Arresting methanogenesis with bioelectrochemically generated hydrogen peroxide for producing volatile fatty acids

用生物电化学产生的过氧化氢抑制产甲烷作用以产生挥发性脂肪酸

• 批准号: 2150613
• 负责人: Zhen He
• 金额: $ 39.03万
• 依托单位: Washington University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2022-10-01 至 2025-09-30
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2150613&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Arresting; methanogenesis; bioelectrochemically; generated; hydrogen

Anaerobic digestion (AD) is a promising and versatile environmental biotechnology platform for converting organic wastes to an energy-rich biogas for heating, electricity generation, and upgrading to produce renewable natural gas. AD has also shown great potential to convert organic wastes to volatile fatty acids (VFAs) which can serve as building blocks for the manufacturing of high-value products. During the anaerobic digestion of organic wastes, acetogenic bacteria generate VFAs that also serve as intermediate compounds for biogas production by methanogenic bacteria. Thus, the inhibition of methanogens has emerged as a promising strategy for enhancing the production of VFAs while minimizing biogas generation during the anaerobic digestion of organic wastes. The overarching goal of this project is to investigate the utilization of hydrogen peroxide generated from the bioelectrochemical (BEC) conversion of organic wastes to inhibit the growth and activity of methanogenic bacteria in anaerobic digesters. To advance this goal, the Principal Investigator proposes to explore the design, evaluation, and validation of an integrated and efficient AD-BEC-membrane separation system that could convert organic wastes to VFAs with high product yield and purity. The successful completion of this project will benefit society through the generation of fundamental knowledge to advance the sustainable conversion of organic wastes to high value products. Additional benefits to society will be achieved through outreach and educational activities including the mentoring of one graduate and two undergraduate students at Washington University in St. Louis.Anaerobic digestion (AD) has shown great potential to contribute to the decarbonization of the chemical industry via the conversion of organic wastes to high-value chemicals such as volatile fatty acids (VFAs) which can serve as building blocks for the manufacturing of industrially relevant products. However, the ability to tune and control the product spectrum of anaerobic digesters to maximize the yield and purity of VFAs remains a critical and unresolved challenge. The goal of this project is to explore an innovative approach to maximize the yield and purity of VFA production during the anaerobic digestion of organic wastes. To advance this goal, the Principal Investigator (PI) proposes to explore the utilization of in-situ generated hydrogen peroxide to inhibit the growth and activity of methanogenic bacteria which utilize VFAs as intermediate compounds to generate biogas in anaerobic digesters. The proposed inhibition of methanogenesis will be investigated within an integrated VFA production system consisting of an anaerobic digestor for product generation, a membrane separation module for product purification/concentration, and a bioelectrochemical reactor for in-situ H2O2 generation using organic wastes. The specific objectives of the research are to: (1) Advance the fundamental understanding of the mechanisms of methanogenesis inhibition by H2O2 during AD through integrated experimental and modeling studies; (2) Evaluate thermal or electrically driven membrane systems for the effective separation and purification of VFAs generated during AD; and (3) Explore the establishment of a translational scale system as a platform for performing a techno-economic assessment of the proposed integrated VFA production system. The successful completion of this research has the potential for transformative impact through the generation of new fundamental knowledge to advance the development and implementation of more efficient and cost-effective technologies to recover valuable chemicals and compounds from organic wastes. To implement the education and outreach activities of the project, the PI plans to integrate the findings from this research into existing undergraduate/graduate courses at Washington University in St. Louis to provide students with hands-on training (including lab sessions) on environmental resource recovery. In addition, the PI plans to explore the development and implementation of a Research Experience for Teachers (RET) program in collaboration with local high schools in St. Louis.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

厌氧消化（AD）是一种有前途的多功能环境生物技术平台，用于将有机废物转化为能源丰富的沼气，用于加热，发电和升级以生产可再生天然气。AD还显示出将有机废物转化为挥发性脂肪酸（VFA）的巨大潜力，可作为制造高价值产品的基础。在有机废物的厌氧消化过程中，产乙酸细菌产生VFA，VFA也作为产甲烷细菌产生沼气的中间化合物。因此，抑制产甲烷菌已经成为一种有前途的策略，用于提高VFAs的生产，同时最大限度地减少有机废物厌氧消化过程中的沼气产生。该项目的总体目标是研究利用生物电化学（BEC）转化有机废物产生的过氧化氢来抑制厌氧消化池中产甲烷细菌的生长和活性。为了推进这一目标，首席研究员建议探索设计，评估和验证一个集成的和有效的AD-BEC膜分离系统，可以将有机废物转化为具有高产品产量和纯度的VFA。该项目的成功完成将通过产生基础知识来促进有机废物向高价值产品的可持续转化，从而造福社会。通过推广和教育活动，包括指导圣路易斯华盛顿大学的一名研究生和两名本科生，将为社会带来额外的好处。厌氧消化（AD）通过将有机废物转化为高价值的化学品，如挥发性脂肪酸（VFAs），显示出巨大的潜力，有助于化学工业的脱碳其可用作制造工业相关产品的构件。然而，调整和控制厌氧消化器的产物谱以最大化VFA的产率和纯度的能力仍然是一个关键且未解决的挑战。本项目的目标是探索一种创新的方法，以最大限度地提高有机废物厌氧消化过程中VFA的产量和纯度。为了推进这一目标，主要研究者（PI）建议探索利用原位产生的过氧化氢来抑制产甲烷细菌的生长和活性，这些产甲烷细菌利用VFA作为中间化合物在厌氧消化器中产生沼气。建议的甲烷生成抑制将在一个综合的VFA生产系统，包括一个厌氧发酵器的产品生成，膜分离模块的产品纯化/浓缩，和一个生物电化学反应器原位生成H2 O2使用有机废物。本研究的具体目标是：（1）通过综合实验和模拟研究，推进对AD过程中H2 O2抑制甲烷生成机制的基本认识;（2）评价热驱动或电驱动膜系统对AD过程中产生的VFAs的有效分离和纯化;以及（3）探索建立一个平移尺度系统，作为对拟议的一体化VFA生产系统进行技术经济评估的平台。这项研究的成功完成有可能产生变革性的影响，通过产生新的基础知识，推动开发和实施更有效和更具成本效益的技术，从有机废物中回收有价值的化学品和化合物。为了实施该项目的教育和推广活动，PI计划将本研究的结果整合到圣路易斯华盛顿大学现有的本科生/研究生课程中，为学生提供环境资源恢复方面的实践培训（包括实验室课程）。此外，PI计划与圣路易斯当地高中合作，探索教师研究经验（RET）计划的开发和实施。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并被认为值得通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估。