Chain Elongation Using Native Soil Inocula: Exceptional n-Caproate Biosynthesis Performance and Microbial Mechanisms

Lin Deng; Yang Lv; Tian Lan; Qing-Lian Wu; Wei-Tong Ren; Hua-Zhe Wang; Bing-Jie Ni; Wan-Qian Guo

Engineering (Aug 2024)

Chain Elongation Using Native Soil Inocula: Exceptional n-Caproate Biosynthesis Performance and Microbial Mechanisms

Lin Deng,
Yang Lv,
Tian Lan,
Qing-Lian Wu,
Wei-Tong Ren,
Hua-Zhe Wang,
Bing-Jie Ni,
Wan-Qian Guo

Affiliations

Lin Deng: State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and the Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
Yang Lv: State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and the Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
Tian Lan: State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and the Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
Qing-Lian Wu: State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and the Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
Wei-Tong Ren: State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and the Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
Hua-Zhe Wang: State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and the Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
Bing-Jie Ni: Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater & School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia
Wan-Qian Guo: State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and the Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China; Corresponding author.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 39
pp. 262 – 272

Abstract

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This study demonstrates the feasibility and effectiveness of utilizing native soils as a resource for inocula to produce n-caproate through the chain elongation (CE) platform, offering new insights into anaerobic soil processes. The results reveal that all five of the tested soil types exhibit CE activity when supplied with high concentrations of ethanol and acetate, highlighting the suitability of soil as an ideal source for n-caproate production. Compared with anaerobic sludge and pit mud, the native soil CE system exhibited higher selectivity (60.53%), specificity (82.32%), carbon distribution (60.00%), electron transfer efficiency (165.00%), and conductivity (0.59 ms∙cm−1). Kinetic analysis further confirmed the superiority of soil in terms of a shorter lag time and higher yield. A microbial community analysis indicated a positive correlation between the relative abundances of Pseudomonas, Azotobacter, and Clostridium and n-caproate production. Moreover, metagenomics analysis revealed a higher abundance of functional genes in key microbial species, providing direct insights into the pathways involved in n-caproate formation, including in situ CO2 utilization, ethanol oxidation, fatty acid biosynthesis (FAB), and reverse beta-oxidation (RBO). The numerous functions in FAB and RBO are primarily associated with Pseudomonas, Clostridium, Rhodococcus, Stenotrophomonas, and Geobacter, suggesting that these genera may play roles that are involved or associated with the CE process. Overall, this innovative inoculation strategy offers an efficient microbial source for n-caproate production, underscoring the importance of considering CE activity in anaerobic soil microbial ecology and holding potential for significant economic and environmental benefits through soil consortia exploration.

Published in Engineering

ISSN: 2095-8099 (Print); 2096-0026 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: China
LCC subjects: Technology: Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General)
Website: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/engineering

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