<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><!DOCTYPE article  PUBLIC "-//NLM//DTD Journal Publishing DTD v3.0 20080202//EN" "http://dtd.nlm.nih.gov/publishing/3.0/journalpublishing3.dtd"><article xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" dtd-version="3.0" xml:lang="en" article-type="research article"><front><journal-meta><journal-id journal-id-type="publisher-id">JSBS</journal-id><journal-title-group><journal-title>Journal of Sustainable Bioenergy Systems</journal-title></journal-title-group><issn pub-type="epub">2165-400X</issn><publisher><publisher-name>Scientific Research Publishing</publisher-name></publisher></journal-meta><article-meta><article-id pub-id-type="doi">10.4236/jsbs.2019.92002</article-id><article-id pub-id-type="publisher-id">JSBS-91790</article-id><article-categories><subj-group subj-group-type="heading"><subject>Articles</subject></subj-group><subj-group subj-group-type="Discipline-v2"><subject>Engineering</subject></subj-group></article-categories><title-group><article-title>
 
 
  Development of a Consolidated Anaerobic Digester and Microbial Fuel Cell to Produce Biomethane and Electricity from Cellulosic Biomass Using Bovine Rumen Microorganisms
 
</article-title></title-group><contrib-group><contrib contrib-type="author" xlink:type="simple"><name name-style="western"><surname>Rebecca</surname><given-names>Chung</given-names></name><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1"><sup>1</sup></xref></contrib><contrib contrib-type="author" xlink:type="simple"><name name-style="western"><surname>Eunice</surname><given-names>Yujin Kang</given-names></name><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff2"><sup>2</sup></xref></contrib><contrib contrib-type="author" xlink:type="simple"><name name-style="western"><surname>Yun</surname><given-names>Jae Shin</given-names></name><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1"><sup>1</sup></xref></contrib><contrib contrib-type="author" xlink:type="simple"><name name-style="western"><surname>Justin</surname><given-names>Jong Park</given-names></name><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff3"><sup>3</sup></xref></contrib><contrib contrib-type="author" xlink:type="simple"><name name-style="western"><surname>Peter</surname><given-names>Sang Park</given-names></name><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff4"><sup>4</sup></xref></contrib><contrib contrib-type="author" xlink:type="simple"><name name-style="western"><surname>Chang</surname><given-names>Hyun Han</given-names></name><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff5"><sup>5</sup></xref></contrib><contrib contrib-type="author" xlink:type="simple"><name name-style="western"><surname>Byungjun</surname><given-names>Kim</given-names></name><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff5"><sup>5</sup></xref></contrib><contrib contrib-type="author" xlink:type="simple"><name name-style="western"><surname>Seog</surname><given-names>In Moon</given-names></name><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff6"><sup>6</sup></xref></contrib><contrib contrib-type="author" xlink:type="simple"><name name-style="western"><surname>Jooheon</surname><given-names>Park</given-names></name><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff7"><sup>7</sup></xref></contrib><contrib contrib-type="author" xlink:type="simple"><name name-style="western"><surname>Paul</surname><given-names>Sung Chung</given-names></name><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff8"><sup>8</sup></xref></contrib></contrib-group><aff id="aff7"><addr-line>Biology, Science Program, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada</addr-line></aff><aff id="aff2"><addr-line>West Springfield High School, Springfield, VA, USA</addr-line></aff><aff id="aff3"><addr-line>Department of Biological Science, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA</addr-line></aff><aff id="aff4"><addr-line>Biology, College of Arts &amp;amp; Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA</addr-line></aff><aff id="aff8"><addr-line>Fuzbien Technology Institute (FTI), Rockville, USA</addr-line></aff><aff id="aff5"><addr-line>Biological Science, Mellon College of Science, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA</addr-line></aff><aff id="aff6"><addr-line>Department of Biology, Amherst College, Amherst, MA, USA</addr-line></aff><aff id="aff1"><addr-line>Centreville High School, Clifton, VA, USA</addr-line></aff><pub-date pub-type="epub"><day>15</day><month>04</month><year>2019</year></pub-date><volume>09</volume><issue>02</issue><fpage>17</fpage><lpage>28</lpage><history><date date-type="received"><day>7,</day>	<month>December</month>	<year>2018</year></date><date date-type="rev-recd"><day>13,</day>	<month>April</month>	<year>2019</year>	</date><date date-type="accepted"><day>16,</day>	<month>April</month>	<year>2019</year></date></history><permissions><copyright-statement>&#169; Copyright  2014 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc. </copyright-statement><copyright-year>2014</copyright-year><license><license-p>This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC BY). http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</license-p></license></permissions><abstract><p>
 
 
  Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are bioelectrochemical systems that convert chemical energy contained in organic matter into electrical energy by using the catalytic (metabolic) activity of living microorganisms. Mediator-less two chamber H-type MFCs were constructed in the current study, using dairy digester microbial population as anode inocula to convert finely ground pine tree (Avicel) at 2% (w/v) to electricity. MFCs were placed at 37
  &amp;deg;C and after the circuit voltage was stabilized on d9, bovine rumen microorganisms cultured anaerobically for 48 hrs in cellulose broth media were added to treatment group of MFC at 1% v/v dosage. MFC power and current across an external resistor were measured daily for 10 d. At the end of incubation on d19 head space gas and anode chamber liquid solutions were collected and analyzed for total gas volume and composition, and volatile fatty acids, respectively. Addition of enriched rumen microorganisms to anaerobic anode chamber increased cellulose digestibility and increased both CO
  <sub>2</sub> and methane production; however, it decreased the methane to CO
  <sub>2</sub> ratio. Over the experimental period, electricity generation was increased with rumen microorganism addition, and power density normalized to anode surface area was 17.6 to 67.2 mW/m
  <sup>2 </sup>with average of 36.0 mW/m
  <sup>2</sup> in treatment, while control group had 3.6 to 21.6 (AVE 12.0) mW/m
  <sup>2</sup>. These observations imply that biocatalysis in MFCs requires additional cellulolytic activities to utilize structural biomass in bioenergy production.
 
</p></abstract><kwd-group><kwd>Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs)</kwd><kwd> Bovine Rumen Bacteria</kwd><kwd> Bioenergy</kwd></kwd-group></article-meta></front><body><sec id="s1"><title>1. Introduction</title><p>Fossil fuels including petroleum, coal, and natural gas contribute about 80% of the global primary energy use [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.91790-ref1">1</xref>]. The use of fossil fuels adds greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>), methane (CH<sub>4</sub>) and nitrous oxide (N<sub>2</sub>O) to atmosphere [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.91790-ref2">2</xref>]. Fossil fuel combustion and natural gas and petroleum systems represented 94% to 96% of greenhouse emission in the USA (EPA, 2016). Greenhouse gases absorb infrared radiation and consequently impact global warming [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.91790-ref3">3</xref>]. In addition to environmental issues, the future depletion of fossil fuel is another concern. Goldemberg (2007) expected fossil fuel reserves might run out in 100 years or more. For these reasons, many researches have been studied to develop new types of energy source as alternative to fossil fuels [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.91790-ref4">4</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.91790-ref5">5</xref>] and technologies which generate clean and sustainable energy [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.91790-ref6">6</xref>].</p><p>Cellulosic biomass is the most abundant renewable energy resources on the earth, and cellulose is a significant component in solid waste products of municipal, agricultural and industrial activities and wastewater [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.91790-ref7">7</xref>]. The U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Energy estimated the annual available biomass feedstock could displace over 30% of the petroleum consumption in the United States [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.91790-ref8">8</xref>]. Furthermore, cellulose use in energy production is carbon neutral which can mitigate global warming [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.91790-ref9">9</xref>]. Chemical and biological approaches to develop sustainable energy production from cellulosic materials encountered technical and economical hurdles [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.91790-ref10">10</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.91790-ref11">11</xref>], however cellulosic biomass could be converted to bioethanol [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.91790-ref12">12</xref>], biodiesel [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.91790-ref13">13</xref>], biohydrogen [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.91790-ref14">14</xref>], and electricity [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.91790-ref9">9</xref>].</p><p>Anaerobic digester (AD) is a bioprocess in wastewater treatment processes and has been widely used in the treatment of solid wastes such as livestock and poultry waste [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.91790-ref15">15</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.91790-ref16">16</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.91790-ref17">17</xref>]. The focus on AD has been switched to energy production such as bioconversion of waste solids into methane gas, and has been developed for industrial scale [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.91790-ref18">18</xref>]. Microbial fuel cell (MFC) is also a technology for both energy production and environment protection by generating electricity and treating the organic wastewater simultaneously using microorganisms [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.91790-ref19">19</xref>]. MFC is a bioelectrochemical reactor that converts organic material directly into electricity by electrochemically active microorganisms [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.91790-ref20">20</xref>].</p><p>Recently, the intergradation of AD and MFC has been studied to maximize the energy recovery [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.91790-ref18">18</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.91790-ref21">21</xref>], minimize pollutants and recover inorganic nutrients in end products of waste treatments [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.91790-ref22">22</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.91790-ref23">23</xref>]. AD efflux has provided electrochemically active microorganisms for anode reduction, and anode function is stable during the more than 300 d studies [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.91790-ref21">21</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.91790-ref23">23</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.91790-ref24">24</xref>]. Use of chemical energy in cellulosic biomass requires cellulose degradation; however, microorganisms found electrochemically active do not show cellulolytic activity, and require products of cellulose fermentation as electron donors to generate electricity in MFC [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.91790-ref25">25</xref>]. Prior to Biomethane production from cellulose in AD, cellulose also need to be degraded to glucose or lower molecular compounds.</p><p>Ruminant animals such as cow, goat and sheep have been adapted to digest cellulosic biomass with cellulose hydrolysis by microorganisms in their digestive chamber, the rumen. The rumen microorganisms include both strict and facultative anaerobes, which effectively hydrolyze cellulose and conserve energy via anaerobic respiration or fermentation [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.91790-ref26">26</xref>]. Rumen fluid from cow [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.91790-ref7">7</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.91790-ref27">27</xref>] or goat had been studied for electricity generation from cellulose or cellulosic biomass. In all these studies, rumen microorganism was tested as both cellulose degrading and electron transferring microorganisms at the same time, and observations might not reflect the cellulosic electricity generation and bioCH<sub>4</sub> production in consolidated AD and MFC (AD-MFC).</p><p>Pursuing synergetic and symbiotic consortium of cellulosic biomass degrading microorganisms and electrochemically active microorganism in AD-MFC, the addition of cellulolytic microorganism to electrochemically active AD microbial population could be a reasonable approach. The current study hypothesized that cellulolytic rumen microorganisms might ferment cellulosic biomass in AD microbial population and provide fermentation products as electron donor or methanogenic precursors to AD microorganisms and generate greater electricity and improve methanogenesis in AD-MFC. Therefore, in the current study, MFCs were constructed with anaerobic digester microorganisms as anolyte and cellulose as electron donor, and then rumen fluid enriched in cellobiose medium was added to anolyte to investigate whether inoculation of cellulolytic rumen fluid would improve cellulose degradation in AD-MFC, and increase electricity generation and/or bioCH<sub>4</sub> production by AD microorganism population.