Microbial competition control between hydrogenotrophic methanogens and homoacetogens for selective production of acetate under hydrogen and carbon dioxide in successive batches
Résumé
Capturing and utilising carbon dioxide (CO2) is a major challenge for developing a low- carbon economy. In addition, the reduction of CO2 allows the synthesis of platform molecules for the chemical and energy industry. Anaerobic mixed cultures contain homoacetogenic microorganisms (HAC) capable of reducing CO2 to acetate. However, one of the obstacles to their use is the understanding and control of their functional diversity. In particular, managing the competition between HAC and hydrogenotrophic methanogens (HM) that convert CO2 into methane is crucial to selectively produce acetate.
This study contributes to bring new knowledge on the competition between HAC and HM. In this sense, mass transfer between the gas phase where the substrates are located, and the liquid phase which contains the microbial catalysts, as well as kinetic and thermodynamic aspects of biological reactions have been integrated in this work. The microbial competition between HM and HAC was studied in successive batches. The effect of temperature between 25 °C and 35 °C was investigated, as well as the time of each batch, leading to different states of mass transfer limitation in the system. A clear effect of temperature between 25 °C and 35 °C on the outcome of the competition between HM and HAC was highlighted, as well as the effect of mass transfer limitation. This study contributes to identify specific process parameters influencing the selection of HAC over HM and should help in the design of experiments depending on the target product from H2/CO2.
In successive batches, lifting of mass transfer limitation, as well as lowering of the temperature to 25 °C made it possible to select HAC in mixed anaerobic cultures for acetate production by eliminating the methanogens, after four successive batches of 4 to 6 days each.
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