Promotion of biological nitrogen fixation activity of an anaerobic consortium using humin as an extracellular electron mediator.

ABSTRACT: Nitrogen fertiliser is manufactured using the industrial Haber-Bosch process, although it is extremely energy-consuming. One sustainable alternative technology is the electrochemical promotion of biological nitrogen fixation (BNF). This study reports the promotion of BNF activity of anaerobic microbial consortia by humin, a solid-phase humic substance, at any pH, functioning as an extracellular electron mediator, to levels of 5.7-11.8 times under nitrogen-deficient conditions. This was evidenced by increased acetylene reduction activity and total nitrogen content of the consortia. Various humins from different origins promoted anaerobic BNF activity, although the degree of promotion differed. The promotion effected by humin differed from the effects of chemical reducing agents and the effe

SUBMITTER: Dey S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7985497 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature