Internal driving mechanism of microbial community and metabolic pathway for psychrophilic anaerobic digestion by microbial electrolysis cell

Abstract

The system that microbial electrolysis cell coupled anaerobic digestion (termed MEC-AD) with metal organic framework-modified cathode was operated under different voltage levels (0–1.2 V) at 20 °C. The maximum methane yield increased to 0.23 ± 0.01 LCH4 g-1COD at 0.9 V, with 28% improvement compared to 0 V (0.18 ± 0.01 LCH4 g-1COD). Moreover, total volatile fatty acid and propionate accumulation decreased by 32% and 15% at 0.9 V, indicating the system has potential to alleviate acidity suppression. Acidogens and electroactive microorganisms was clearly enriched with increasing applied voltage. Specifically, the abundance of Smithella increased, which could degrade propionate to acetate. Methanosaeta was dominant, accounting for ca. 40.1%∼55.1% of the archaea community at 0.3–1.2 V. Furthermore, the system reinforced psychrophilic methanogenesis by activating important enzymes involved in related metabolism pathways. Overall, this study provides perspective on the future practical application for the regulation of psychrophilic AD in electrochemically integrated bioreactors.