Within the Biomethaverse project, testing activities on the electromethanogenesis pilot are currently ongoing. The single‑chamber system has experienced several technical failures, resulting in extended shutdowns. These stops were required to investigate the root causes of the issues and to define appropriate repair strategies.
Typical brush electrode type used in 1 chamber electromethanogenesis reactors a) pristine b) after biofilm formation
As a consequence, the 1 chamber reactor will be opened, providing a valuable opportunity to directly assess the condition of the electrodes and to establish visual and microbiological reference points, including analyses of microbial communities and biofilm development.
At the same time, the two‑chamber system remains operational. It is currently running using gas from the anaerobic digestion unit on which the pilot is installed. Using this gas instead of that from the single‑chamber system temporarily requires operating at lower voltage, although a gradual increase in load is being implemented.
Pilot repairs are scheduled for May, followed by a methane emission measurement campaign conducted by the partner DBFZ in early June.
