Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 3, 2026

Agarose-Based Model Ecosystem for Cultivating Methanotrophs in a Methane-Oxygen Counter Gradient
Published on: September 6, 2024
Selenium oxyanion inhibition of hydrogenotrophic and acetoclastic methanogenesis
Markus Lenz1, Niklas Janzen, Piet N L Lens
1Sub-Department of Environmental Technology, Wageningen University, 6700 EV Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Abstract:
Inhibitory effects of selenite and selenate towards hydrogenotrophic and acetoclastic methanogenesis were evaluated in anaerobic toxicity assays. The 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of both selenium oxyanions was below 6.1x10(-5)M in hydrogenotrophic assays, whereas acetoclastic methanogens were less inhibited: IC50=8.3x10(-5)M and 5.5x10(-4)M for selenite and selenate, respectively. Selenite completely inhibits methanogenesis from both substrates tested at concentrations > or =10(-3)M selenite, while only marginal methanogenic activities occur at equimolar concentrations of selenate. Selenite becomes irreversibly inhibitory upon a single exposure, whereas selenate inhibits methanogens upon repeated exposure. Consequently, methane recovery can be seriously hampered or even impossible during anaerobic treatment of highly selenium contaminated waste streams.
Related Concept Videos
Microbes and Methanogenesis
Metabolism of Chemolithotrophs
Microbial Interactions: Mutualism
The Electron Transport Chain
Inhibitors of the electron transport chain
Rotenone, a widely used pesticide, prevents electron transfer from Fe-S cluster to ubiquinone or Q in...
Microbial Mats
Microbial Corrosion

