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Mediative mechanism of bicarbonate on anaerobic propionate degradation revealed by microbial community and thermodynamics

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Abstract

Syntrophic acetogenesis of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) such as propionate and butyrate is considered as the rate-limiting step of anaerobic digestion. Though being extensively researched, the mechanism is not well understood as the main constraint on developing effective solutions to the practical problem. In the present research work, the mediation of methanogenic propionate degradation by exogenous bicarbonate was evaluated, while the mechanism was revealed by microbial community and thermodynamics. It was found that the exogenous bicarbonate not more than 0.10 mol/L acted as a mediative role to enrich syntrophic acetogenic bacteria and decrease the actual Gibbs free energy change (ΔG) of syntrophic acetogenesis reaction, resulted in the increased degradation rate and methane production rate of propionate. The remarkably increased ΔG of methanogenic propionate degradation by the exogenous bicarbonate more than 0.15 mol/L decreased the degradation rate and methane production rate of propionate, though the ΔG of syntrophic acetogenesis reaction was also decreased by the exogenous bicarbonate. This research work provided a control strategy to enhance syntrophic acetogenesis, as well as the methanogenic VFAs degradation.

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Acknowledgements

The authors sincerely express their profound gratitude to these institutions and all individuals who contributed towards the success of this work.

Funding

This research was supported and funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 51478141) and Harbin Institute of Technology Environment and Ecology Innovation Special Funds (Grant No. HSCJ201614).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Environment, State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, 73 Huanghe Road, Harbin, 150090, People’s Republic of China

    Yupeng Zhang, Jianzheng Li, Fengqin Liu & Han Yan

  2. Advanced Water Management Centre, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, Queensland, 4072, Australia

    Jiuling Li

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  1. Yupeng Zhang
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  2. Jianzheng Li
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  3. Fengqin Liu
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  4. Han Yan
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  5. Jiuling Li
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Correspondence to Jianzheng Li.

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Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

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Zhang, Y., Li, J., Liu, F. et al. Mediative mechanism of bicarbonate on anaerobic propionate degradation revealed by microbial community and thermodynamics. Environ Sci Pollut Res 25, 12434–12443 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-1430-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-1430-7

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