Month: March 2019

Mon’s first 1st author paper just got accepted in a special Frontiers topic: “Biological Methanation or (Bio/Syn)-Gas Upgrading” by Frontiers in Energy Research. We are really to see this paper soon in print. The paper is the first test of electroactivity in Methanosarcina species.

Moreover, the work is part of a collaborative grant with AU-Engineering, A/Prof. Lars Ottosen. The final goal is to apply the electric properties of microorganisms (e.g. Methanosarcina) in real life scale biogas-upgrading dígesters like that in Foulum  (see below).

• Paola’s second preprint is about an urban lake methanogenic community corroding iron.

• We observed that dead Clostridium stimulate the growth of methanogens, however not as previously assumed via acetate-transfer. CO2-reductive methanogens were stimulated by the Clostridium  [FeFe]-hydrogenases (abundant in their genomes) released after the collapse of the acetogens. Clostridia genome-screening indicated they are the N2-fixers (a process that is very energy intensive), thus their collapse releases readily fixed N2 for the methanogens to use, reducing the energy expenses for the later.

Jo, now an Assistant Prof. at Aarhus University visited us on the 10th of January. Jo presented her recent work on corrosion by acetogenic bacteria. It was great to see Jo again and discuss possible future collaborations.