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Suppressing methanogens and enriching electrogens in bioelectrochemical systems
Dipak A Jadhav1, Ashvini D Chendake2, Andrea Schievano3
1Department of Agricultural Engineering, Maharashtra Institute of Technology, Aurangabad 431010, India.
Bioresource Technology
|January 13, 2019
Summary
Suppressing methanogens is key for bioelectrochemical systems (BES). This review explores methods to inhibit these microbes, improving energy recovery and efficiency in BES applications.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Electrochemistry
- Environmental Science
Background:
- Methanogens pose a significant challenge to the practical application of bioelectrochemical systems (BES).
- These microorganisms compete with valuable electrogenic and acetogenic bacteria for substrates, reducing Coulombic efficiency.
- The choice of inoculum pretreatment significantly impacts microbial communities and BES performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and discuss various physical, chemical, and biological pretreatment methods for suppressing methanogen growth in BES.
- To explore strategies for promoting selective microbial enrichment in anodic and cathodic biofilms.
- To identify approaches for enhancing energy recovery and cost-effectiveness in field applications of BES.
Main Methods:
- Discussion of physical, chemical, and biological pretreatment techniques for methanogen suppression.
- Exploration of bioaugmentation and applied external potential for selective microbial enrichment.
- Consideration of intermittent chemical inhibition and methane-to-electricity conversion for field applications.
Main Results:
- Various pretreatment methods can effectively suppress methanogen populations in BES inocula.
- Selective enrichment strategies can enhance the performance of anodic and cathodic biofilms.
- Optimized pretreatment and operational strategies are crucial for maximizing Coulombic efficiency and energy recovery.
Conclusions:
- Effective methanogen suppression is critical for advancing BES technology.
- A combination of physical pretreatment, chemical inhibition, and bioaugmentation offers promising strategies for field applications.
- Further research into cost-effective and energy-efficient methods is needed for widespread BES adoption.
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