic digestion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jo De Vrieze
- Center for Microbial Ecology and Technology (CMET), Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
- Infrastructure and Environment Research Division, School of Engineering, University of Glasgow, Rankine Building, Oakfield Avenue, Glasgow, G12 8LT UK
| | - Ameet J. Pinto
- Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115 USA
| | - William T. Sloan
- Infrastructure and Environment Research Division, School of Engineering, University of Glasgow, Rankine Building, Oakfield Avenue, Glasgow, G12 8LT UK
| | - Umer Zeeshan Ijaz
- Infrastructure and Environment Research Division, School of Engineering, University of Glasgow, Rankine Building, Oakfield Avenue, Glasgow, G12 8LT UK
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Lecker B, Illi L, Lemmer A, Oechsner H. Biological hydrogen methanation - A review. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2017; 245:1220-1228. [PMID: 28893503 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2017.08.176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2017] [Revised: 08/28/2017] [Accepted: 08/29/2017] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Surplus energy out of fluctuating energy sources like wind and solar energy is strongly increasing. Biological hydrogen (H2) methanation (BHM) is a highly promising approach to move the type of energy from electricity to natural gas via electrolysis and the subsequent step of the Sabatier-reaction. This review provides an overview of the numerous studies concerning the topic of BHM. The technical and biological parameters regarding the research results of these studies are compared and analyzed hereafter. A holistic view on how to overcome physical limitations of the fermentation process, such as gas-liquid mass transfer or a rise of the pH value, and on the enhancement of environmental circumstances for the bacterial biomass are delivered within. With regards to ex-situ methanation, the evaluated studies show a distinct connection between methane production and the methane percentage in the off-gas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernhard Lecker
- University of Hohenheim, State Institute of Agricultural Engineering and Bioenergy, Garbenstraße 9, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany.
| | - Lukas Illi
- University of Hohenheim, State Institute of Agricultural Engineering and Bioenergy, Garbenstraße 9, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Andreas Lemmer
- University of Hohenheim, State Institute of Agricultural Engineering and Bioenergy, Garbenstraße 9, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Hans Oechsner
- University of Hohenheim, State Institute of Agricultural Engineering and Bioenergy, Garbenstraße 9, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany
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Vavilin VA, Rytov SV. Dynamic changes of carbon isotope apparent fractionation factor to describe transition to syntrophic acetate oxidation during cellulose and acetate methanization. ISOTOPES IN ENVIRONMENTAL AND HEALTH STUDIES 2017; 53:134-156. [PMID: 27348153 DOI: 10.1080/10256016.2016.1194836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2016] [Accepted: 04/11/2016] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
To identify predominant metabolic pathway for cellulose methanization new equations that take into account dynamics of 13C are added to the basic model of cellulose methanization. The correct stoichiometry of hydrolysis, acidogenesis, acetogenesis and methanogenesis steps including biomass is considered. Using experimental data by Laukenmann et al. [Identification of methanogenic pathway in anaerobic digesters using stable carbon isotopes. Eng. Life Sci. 2010;10:1-6], who reported about the importance of ace`tate oxidation during mesophilic cellulose methanization, the model confirmed that, at high biomass concentration of acetate oxidizers, the carbon isotope fractionation factor amounts to about 1.085. The same model, suggested firstly for cellulose degradation, was used to describe, secondly, changes in, and in methane and carbon dioxide during mesophylic acetate methanization measured by Grossin-Debattista [Fractionnements isotopiques (13C/12C) engendres par la methanogenese: apports pour la comprehension des processus de biodegradation lors de la digestion anaerobie [doctoral thesis]. 2011. Bordeaux: Universite Bordeaux-1;2011. Available from: http://ori-oai.u-bordeaux1.fr/pdf/2011/GROSSIN-DEBATTISTA_JULIEN_2011.pdf . French].The model showed that under various ammonium concentrations, at dominating acetoclastic methanogenesis, the value decreases over time to a low level (1.016), while at dominating syntrophic acetate oxidation, coupled with hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis, slightly increases, reaching 1.060 at the end of incubation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vasily A Vavilin
- a Ecological Department of Water Problems Institute , Russian Academy of Sciences , Moscow , Russian Federation
| | - Sergey V Rytov
- a Ecological Department of Water Problems Institute , Russian Academy of Sciences , Moscow , Russian Federation
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Gehring T, Niedermayr A, Berzio S, Immenhauser A, Wichern M, Lübken M. Determination of the fractions of syntrophically oxidized acetate in a mesophilic methanogenic reactor through an (12)C and (13)C isotope-based kinetic model. WATER RESEARCH 2016; 102:362-373. [PMID: 27390036 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2016.06.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2016] [Revised: 06/15/2016] [Accepted: 06/16/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
In order to accurately describe the carbon flow in anaerobic digestion processes, this work investigates the acetate degradation pathways through the use of stable carbon isotope analysis and a mathematical model. Batch assays using labeled (13)C acetate were employed to distinguish the acetate consumption through methanogenic Archaea and acetate-oxidizing Bacteria. Suspended and sessile biomass, with over 400 days of retention time, from a mesophilic (36.5 °C) upflow anaerobic filter was used as inocula in these assays. A three-process model for acetoclastic methanogenesis and syntrophic acetate oxidation (SAO) was developed to allow for a precise quantification of the SAO contribution. The model distinguishes carbon atoms in light and heavy isotopes, (12)C and (13)C, respectively, which permitted the simulation of the isotope ratios variation in addition to gas production, gas composition and acetate concentrations. The model indicated oxidized fractions of acetate between 7 and 18%. Due to the low free ammonia inhibition potential for the acetoclastic methanogens in these assays these findings point to the biomass retention times as a driven factor for the SAO pathway. The isotope-based kinetic model developed here also describes the δ(13)C variations in unlabeled assays accurately and has the potential to determine biological (13)C fractionation factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tito Gehring
- Institute of Urban Water Management and Environmental Engineering, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Germany.
| | - Andrea Niedermayr
- Institute of Geology, Mineralogy and Geophysics, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Germany.
| | - Stephan Berzio
- Institute of Urban Water Management and Environmental Engineering, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Germany.
| | - Adrian Immenhauser
- Institute of Geology, Mineralogy and Geophysics, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Germany.
| | - Marc Wichern
- Institute of Urban Water Management and Environmental Engineering, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Germany.
| | - Manfred Lübken
- Institute of Urban Water Management and Environmental Engineering, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Germany.
