Activation of methylotrophic methanogens in microbial communities in bulk sludge of anaerobic digester with microbial electrolysis cells(MECs)

摘要

The results of this study confirm that faster organic matter decomposition and a higher methane yield can be achieved in ADMEC than in AD. The bacterial community analysis showed that the amount of organic matter that could be used by microorganisms had increased in ADMEC compared to AD. For the archaea community, microorganisms that produce methane from certain substrates were dominant in AD, but microorganisms utilizing the non-competitive substrate methanol, which was produced electrochemically through a Cu catalyst, were dominant in ADMEC. Furthermore, ADMEC showed a greater increase in Methanoculleus bourgensis, which produces methane from various substrates, and in Thermoplasmata, which are methylotrophic methanogens. Both of these archaea play an important role in methane production by consuming these non-competitive substrates, resulting in a higher methane yield.