微生物电解池产甲烷技术研究进展

Progress of research on methanogenic microbial electrolysis cell

微生物电解池(microbial electrolysis cell,MEC)产甲烷技术是以微生物为催化剂,利用外界输入的电能将CO2或有机污染物转化为甲烷的新技术。MEC在实现CO2处置与能量转化的同时,能够处理污水、污泥、沼渣等多种污染物并生产甲烷,具有能量转化率高、生产成本低、环境友好等特点,可望成为解决能源紧缺和环境破坏问题的重要途径之一。近年来,MEC在产甲烷生物阴极结构及电子传递途径、产甲烷微生物群落等方面得到了广泛关注,同时,MEC耦合厌氧消化或其他废水处理系统形成的产甲烷新技术也逐渐研发并成为研究热点。本文综述了产甲烷生物阴极、产甲烷微生物群落等方面的研究现状,介绍了MEC耦合厌氧消化或其他系统产甲烷新技术,总结并分析了MEC产甲烷技术的研究方向和实用化过程仍需解决的技术难题。

Methanogenic microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) is a new technology that uses microorganisms as catalysts to convert CO2 or organic pollutants into methane by using external input electrical energy. MEC can treat a variety of pollutants such as sewage, sludge, biogas residue and produce methane while realizing CO2 treatment and energy conversion. It is considered as one of the important solutions with high energy conversion efficiency, low cost and environment-friendly for energy shortages and environmental pollution problems. In recent years, MEC has received extensive attention in methanogenic biocathode structure, electron transport pathways, and methanogenic microbial communities. At the same time, new methanogenic technologies formed by MEC coupled anaerobic digestion or other wastewater treatment systems have been gradually developed and become researche hotspot. In this paper, the progress of research on methanogenic biocathode and the methanogenic microbial community of methanogenic MEC were reviewed. Furthermore, the new systems of the MEC coupled anaerobic digestion or other systems for methane production were also introduced. Finally, the research direction of methanogenic MEC and the technical problems that still need to be solved in the practical process were summarized and analyzed.