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Continuous augmentation of anaerobic digestion with electroactive microorganisms: Performance and stability
Zheng-Kai An1, Han-Chao Yu1, Keug-Tae Kim2
1Department of Environmental Engineering, Korea Maritime and Ocean University, Busan 49112, Republic of Korea; Interdisciplinary Major of Ocean Renewable Energy Engineering, Busan 49112, Republic of Korea.
Bioresource Technology
|September 29, 2024
Summary
Bioelectrochemical anaerobic digesters (BeADs) augmented with electroactive microorganisms (EAMs) show excellent stability and performance. These systems demonstrate remarkable resilience to shock loads, crucial for practical bioelectrochemical applications.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Biotechnology
- Microbiology
Background:
- Bioelectrochemical anaerobic digesters (BeADs) offer a promising approach for waste treatment and energy recovery.
- Enhancing the stability and performance of BeADs under fluctuating conditions is critical for their practical implementation.
- Electroactive microorganisms (EAMs) play a key role in the efficiency of BeADs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the performance and stability of a BeAD continuously augmented with EAMs.
- To understand the resilience mechanisms of BeADs under hydraulic and organic shock loads.
- To identify key microbial components and metabolic pathways involved in shock load recovery.
Main Methods:
- Continuous operation of a BeAD with EAM augmentation.
- Application of controlled hydraulic and organic shock loads.
- Monitoring of key performance indicators: COD removal efficiency and methane production rate.
- Analysis of electron transport components (quinones, riboflavins) and inhibitory by-products (humic acids, ammonia).
- Investigation of the mtr complex upregulation during recovery.
Main Results:
- The BeAD achieved stable high performance: 76.5% COD removal and 0.67 L/(L.d) methane production.
- The system demonstrated remarkable resilience, recovering from shock loads up to 1000% of stable conditions.
- Resilience to 300% shock load was linked to increased electron shuttles (quinones, riboflavins).
- Recovery from extreme shock loads (500-1000%) involved mtr complex upregulation, despite increased inhibitors like humic acids and ammonia.
Conclusions:
- BeADs augmented with EAMs exhibit superior performance and stability.
- The system's resilience is attributed to adaptive mechanisms involving electron transport components and specific microbial complexes.
- These findings highlight the potential of BeADs as a robust technology for sustainable waste management and bioenergy production.
Keywords:
External bioelectrochemical reactorExtracellular electron transferKinetic imbalanceResilienceShock load
