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Electrical current disrupts the electron transfer in defined consortia.

Mon Oo Yee1,2, Lars D M Ottosen3, Amelia-Elena Rotaru1

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Electrical stimulation of anaerobic digesters using a poised cathode negatively impacts methane production by hindering direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET). This study shows that alternative electron donors disrupt microbial partnerships, reducing overall efficiency.

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Area of Science:

  • Microbial Electrochemical Technologies
  • Anaerobic Digestion
  • Microbial Physiology

Background:

  • Microbial electrochemical technologies aim to enhance methane production in anaerobic digesters through electrical current application.
  • Direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET) is proposed to improve methane yield, but its mechanism under electrical stimulation in defined consortia is unclear.
  • Previous studies relied on species co-occurrence, lacking detailed insight into cathode influence on DIET.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of continuous and discontinuous electrical current from a poised cathode on a defined DIET consortium (Geobacter metallireducens and Methanosarcina barkeri).
  • To compare the physiology of electrochemically stimulated DIET consortia with unexposed controls.
  • To understand how cathode electron donation affects interspecies electron transfer and metabolic activity.

Main Methods:

  • Cultivation of a defined microbial consortium (Geobacter metallireducens and Methanosarcina barkeri) under poised cathode conditions (-0.7 V vs. SHE).
  • Comparison of metabolic activity, cell numbers, and electron recovery for methane production between current-exposed and unexposed reactors.
  • Analysis of intermediate metabolites (acetate, hydrogen) and overall electron allocation.

Main Results:

  • Electrical stimulation led to declined metabolic activity and cell numbers for both microbial partners.
  • Methane production efficiency decreased significantly (32% electron recovery) in stimulated consortia, with accumulation of acetate and hydrogen.
  • Unexposed controls efficiently converted ethanol to methane (88% electron recovery).

Conclusions:

  • Electrochemical stimulation using a poised cathode has a detrimental effect on the studied DIET consortium.
  • The cathode as an alternative electron donor interferes with efficient electron transfer from Geobacter to Methanosarcina and induces catabolic repression.
  • Understanding specific DIET interactions is crucial for optimizing methane production in microbial electrochemical technologies.