University of Liège, Belgium,6-8 Oct 2019

Enhancing anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge by

hydrogen addition: influence on microbial population
E.J. Martínez*, A. Sotres, G. Papaharalabos, C.B. Arenas, A. Morán, X. Gómez
 Rationale

How pumping H2 in sewage sludge can affect biogas/methane

production and shift microbial communities

Hydrolysis
Biogas
Acidogenesis
Sewage Anaerobic
sludge Acetogenesis digestion
Methanogenesis

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…possibly produce the H2 using a
bioelectrochemical system?
 Background information

The Wolfe Cycle:

(a) Hydrogenotrophic (red) and carboxydotrophic (blue) methanogenesis pathways. Formic acid and primary or secondary alcohols are oxidized to CO2 and
hence methanogens that grow on these substrates use the hydrogenotrophic pathway. (b) Methyl respiration pathway (orange) and methylotrophic pathway
(green). (c) Acetoclastic pathway (fuchsia). Purple, reactions are found only in Methanosarcina species. Image courtesy of:
Buan, N. R. (2018). Methanogens: pushing the boundaries of biology. Emerging Topics in Life Sciences, 2(4), 629–646. 3
 Experimental

SS (theoretical
values of
Chemical parameters Inoculum PS WAS
organic
substrate)

Total solids (g kg−1) 30 31 27 28

Volatile solids (g kg−1) 18 26 21 23
Total soluble organic carbon (g L−1) 3 3 1 2

Ammonia (mg L−1) 742 968 487 631

pH 7 5 6 6
Chemical oxygen demand (mg L−1) 2178 3172 2569 2749

Organic matter (%)* 42 53 59 57

Kjeldahl nitrogen (%)* 5 5 9 8
C/N ratio 5 6 3 4
Acetic acid (mg L−1) n.d. 2279 397 961
Propionic acid (mg L−1) n.d. 1581 228 633
Isobutyric acid (mg L−1) n.d. 199 49 94
Butyric acid (mg L−1) n.d. 1471 51 477
Isovaleric acid (mg L−1) n.d. 208 51 98
Valeric acid (mg L−1) n.d. 449 44 165
Volatile fatty acids, total (mg L−1) n.d. 5083 658 1985
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Experimental

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Biogas & CH4

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Biogas & CH4

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VFAs & Acetate

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Digestion monitoring

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Archaea analysis

Acetoclastic
archaea

Hydrogenotrophic
archaea

Acetoclastic &
hydrogenotrophic
pathways

Thermoacidophilic heterotrophs,
60 °C and pH 2

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 Overall

~64% ↑
Biogas
12% ↑ CH4
Enriched for
acetoclastic
methanogens,
Methanosaetaceae H2 seemed not to
affect sludge
stabilisation
H2 in AD

H2 was utilised by
H2-producing bacteria homoacetogenic
decreased over time Eubacteria
↑ acetate
production from
homoacetogens

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 Thank you

Special thanks to the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad and ERDF through project UNLE15-EE-3070 and ‘Junta de
Castilla y Leon’ project LE060U16 for the financial support

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Images used are courtesy of:
1) https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319858.php
2) https://www.mannvit.com/services/anaerobic-digestion/
3) https://sciencestruck.com/uses-of-hydrogen
4) https://bing.wallpaper.pics/