Chain elongation in anaerobic reactor microbiomes to recover resources from waste.
Different microbial pathways can elongate the carbon chains of molecules in open cultures of microbial populations (i.e. reactor microbiomes) under anaerobic conditions. Here, we discuss three such pathways: 1. homoacetogenesis to combine two carbon dioxide molecules into acetate; 2. succinate formation to elongate glycerol with one carbon from carbon dioxide; and 3. reverse β oxidation to elongate short-chain carboxylates with two carbons into medium-chain carboxylates, leading to more energy-dense and insoluble products (e.g. easier to separate from solution). The ability to use reactor microbiomes to treat complex substrates can simultaneously address two pressing issues: 1. providing proper waste management; and 2. producing renewable chemicals and fuels.
Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, 226 Riley-Robb Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
Catherine M
CM
Spirito
Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, 226 Riley-Robb Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
Hanno
H
Richter
Laboratory of Microbial Ecology and Technology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
Korneel
K
Rabaey
Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University, Dreijenplein 10, 6703 HB Wageningen, The Netherlands; Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal.
Alfons J M
AJ
Stams
Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, 226 Riley-Robb Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA. Electronic address: la249@cornell.edu.
Largus T
LT
Angenent
D000085:Acetates / Q000378:metabolism; D000693:Anaerobiosis; D019149:Bioreactors / Q000382:microbiology*; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000378:metabolism; D002264:Carboxylic Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D004566:Electrodes; D064307:Microbiota / Q000502:physiology*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D059027:Recycling; D019802:Succinic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D018505:Waste Management / Q000379:methods*
D000085:Acetates; D002264:Carboxylic Acids; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D019802:Succinic Acid