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Enhancing methanogenic propionate degradation by resuscitation-promoting factors and pyruvate through strengthening syntrophic interactions in microbial community

Author

Listed:
  • Fang, Bo
  • Liu, Yi-Fan
  • Li, Yu-Xuan
  • Zhou, Lei
  • Zu, Yao
  • Fu, Zi-Yue
  • Yang, Shi-Zhong
  • Gu, Ji-Dong
  • Mu, Bo-Zhong

Abstract

Propionate is one of the important intermediary products in the anaerobic digestion for biogas production, while the syntrophic propionate oxidation under methanogenic conditions is still a crucial rate-limiting step. In this study, five stimulants, including resuscitation-promoting factors RPFs (Rpf and YeaZ), chemical stimulants (pyruvate), growth promoter (fumarate), and quorum-sensing molecules (cAMP) were investigated on propionate degradation process. The results demonstrate that both RPFs and pyruvate significantly enhance propionate biodegradability (39.96–51.31 % improvement) and stimulate methanogenic degradation. Specifically, they increase the maximum methane production rate by 1.29–1.32-fold while shortening the lag phase from 7.2 to 13.1 days. Machine learning method-based community analysis and metagenomic analysis reveals significant contribution of the syntrophic propionate-oxidizing bacterium Syntrophobacter and hydrogenotrophic methanogen Methanocalculus, which were enriched after addition of RPFs and pyruvate, to methanogenic propionate degradation. Mesotoga, Thermovirga, and Lentimicrobium, which significantly contribute to methane, may participate in a co-metabolic pathway for acetate metabolism. Additionally, it shows the prevalent accumulation of parasitic microorganism, unclassified Parcubacteria, which encodes genes for acetate metabolism, corroborating the enhancement of acetate oxidation. This study suggests RPFs and pyruvate enhance propionate degradation by reviving functional microbes and strengthening syntrophic interactions, shedding light on core populations in mutualistic symbiosis during methanogenic propionate degradation.

Suggested Citation

  • Fang, Bo & Liu, Yi-Fan & Li, Yu-Xuan & Zhou, Lei & Zu, Yao & Fu, Zi-Yue & Yang, Shi-Zhong & Gu, Ji-Dong & Mu, Bo-Zhong, 2026. "Enhancing methanogenic propionate degradation by resuscitation-promoting factors and pyruvate through strengthening syntrophic interactions in microbial community," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 256(PA).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:256:y:2026:i:pa:s0960148125015447
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2025.123880
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    References listed on IDEAS

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