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Publications

Journal Article Ahead of print

PubMed: 42575476 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2026.135596

Multifunctional Fe-biochar for simultaneously enhancing methanogenesis and mitigating membrane fouling in anaerobic membrane bioreactor treating brewery wastewater.

Bioresour Technol

Authors: Xue Li, Zi Song, Yanning Wang, Qing Du, Qian Wang, Zhiwen Wang, Guojin Li, Wenshan Guo, Huu Hao Ngo, Xinbo Zhang

Affiliations

  • Joint Research Centre for Protective Infrastructure Technology and Environmental Green Bioprocess, School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Tianjin Chengjian University, Tianjin 300384, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Aquatic Science and Technology, Tianjin Chengjian University, Jinjing Road 26, Tianjin 300384, China.
  • State Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, Frontier Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), School of Synthetic Biology and Biomanufacturing, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China.
  • Tianjin Municipal Engineering Design and Research Institute, Tianjin 300051, China.
  • Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia; Joint Research Centre for Protective Infrastructure Technology and Environmental Green Bioprocess, School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Tianjin Chengjian University, Tianjin 300384, China.
  • Joint Research Centre for Protective Infrastructure Technology and Environmental Green Bioprocess, School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Tianjin Chengjian University, Tianjin 300384, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Aquatic Science and Technology, Tianjin Chengjian University, Jinjing Road 26, Tianjin 300384, China.

Abstract

Anaerobic membrane bioreactors (AnMBRs) treating brewery wastewater face bottlenecks of acid inhibition and membrane fouling. In this study, AnMBR with iron-modified biochar (Fe-BC) in-situ addition (FeBC-AnMBR) and conventional AnMBR (C-AnMBR) were compared to systematically evaluate operational performance and elucidate the mechanisms underlying enhanced methane production and fouling mitigation. Results showed that Fe-BC addition reduced volatile fatty acids (VFAs) accumulation by 27.6% and increased methane yield by 39.0%. FeBC-AnMBR exhibited 2.1-fold higher electron transport system activity (ETSA) and 1.6-fold higher Cytochrome c concentration than C-AnMBR, indicating that the enhanced electron transfer capacity accelerated substrate conversion and improved methane yield. This was attributed to the slightly alkaline nature (pH = 8.4), prominent Fe-O bonds, and redox capacities of Fe-BC. Batch experiments confirmed that Fe-BC accelerated bovine serum albumin (BSA), glucose and sodium acetate degradation, with acetate kinase and coenzyme F 420 activities reaching 300.0% and 142.0% of control levels. Microbial community analysis showed Fe-BC enriched syntrophic bacteria (Syntrophomonas, Syntrophobacter) and methanogenic archaea (Methanosarcina, Methanobacterium). Concurrently, key enzyme genes involved in propionate, butyrate degradation and methanogenesis increased by 13, 8 and 15 copies, respectively, strengthening VFA metabolism and methane synthesis pathways. Membrane fouling was mitigated by a 20.3 kPa reduction in cake layer resistance, an 8.0% increase in sludge particle size, and a 31.0% extension of membrane service life. In summary, Fe-BC improved AnMBR stability and methanogenic performance while mitigating membrane fouling, providing an efficient strategy to increase the operational efficiency of brewery wastewater treatment.

MeSH

Genes, Acetates, Enzymes, Bioreactors, Methane, Environment, Membranes