Linking performance to dynamic migration of biofilm ecosystem reveals the role of voltage in the start-up of hybrid microbial electrolysis cell-anaerobic digestion

Research output: Journal Publications and ReviewsRGC 21 - Publication in refereed journalpeer-review

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Author(s)

  • Xue-Ting Wang
  • Lei Zhao
  • Quan Zhang
  • Bo Wang
  • Defeng Xing
  • Jun Nan
  • Nan-Qi Ren
  • Chuan Chen

Related Research Unit(s)

Detail(s)

Original languageEnglish
Article number131242
Journal / PublicationBioresource Technology
Volume411
Online published8 Aug 2024
Publication statusPublished - Nov 2024

Abstract

Applied voltage is a crucial parameter in hybrid microbial electrolysis cells-anaerobic digestion (MEC-AD) systems for enhancing methane production from waste activated sludge (WAS). This study explored the impact of applied voltage on the initial biofilm formation on electrodes during the MEC-AD startup using raw WAS (Rr) and heat-pretreated WAS (Rh). The findings indicated that the maximum methane productivity for Rr and Rh were 3.4 ± 0.5 and 3.4 ± 0.2 mL/gVSS/d, respectively, increasing 1.5 times and 2.6 times over the productivity at 0 V. The biomass on electrode biofilms for Rr and Rh at 0.8 V increased by 70 % and 100 % compared to 0 V. The core functional microorganisms in the cathode biofilm were Methanobacterium and Syntrophomonas, and Geobacter in the anode biofilm, enhancing methane production through syntrophism and direct interspecies electron transfer, respectively. These results offer academic insights into optimizing AD functional electrode biofilms by applying voltage.

© 2024 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Research Area(s)

  • Applied voltage, Electrode biofilm, Methane production, Microbial community, Waste activated sludge

Citation Format(s)

Linking performance to dynamic migration of biofilm ecosystem reveals the role of voltage in the start-up of hybrid microbial electrolysis cell-anaerobic digestion. / Wang, Xue-Ting; Zhao, Lei; Zhang, Quan et al.
In: Bioresource Technology, Vol. 411, 131242, 11.2024.

Research output: Journal Publications and ReviewsRGC 21 - Publication in refereed journalpeer-review