A review on enhancement of sludge anaerobic digestion and microbial interspecies electron transfer induced by conductive carbon particles

Abstract:

It was reported that the conductive carbon particles could improve anaerobic digestion process stability, substrate degradation rate and biogas quality. In this paper, the studies on the influences of conductive carbon particles, with activated carbon and biochar as the representatives, on sludge anaerobic digestion were summarized. The mechanisms of enhancement of anaerobic digestion by conductive carbon particles were discussed. The role of conductive carbon particles induced direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET) was illustrated. Then, the research progress of DIET in the complex anaerobic digestion system and the relationships between characteristics of conductive carbon particles and their effects on anaerobic digestion were analyzed. Finally, the future studies on promoting sludge anaerobic digestion with conductive carbon particles are prospected.

Key words:Sewage sludge, Anaerobic digestion, Conductive carbon particles, Direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET)