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The authors thank the collaboration of Raquel Barrena, Xavier Font and Antoni Sanchez, from the GICOM of the Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona. This research was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (project RTA2015-00079-C02-01) and the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (PID2020-118830RR- I00). The support of the CERCA Program and the Consolidated Research Group of Sustainability in Biosystems, (ref. 2021 SGR 01568), both from the Generalitat de Catalunya, is also acknowledged.

Analysis of institutional authors

Cerrillo, MíriamCorresponding AuthorGuivernau, MiriamAuthorBurgos, LauraAuthorRiau, VictorAuthorBonmati, AugustAuthor

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Article

Nano zerovalent iron boosts methane content in biogas and reshapes microbial communities in long-term anaerobic digestion of pig slurry

Publicated to:Renewable Energy. 239 122133- - 2025-02-01 239(), DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2024.122133

Authors: Cerrillo, Miriam; Guivernau, Miriam; Burgos, Laura; Riau, Victor; Bonmati, August

Affiliations

IRTA Torre Marimon, Sustainabil Biosyst, E-08140 Caldes De Montbui, Barcelona, Spain - Author
Sostenibilitat en Biosistemes. Producció Animal - Author

Abstract

Adding nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) to the anaerobic digestion (AD) process for livestock manure has been shown to significantly enhance methane content by influencing microbial communities and metabolic pathways. However, the long-term effects of nZVI on metabolically active microbial communities remain largely unexplored. This study explored these microbial shifts in nZVI-supplemented AD systems and biogas composition under both mesophilic and thermophilic conditions over extended operation. To this end, three lab-scale continuous stirred tank reactors were operated for 265 days using raw pig slurry as the feedstock. Two mesophilic reactors received 84 mg g SSV-1 of nZVI, while a third thermophilic reactor received 42 mg g SSV-1 . High- throughput sequencing and quantitative PCR were employed to monitor changes in bacterial and archaeal communities following nZVI addition. The results demonstrated a notable increase in methane content in the biogas, reaching 88 % in mesophilic and 87% in thermophilic conditions with nZVI. Microbial responses differed between reactors, including increased copy numbers of metabolically active archaeal mcrA and bacterial 16S rRNA genes, as well as a rise in the relative abundance of specific genera, such as Methanosaeta. These findings underscore the potential of nZVI to enhance AD performance through targeted shifts in microbial community structure and function.

Keywords

EnhancementExtracellular electron transfeGranular sludgeHydrogenotrophicImpactLivestock manureMethaneMethanosaetaNanoparticlesNitrogenPerformanceRemovalStraYieldZero-valent iron

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal Renewable Energy due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency WoS (JCR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2025, it was in position 16/91, thus managing to position itself as a Q1 (Primer Cuartil), in the category Green & Sustainable Science & Technology.

Independientemente del impacto esperado determinado por el canal de difusión, es importante destacar el impacto real observado de la propia aportación.

Según las diferentes agencias de indexación, el número de citas acumuladas por esta publicación hasta la fecha 2025-06-24:

  • WoS: 3
  • Scopus: 3

Impact and social visibility

From the perspective of influence or social adoption, and based on metrics associated with mentions and interactions provided by agencies specializing in calculating the so-called "Alternative or Social Metrics," we can highlight as of 2025-06-24:

  • The use of this contribution in bookmarks, code forks, additions to favorite lists for recurrent reading, as well as general views, indicates that someone is using the publication as a basis for their current work. This may be a notable indicator of future more formal and academic citations. This claim is supported by the result of the "Capture" indicator, which yields a total of: 3 (PlumX).

It is essential to present evidence supporting full alignment with institutional principles and guidelines on Open Science and the Conservation and Dissemination of Intellectual Heritage. A clear example of this is:

  • The work has been submitted to a journal whose editorial policy allows open Open Access publication.
  • Assignment of a Handle/URN as an identifier within the deposit in the Institutional Repository: http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12327/3606

Leadership analysis of institutional authors

There is a significant leadership presence as some of the institution’s authors appear as the first or last signer, detailed as follows: First Author (CERRILLO MORENO, MIRIAM) and Last Author (BONMATI BLASI, AUGUST).

the author responsible for correspondence tasks has been CERRILLO MORENO, MIRIAM.