Nanosilver impact on methanogenesis and biogas production from municipal solid waste

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs, nanosilver) released from industrial activities and consumer products may be disposed directly or indirectly in sanitary landfills. To determine the impact of AgNPs on anaerobic digestion of landfill waste, municipal solid waste (MSW) was loaded in identical landfill bioreactors (9 L volume each) and exposed to AgNPs (average particle size = 21 nm) at the final concentrations of 0, 1, and 10 mg Ag/kg solids. The landfill anaerobic digestion was carried out for more than 250 days, during which time the cumulative biogas production was recorded automatically and the chemical property changes of leachates were analyzed. There were no significant differences in the cumulative biogas volume or gas production rate between the groups of control and 1 mg Ag/kg. However, landfill solids exposed to AgNPs at 10 mg/kg resulted in the reduced biogas production, the accumulation of volatile fatty acids (including acetic acid), and the prolonged period of low leachate pH (between 5 and 6). Quantitative PCR results after day 100 indicated that the total copy numbers of 16S rRNA gene of methanogens in the groups of control and 1 mg AgNPs/kg were 1.97 ± 0.21 × 107 and 0.90 ± 0.03 × 107, respectively. These numbers were significantly reduced to 5.79 ± 2.83 × 105 (copies/mL) in the bioreactor treated with 10 mg AgNPs/kg. The results suggest that AgNPs at the concentration of 1 mg/kg solids have minimal impact on landfill anaerobic digestion, but a concentration at 10 mg/kg or higher inhibit methanogenesis and biogas production from MSW.

► The impact of nanosilver on anaerobic digestion of municipal solid wastes was evaluated.
► AgNPs at the concentration of 1 mg/kg solids had minimal impact on landfill anaerobic digestion.
► AgNPs at 10 mg/kg or higher reduced biogas production and methanogenic population.
► Methanogenic inhibition by AgNPs was likely the most significant mode of toxicity.