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Polag D, May T, Müller L, König H, Jacobi F, Laukenmann S, Keppler F. Online monitoring of stable carbon isotopes of methane in anaerobic digestion as a new tool for early warning of process instability. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2015; 197:161-70. [PMID: 26335284 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2015.08.058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2015] [Revised: 08/08/2015] [Accepted: 08/12/2015] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Effective control of anaerobic digestion in biogas plants requires the monitoring of process sensitive and rapid response parameters in order to ensure efficient biogas production and to prevent potential process failure. In this study, stable carbon isotopes of methane (δ(13)CCH4) produced in a full-scale continuous stirred-tank reactor were investigated as a potential new monitoring tool for this purpose. Over a six-month period with variable organic loading rates, δ(13)CCH4-values were measured online by a portable high-precision laser absorption spectrometer. During a stress period of consecutive high organic loading, δ(13)CCH4-values early indicated process changes in contrast to traditionally monitored parameters where a change was observed some five to ten days later. Comparison of the stable isotope values with data from microbial analyses showed a distinct relationship between the quantity of potentially acetoclastic methanogens and δ(13)CCH4-values. This finding indicates an association between dominant methanogenic pathways and carbon isotope values.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Polag
- Institute of Earth Sciences, Im Neuenheimer Feld 236, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - T May
- Institute of Microbiology and Wine Research, Johann-Joachim-Becherweg 15, D-55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - L Müller
- Deutsches Biomasseforschungszentrum, Torgauer St. 116, D-04347 Leipzig, Germany
| | - H König
- Institute of Microbiology and Wine Research, Johann-Joachim-Becherweg 15, D-55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - F Jacobi
- Deutsches Biomasseforschungszentrum, Torgauer St. 116, D-04347 Leipzig, Germany
| | - S Laukenmann
- Institute of Earth Sciences, Im Neuenheimer Feld 236, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - F Keppler
- Institute of Earth Sciences, Im Neuenheimer Feld 236, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany
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Gehring T, Klang J, Niedermayr A, Berzio S, Immenhauser A, Klocke M, Wichern M, Lübken M. Determination of methanogenic pathways through carbon isotope (δ13C) analysis for the two-stage anaerobic digestion of high-solids substrates. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2015; 49:4705-14. [PMID: 25741999 DOI: 10.1021/es505665z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
This study used carbon isotope (δ(13)C)-based calculations to quantify the specific methanogenic pathways in a two-stage experimental biogas plant composed of three thermophilic leach bed reactors (51-56 °C) followed by a mesophilic (36.5 °C) anaerobic filter. Despite the continuous dominance of the acetoclastic Methanosaeta in the anaerobic filter, the methane (CH4) fraction derived from carbon dioxide reduction (CO2), fmc, varied significantly over the investigation period of 200 days. At organic loading rates (OLRs) below 6.0 gCOD L(-1) d(-1), the average fmc value was 33%, whereas at higher OLRs, with a maximum level of 17.0 gCOD L(-1) d(-1), the fmc values reached 47%. The experiments allowed for a clear differentiation of the isotope fractionation related to the formation and consumption of acetate in both stages of the plant. Our data indicate constant carbon isotope fractionation for acetate formation at different OLRs within the thermophilic leach bed reactors as well as a negligible contribution of homoacetogenesis. These results present the first quantification of methanogenic pathway (fmc values) dynamics for a continually operated mesophilic bioreactor and highlight the enormous potential of δ(13)C analysis for a more comprehensive understanding of the anaerobic degradation processes in CH4-producing biogas plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tito Gehring
- †Institute of Urban Water Management and Environmental Engineering, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Universitätsstrasse 150, Bochum 44801, Germany
| | - Johanna Klang
- ‡Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering Potsdam-Bornim (ATB), Max-Eyth-Allee 100, Potsdam 14469, Germany
| | - Andrea Niedermayr
- §Institute of Geology, Mineralogy and Geophysics, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Universitätsstrasse 150, Bochum 44801, Germany
| | - Stephan Berzio
- †Institute of Urban Water Management and Environmental Engineering, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Universitätsstrasse 150, Bochum 44801, Germany
| | - Adrian Immenhauser
- §Institute of Geology, Mineralogy and Geophysics, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Universitätsstrasse 150, Bochum 44801, Germany
| | - Michael Klocke
- ‡Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering Potsdam-Bornim (ATB), Max-Eyth-Allee 100, Potsdam 14469, Germany
| | - Marc Wichern
- †Institute of Urban Water Management and Environmental Engineering, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Universitätsstrasse 150, Bochum 44801, Germany
| | - Manfred Lübken
- †Institute of Urban Water Management and Environmental Engineering, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Universitätsstrasse 150, Bochum 44801, Germany
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Isolation and differentiation of methanogenic Archaea from mesophilic corn-fed on-farm biogas plants with special emphasis on the genus Methanobacterium. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2014; 98:5719-35. [DOI: 10.1007/s00253-014-5652-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2013] [Revised: 02/14/2014] [Accepted: 02/27/2014] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
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