2020

Chemical Engineering Journal

Rocznik: 2020 | Tom: vol. 393

artykuł naukowy

angielski

EN Syngas, mainly consisting of CO, H2 and CO2, can be generated from the gasification of biomass and organic waste and constitutes an important energy and carbon source. However, its biological conversion is still challenging due to the low solubility and the toxic nature of its components. In this study, enriched mixed microbial consortia were inoculated in trickle bed reactors operated in continuous mode with the supply of artificial syngas (45% H2, 25% CO2, 20% CO and 10% N2) under mesophilic (37 °C) and thermophilic (60 °C) conditions. The results revealed a clear superiority of the thermophilic conditions exhibiting higher methane productivities, higher conversion efficiencies and lower yields of byproducts at all steady states tested compared to mesophilic temperature. The highest methane productivity achieved was 8.49 mmol∙lbed−1∙h−1. The microorganisms related to syngas biomethanation were investigated through metagenomic analysis of samples obtained from the inoculum, the liquid phase and the biofilm of the reactors. The continuous operation altered completely the dominant species in mesophilic conditions compared to the inoculum. Accumulation of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) under mesophilic conditions was attributed to the high relative abundance of the genus Sporomusa. A large quantity of acetogenic cell debris scavengers and potential acetogenic metabolism of the genus Thermincola could justify accumulation of VFAs under thermophilic conditions. Absence of aceticlastic methanogens in both reactors was also noticeable. The archaeal communities were enhanced in the biofilm compared to the liquid phase presenting a 6.2 fold and a 1.8 fold higher relative abundance at 37 °C and 60 °C, respectively.

01.08.2020

124739-1 - 124739-13

10.1016/j.cej.2020.124739

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1385894720307300?via%3Dihub

200

200

13,273