• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.52-57
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• 2007

A gas-circulating bioreactor was used for enrichment of autotrophic methanogens. Mixture of hydrogen and carbon dioxide (5:1) was used as a sole energy and carbon source. Anaerobic digestive sludge isolated from wastewater treatment system was inoculated into the gas-circulating bioreactor. The enrichment of two chemolithotrophic methanogens, Methanobacterium curvum and Methanobacterium oryzae was accomplished in the gas-circulating bioreactor. The enriched bacteria were cultivated in a bioreactor equipped with hollow-fiber hydrogen-supplying system (hollow-fiber bioreactor), and a hybrid-type bioreactor equipped with hollow-fiber hydrogen-supplying system and electrochemical redox control system. The methane productivity was maximally 30% (V/V) in the hollow-fiber bioreactors and 50% (V/V) in the hybrid-type bioreactor.