Enhancement of methanogenic performance by gasification biochar on anaerobic digestion

Qiuxian Qi; Chen Sun; Chicaiza Cristhian; Tengyu Zhang; Jingxin Zhang; Hailin Tian; Yiliang He; Yen Wah Tong

doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2021.124993

Enhancement of methanogenic performance by gasification biochar on anaerobic digestion

Bioresour Technol. 2021 Jun:330:124993. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2021.124993. Epub 2021 Mar 15.

Authors

Qiuxian Qi¹, Chen Sun², Chicaiza Cristhian³, Tengyu Zhang⁴, Jingxin Zhang⁵, Hailin Tian⁶, Yiliang He⁷, Yen Wah Tong⁸

Affiliations

¹ China-UK Low Carbon College, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 201306, China.
² College of Biological, Chemical Science and Engineering, Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, Zhejiang Province, 314001, China.
³ China-UK Low Carbon College, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 201306, China; Faculty of Life Sciences, Amazon State University (UEA), 160101 Puyo, Pastaza-Ecuador, China.
⁴ Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.
⁵ China-UK Low Carbon College, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 201306, China. Electronic address: lcczjx@sjtu.edu.cn.
⁶ Environmental Research Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
⁷ China-UK Low Carbon College, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 201306, China; School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China.
⁸ Environmental Research Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore.

PMID: 33765628
DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2021.124993

Abstract

This work evaluates the performance of different biochar-amended anaerobic digestion systems. The Fourier Transform Infrared analysis showed that more ordered aromatic groups formed and the aromatization degree increased with the rise of gasification temperature. The biochar produced at 900 °C still showed an excellent ability to maintain the stability of anaerobic digestion performance, where the specific methane yield content steadily reached 742 mL CH₄/g ethanol. Besides, the enzymatic activity test indicated an improved performance with the addition of biochar obtained at gasification temperature. The relationship between the microbial community and metabolism pathways result are signified due to the direct interspecies electron transfer among Pseudomonas or Candidatus cloacimonas and Methanosaeta via biochar. These links have promoted the methane metabolism pathway of acetate decarboxylation. Therefore, the current study helps better understand the influence of surface functional groups of biochar at different temperatures on anaerobic digestion performance.

Keywords: Anaerobic Digestion; Aromatization; Biochar; Functional groups; Gasification.

MeSH terms

Anaerobiosis
Bioreactors*
Charcoal*
Methane

Substances

biochar
Charcoal
Methane