title: Closed nutrient recycling via microbial catabolism in an eco-engineered self regenerating mixed anaerobic microbiome for hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis.
abstract: A novel eco-engineered mixed anaerobic culture was successfully demonstrated for the first time to be capable of continuous regeneration in nutrient limiting conditions. Microbial catabolism has been found to support a closed system of nutrients able to enrich a culture of lithotrophic methanogens and provide microbial cell recycling. After enrichment, the hydrogenotrophic species was the dominating methanogens while a bacterial substratum was responsible for the redistribution of nutrients. q-PCR results indicated that 7% of the total population was responsible for the direct conversion of the gases. The efficiency of H2/CO2conversion to CH4reached 100% at a gassing rate of above 60v/v/d. The pH of the culture media was effectively sustained at optimal levels (pH 7-8) through a buffering system created by the dissolved CO2. The novel approach can reduce the process nutrient/metal requirement and enhance the environmental and financial performance of hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis for renewable energy storage.
authors.affiliation: Wales Centre of Excellence for Anaerobic Digestion, University of South Wales, Pontypridd CF37 1DL, Wales, UK; Sustainable Environment Research Centre, Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Science, University of South Wales, Pontypridd CF37 1DL, Wales, UK. Electronic address: savvas.savvas@southwales.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Savvas
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Savvas
authors.affiliation: Wales Centre of Excellence for Anaerobic Digestion, University of South Wales, Pontypridd CF37 1DL, Wales, UK; Sustainable Environment Research Centre, Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Science, University of South Wales, Pontypridd CF37 1DL, Wales, UK.
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Donnelly
authors.affiliation: Wales Centre of Excellence for Anaerobic Digestion, University of South Wales, Pontypridd CF37 1DL, Wales, UK; Sustainable Environment Research Centre, Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Science, University of South Wales, Pontypridd CF37 1DL, Wales, UK.
authors.forename: Tim P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Patterson
authors.affiliation: Sustainable Environment Research Centre, Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Science, University of South Wales, Pontypridd CF37 1DL, Wales, UK.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dinsdale
authors.affiliation: Wales Centre of Excellence for Anaerobic Digestion, University of South Wales, Pontypridd CF37 1DL, Wales, UK; Sustainable Environment Research Centre, Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Science, University of South Wales, Pontypridd CF37 1DL, Wales, UK.
authors.forename: Sandra R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Esteves
mesh_terms: D000693:Anaerobiosis; D019149:Bioreactors / Q000382:microbiology; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000378:metabolism; D002384:Catalysis; D003470:Culture Media / Q000378:metabolism; D004867:Equipment Design; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008697:Methane / Q000378:metabolism*; D064307:Microbiota / Q000235:genetics; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D059027:Recycling
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D006859:Hydrogen; D008697:Methane
keywords: Biocatalyst; CO(2); Methanation; Nutrient recycling