A Noxious Weed Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. (Ragweed) as Sustainable Feedstock for Methane Production and Metals Immobilization

Abstract

Plants of the Ambrosia genus are invasive and cause many ecological problems, including the oppression of the growth of agricultural crops and native plants, land depletion, and the production of strong allergens. The use of weeds as a sustainable feedstock for biogas production, either methane or hydrogen, is a promising way to fulfill the energy needs of the current generation, eliminate the depletion of non-renewable carbon resources, and preserve the ecosystem degradation caused by invasive species impacts. A diversified microbial community was used as inoculum and Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. biomass as a substrate for anaerobic degradation and methane production. In this regard, the development of biotechnological approaches to ragweed degradation will promote the integration of new renewable energy systems. Herein, we have shown the high effectiveness of combining the processes of anaerobic degradation of plant biomass for methane production and detoxification of meal-containing model sewage by a diversified microbial community. Thus, the maximum methane yield was 56.0 L kg−1 TS. The presence of 500 mg L−1 Cu(II) slightly inhibited methane synthesis, and the methane yield was 38.4 L kg−1 TS. In contrast to a diversified microbial community, the natural microbiome of ragweed almost did not synthesize methane and did not degrade plant biomass (Kd = 2.3). Methanogens effectively immobilized Cr(IV), Cu(II), and Fe(III) during ragweed fermentation at initial concentrations of 100–200 mg L−1. The obtained results showed the high effectiveness of applying a diversified microbial community in a sewage treatment plant for the degradation of a noxious plant, Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.

Application of Granular Microbial Preparation and Silicon Dioxide Analcime for Bioremediation of Ecocide Areas

“…The presented GMP has already been tested in some studies. In particular, for methane fermentation of biomass of invasive plants, in particular, Pistia stratiotes [34], Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. [35], and Solidago canadensis L. [36], with simultaneous detoxification of toxic heavy metals such as copper, chromium, and iron. The potential of the GMP in hydrogen production by dark fermentation has also been demonstrated.…”