Work

Prospect of Conductive Materials in the Anaerobic Digester Matrix for Methane Production: Electron Transfer and Microbial Communication

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Anaerobic digestion (AD) converts organic waste into methane-rich biogas but often faces performance issues due to organic acid and ammonium nitrogen accumulation. This hinders methanogen growth and reduces methane production. Recent studies show that incorporating conductive materials (CMs) into the AD matrix can mitigate these issues by facilitating electron transfer between microorganisms. This process accelerates the oxidation of organic acids and ammonium ions, enhancing methane recovery. The effectiveness of CMs depends on their type, porosity, surface morphology, and conductivity, which foster a symbiotic microbial community. This comprehensive review paper aimed to (i) describe the influence of CMs on the growth and enrichment of the AD microbial community, (ii) quantify the enhancement of biodegradation and methane generation, and (iii) observe syntrophic interactions and interspecies electron transfer. The review also summarized the impact of different conductive materials on methane generation and the effect of operational parameters, e.g., dose, size, and external voltage application, on the conductive electrodes. The study summarized that the different conductive materials have different influences, and their application in the AD matrix has to be realistic based on availability and economic benefits.

Source: Water

DOI: 10.3390/w17091321

Authors: Zahra Al Hasani, Jagdeep Kumar Nayak, Noor Juma Al Balushi, Abdullah Al-Mamun, Kundan Samal

Institutions: Sultan Qaboos University, University of Limerick, KIIT University

Language: English

Topic: Anaerobic Digestion and Biogas Production

Subfield: Building and Construction

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Affordable and clean energy

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,137