APPLYING MICROBIAL ELECTROLYSIS CELL IN BIOGAS PRODUCTION AND MICROBIAL REDUCTIVE DECHLORINATION

Abstract

This thesis attempts to address the application of microbial electrolysis cell (MEC), a novel biotechnology rising recently, to produce biomethane cost-effectively and improve reductive dechlorination. Firstly, in order to study the methanogenic activities in the natural environment of Singapore, and better understand the anthropogenic and ecological as well as anthropogenic impact on the methanogenic population in mangrove sediments, several mangrove sediment samples along the coastlines were investigated by pyrosequencing of the mcrA gene. Secondly, to achieve the optimal condition of the MEC reactor for biomethane generation, different electrode materials were tested to evaluate their performance and feasibility. Lastly, attempting to make this MEC system more economically competitive, reductive dechlorination of tetrachloroethene (PCE) in MEC was investigated by applying different microbial sources from natural and domestic environment.