Skip to main content
Log in

Developing “precise-acting” strategies for improving anaerobic methanogenesis of organic waste: Insights from the electron transfer system of syntrophic partners

  • Perspectives
  • Published:
Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Methanogenesis is the last step in anaerobic digestion, which is usually a rate-limiting step in the biological treatment of organic waste. The low methanogenesis efficiency (low methane production rate, low methane yield, low methane content) substantially limits the development of anaerobic digestion technology. Traditional pretreatment methods and bio-stimulation strategies have impacts on the entire anaerobic system and cannot directly enhance methanogenesis in a targeted manner, which was defined as “broad-acting” strategies in this perspective. Further, we discussed our opinion of methanogenesis process with insights from the electron transfer system of syntrophic partners and provided potential targeted enhancing strategy for high-efficiency electron transfer system. These “precise-acting” strategies are expected to achieve an efficient methanogenesis process and enhance the bio-energy recovery of organic waste.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bai X, Lin T, Liang N, Li B Z, Song H, Yuan Y J (2021). Engineering synthetic microbial consortium for efficient conversion of lactate from glucose and xylose to generate electricity. Biochemical Engineering Journal, 172: 108052

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dykstra C M, Cheng C, Pavlostathis S G (2020). Comparison of carbon dioxide with anaerobic digester biogas as a methanogenic biocathode feedstock. Environmental Science & Technology, 54(14): 8949–8957

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • González L M, Mukhitov N, Voigt C A (2020). Resilient living materials built by printing bacterial spores. Nature Chemical Biology, 16(2): 126–133

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li F, Wang L, Liu C, Wu D, Song H (2018). Engineering exoelectrogens by synthetic biology strategies. Current Opinion in Electrochemistry, 10: 37–45

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li L, Cai C, Chen Y, Liu H, Liu R, Yang D, Dong B, Dai X (2021a). Secondary acidogenic fermentation of waste activated sludge via voltage supplementation: Insights from sludge structure and enzymes activity. Science of the Total Environment, 797: 149161

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li L, Xu Y, Dai X, Dai L (2021b). Principles and advancements in improving anaerobic digestion of organic waste via direct interspecies electron transfer. Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews, 148: 111367

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu C, Xiao J, Li H, Chen Q, Sun D, Cheng X, Li P, Dang Y, Smith J A, Holmes D E (2021). High efficiency in-situ biogas upgrading in a bioelectrochemical system with low energy input. Water Research, 197: 117055

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lovley D R (2017). Happy together: microbial communities that hook up to swap electrons. The ISME Journal, 11(2): 327–336

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pace S A, Yazdani R, Kendall A, Simmons C W, Vandergheynst J S (2018). Impact of organic waste composition on life cycle energy production, global warming and Water use for treatment by anaerobic digestion followed by composting. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 137: 126–135

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stams A J, Plugge C M (2009). Electron transfer in syntrophic communities of anaerobic bacteria and archaea. Nature Reviews. Microbiology, 7(8): 568–577

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vassilev I, Averesch N J H, Ledezma P, Kokko M (2021). Anodic electro-fermentation: Empowering anaerobic production processes via anodic respiration. Biotechnology Advances, 48: 107728

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson C A, Novak J T (2009). Hydrolysis of macromolecular components of primary and secondary wastewater sludge by thermal hydrolytic pretreatment. Water Research, 43(18): 4489–4498

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xu Y, Gong H, Dai X (2021). High-solid anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge: Achievements and perspectives. Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering, 15(4): 71

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yan W, Qian T, Soh Y N A, Zhou Y (2020). Micro-level evaluation of organic compounds transformation in anaerobic digestion under feast and famine conditions assisted by iron-based materials: Revealing the true mechanism of AD enhancement. Environment International, 135: 105362

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 51538008), the National Key Research and Development Program of China (Grant No. 2020YFC1908700), and the Shanghai Committee (No. 19DZ1204906).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Xiaohu Dai.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Li, L., Yuan, S., Cai, C. et al. Developing “precise-acting” strategies for improving anaerobic methanogenesis of organic waste: Insights from the electron transfer system of syntrophic partners. Front. Environ. Sci. Eng. 16, 74 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-021-1508-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-021-1508-1

Keywords

Navigation