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Enhancement of Activated Carbon on Anaerobic Fermentation of Heavy-Metal-Contaminated Plants: Insights into Microbial Responses

Summary

This research shows that when plants contaminated with heavy metals are processed for energy production through anaerobic fermentation, adding activated carbon dramatically improves the efficiency of biogas generation. The activated carbon acts like a filter to reduce the toxic effects of heavy metals while providing surfaces for beneficial microorganisms to grow and work more effectively. The study reveals how specific bacteria and microbes adapt to these conditions, making the overall process more productive and potentially opening new possibilities for recycling contaminated plant waste into useful energy.

Background

Heavy-metal-polluted soils require efficient remediation technologies. Phytoremediation produces large amounts of lignocellulosic biomass contaminated with heavy metals that can be used for bioenergy production through anaerobic fermentation. Activated carbon has been shown to enhance biogas production while adsorbing heavy metals.

Objective

This study investigated how granular activated carbon (AC) enhances anaerobic fermentation of heavy-metal-contaminated alfalfa harvested from an iron tailing site. The research aimed to elucidate the mechanisms by which AC improves biogas production and alters microbial community structure and function.

Results

Adding AC improved cumulative biogas yields by 2.26 times and increased peak daily biogas yield by 2.12 times. AC increased bacterial richness while decreasing diversity, and reduced both richness and diversity of archaea. AC enriched functional bacteria (Prevotella_7, Bacteroides, Ruminiclostridium_1) and methanogens (Methanosarcina, Methanobacterium), enhancing both acetoclastic and hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis pathways.

Conclusion

Granular activated carbon effectively enhanced anaerobic fermentation of heavy-metal-contaminated plants by adsorbing heavy metals, providing attachment sites for microorganisms, and promoting electron transfer. The study demonstrates the feasibility of using AC to improve biogas production from contaminated biowaste and provides insights into microbial responses in metal-stressed anaerobic systems.
  • Published in:Microorganisms,
  • Study Type:Experimental Study,
  • Source: PMID: 39597521, DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12112131
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