Suppression of methanogenesis for hydrogen production in single-chamber microbial electrolysis cells using various antibiotics

Methanogens can utilize the hydrogen produced in microbial electrolysis cells (MECs), thereby decreasing the hydrogen generation efficiency. However, various antibiotics have previously been shown to inhibit methanogenesis. In the present study antibiotics, including neomycin sulfate, 2-bromoethane sulfonate, 2-chloroethane sulfonate, 8-aza-hypoxanthine, were examined to determine if hydrogen production could be improved through inhibition of methanogenesis but not hydrogen production in MECs. 1.1 mM neomycin sulfate inhibited both methane and hydrogen production while 2-chloroethane sulfonate (20 mM), 2-bromoethane sulfonate (20 mM), and 8-aza-hypoxanthine (3.6 mM) can inhibited methane generation and with concurrent increases in hydrogen production. Our results indicated that adding select antibiotics to the mixed species community in MECs could be a suitable method to enhance hydrogen production efficiency.