Development of a rapid startup method of direct electron transfer-dominant methanogenic microbial electrosynthesis

Xuejiao Qi; Xuan Jia; Yong Wang; Pei Xu; Mingxiao Li; Beidou Xi; Yujiao Zhao; Yusen Zhu; Fanhua Meng; Meiying Ye

doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2022.127385

Development of a rapid startup method of direct electron transfer-dominant methanogenic microbial electrosynthesis

Bioresour Technol. 2022 Aug:358:127385. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2022.127385. Epub 2022 May 27.

Authors

Xuejiao Qi¹, Xuan Jia², Yong Wang³, Pei Xu³, Mingxiao Li⁴, Beidou Xi³, Yujiao Zhao², Yusen Zhu², Fanhua Meng³, Meiying Ye³

Affiliations

¹ School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China.
² Key Laboratory of Cleaner Production, Integrated Resource Utilization of China National Light Industry, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China.
³ State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China.
⁴ State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China. Electronic address: limingxiao81220@163.com.

PMID: 35636677
DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2022.127385

Abstract

The rapid startup of carbon dioxide reduction-methanogenic microbial electrosynthesis is crucial for its industrial application, and the development of cathode biofilm is the key to its industrialization. Based on the new discovery that biofilm formed by placing graphite felt in an anaerobic reactor was electroactive, with strong direct electron transfer and methanogenesis ability (24.52 mL/L/d), a new startup method was developed. The startup time was shortened by at least 20 days and charge transfer resistance was reduced by 4.45-10.78 times than common startup methods (inoculating cathode effluent or granular sludge into the cathode chamber). The new method enriched electroactive bacteria. Methanobacterium and Methanosaeta accounted for 62.04% and 34.96%, respectively. The common methods inoculating cathode effluent or granular sludge enriched hydrogenotrophic microorganisms (>95%) or Methanosaeta (54.10%) due to the local environments of cathode. This new rapid and easy startup method may support the scale-up of microbial electrosynthesis.

Keywords: Biocathode; CO(2) reduction; Methane.

MeSH terms

Bioreactors
Carbon Dioxide
Electrodes
Electrons*
Methane
Methanobacterium
Sewage* / microbiology

Substances

Sewage
Carbon Dioxide
Methane