Enhancing stability and resilience of electromethanogenesis system by acclimating biocathode with intermittent step-up voltage. (October 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mao, Zhengzhong; Cheng, Shaoan; Sun, Yi; Lin, Zhufan; Li, Longxin; Yu, Zhen
• Is Part Of: Bioresource technology. Volume 337(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-10
• Subjects: Electromethanogenesis -- Renewable electricity -- CO2 reduction -- Stability -- Biocathode; Biomass -- Periodicals; Biomass energy -- Periodicals; Bioremediation -- Periodicals; Agricultural wastes -- Periodicals; Factory and trade waste -- Periodicals; Organic wastes -- Periodicals; Bioénergie -- Périodiques; Déchets agricoles -- Périodiques; Déchets industriels -- Périodiques; Déchets organiques -- Périodiques; Déchets (Combustible) -- Périodiques; 662.88
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2021.125376
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0960-8524

Abstract

Highlights: Methanogenesis biocathodes were constructed by simulated unstable renewable energy. Intermittent step-up voltage enhanced stability and resilience of biocathode. Compact and extensive biofilm with nanowires interconnected was enriched. The CH4 production and the metabolism of biofilm were improved. Cathodic harsh environment stimulated extracellular polymeric substances secretion. Abstract: Electromethanogenesis (EMG) system could efficiently convert CO2 to CH4 by using excess renewable electricity. However, the fluctuation and interruption of renewable electricity will adversely affect the biocathode and therefore the CH4 production of the EMG system. In this work, a novel biocathode acclimation strategy with intermittent step-up voltage (ISUV) was proposed to improve the stability and resilience of the EMG system against the unstable input of renewable power. Compared with the intermittent application of constant voltage (IACV), the ISUV increased the rate of CH4 production by 11.7 times with the improvement of the stability and resilience by 56% and 500%, respectively. Morphology and microflora structure analysis revealed that the biofilm enriched with ISUV exhibited a compact microflora structure with high-density cells and nanowires interconnected. This study provided a novel effective strategy to regulate the biofilm structure and enhance the performance of the EMG system.