Effects of submicron magnetite particles on granulation of flocculent sludge and process stability in upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor

• Published in: Bioresource technology Vol. 366; p. 128205
• Main Authors: Kim, Jinsu, Choi, Hyungmin, Park, Jihun, Lee, Changsoo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2022
• Subjects: Anaerobic sludge granulation; Direct interspecies electron transfer; Electro-syntrophic microbial associations; Electroactive granular sludge; Submicron magnetite particles; Submicron magnetite particles; Electro-syntrophic microbial associations; Electroactive granular sludge; Anaerobic sludge granulation; Direct interspecies electron transfer
• ISSN: 0960-8524; 1873-2976
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2022.128205

[Display omitted] •Effects of magnetite addition was studied in UASB reactors with flocculent sludge.•The degree of granulation was up to 26.6-fold higher in the reactor with magnetite.•Sludge retention, settleability, and electron transfer capability also improved.•Magnetite addition to unstable reactors increased the methane yield by 20.8–29.9%.•DIET-based electric syntrophy was likely promoted in the presence of magnetite. Promoting direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET) with conductive additives is considered a promising approach to enhance methanogenesis. This study investigated the effects of adding submicron magnetite particles on sludge granulation and methanogenic performance in upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactors inoculated with flocculent sludge. The reactor supplemented with magnetite was more stable and resilient than the no-magnetite control, with higher degree of granulation (up to 26.6-fold) and biomass retention. Magnetite addition to unstable reactors improved the methane yield in both reactors (1.2–1.3-fold). Electroactive Deltaproteobacteria bacteria, including Geobacter and Syntrophobacter, were enriched in the presence of magnetite. Methanogenic functional genes involved in DIET-based syntrophy were more abundant under magnetite-supplemented conditions. However, the improvement of methanogenic performance and granulation was limited, and inducing the self-embedment of magnetite into mature sludge granules rather than granulating flocculent sludge with magnetite appears to be a better strategy for engineering DIET in anaerobic granular sludge systems.