</p></sec><sec id="s2"><title>2. Materials &amp; Methods</title><sec id="s2_1"><title>2.1. Microorganisms and Culture Media</title><p>Anaerobic digester fluid was collected from a dairy farm for MFC anode chamber inoculum. Under flushing of CO<sub>2</sub> gas through heated copper column (350˚C), anaerobic digester fluid was filtered through 4 layers of cheesecloth and glass wool, then bubbled with CO<sub>2</sub> gas until transferred to MFCs.</p><p>Fifty mL of rumen fluid was collected from a non-lactating fistulated Holstein cow fed a forage diet. Rumen fluid was bubbled with CO<sub>2</sub> and under flushing of CO<sub>2</sub> mixed with a commercial blender and filtered through 4 layers of cheese cloth. Ten mL of strained rumen fluid was inoculated to 90 mL of anaerobic medium containing 1% cellobiose, 0.048% KH<sub>2</sub>PO<sub>4</sub>, 0.048% K<sub>2</sub>HPO<sub>4</sub>, 0.048% (NH<sub>4</sub>)<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub>, 0.096% NaCl, 0.5% Trypticase peptone, 5% yeast extract, 0.05% cysteine-HCl, 0.013% CaCl<sub>2</sub>∙2H<sub>2</sub>O, 0.02% MgSO<sub>4</sub>∙7H<sub>2</sub>O, 0.4% Na<sub>2</sub>CO<sub>3</sub>, 0.1% sodium fumarate, and 1 ppm of resazurin, then incubated for 3 d at 39˚C. One mL culture was inoculated to 9 mL of the same fresh medium and incubated 3d at 39˚C, and subculture was repeated one more time. In results, rumen fluid was enriched in 1% cellobiose medium through 3 consecutive subcultures for treatment.</p><p>Phosphate buffered saline pH 7.5 (PBS) consisted of 137 mM NaCl, 2.7 mM KCl, 10 mM Na<sub>2</sub>HPO<sub>4</sub>, and 2 mM KH<sub>2</sub>PO<sub>4</sub> and was autoclaved at 121˚C for 30 min and stored. All procedures complied biosafety Level 1 regulation.</p></sec><sec id="s2_2"><title>2.2. Microbial Fuel Cells</title><p>Mediator-less two chamber H-type microbial fuel cells were constructed using two 125 mL-volume glass jars joined at branched tubular bridge. Proton exchange membrane (CMI-7000S, Membranes International Inc., NJ) was clamped between tubular bridges of two chambers and separated two chambers as anode and cathode compartments. Two gram of cellulose (Avicel PH-101, 11363 Sigma-Aldrich, MO) and 100 mL of anaerobic digester fluid collected from a dairy farm were transferred in anode chamber, and shortly suspended by agitation. Graphite stick (12 cm<sup>2</sup>) connected with copper wire was placed in the middle of anode chamber and anode was closed with butyl rubber stopper. In cathode chamber 100 mL of PBS was transferred and a graphite stick (12 cm<sup>2</sup>) connected with copper wire was placed in the middle. Butyl rubber stopper closed the cathode but open to air through tubing on stopper. Anode and cathode chambers were connected externally through a copper wires and a resistor (300 ohm). MFCs were operated in a water bath at 39˚C for 9d prior to treatment inoculation to stabilize anode electron transferring capacity and to induce anaerobic condition.</p><p>After 9 d of MFC operation, before treatment inoculation, current density for MFCs was 176 &#177; 6.5 mA/m<sup>2</sup>. One mL of enriched rumen culture was inoculated into anode chambers of treatment group MFCs, and 1 mL of pure medium was added to anode chambers of control group MFCs. Anode chamber tubings installed on butyl rubber stoppers were open to remove pressure and headspace gas, and, 2 L-volume Mylar balloons were connected to collect gas produced during experimental MFC operation.</p></sec><sec id="s2_3"><title>2.3. Measurements and Calculation</title><p>MFC voltage across an external resistor, end point potential, and current were measured using a multimeter daily from d0 to d9. The power density normalized to electrode surface area was calculated using following equations.</p><p>P = I V A   with   I = V R</p><p>where, I(A) is the current, V(V) is voltage, R(ohm) is the external resistance, and A (m<sup>2</sup>) is the projected area of the anode.</p><p>On d9, Mylar balloons connected to anode chambers were collected and total volume of fermentation gas produced was measured using 250 mL-glass syringe. CO<sub>2</sub> and methane were analyzed using an Agilent 6890 series gas chromatograph equipped with a thermal conductivity detector and a stainless steel packed column containing 60/80 Carboxen 1000 (12390-U Supelco, Sigma-Aldrich, MO) [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.91790-ref27">27</xref>].</p></sec><sec id="s2_4"><title>2.4. Statistical Analyses</title><p>Effects of enriched cellulolytic rumen microorganism addition to anaerobic digester fluid in anode chamber of MFC on electricity generation, fermentation gas production and gas composition were analyzed using the one way ANOVA procedure of JPM 12.2.0 (SAS Institute Inc., NC) and when the effect was significant (P &lt; 0.05), treatment means were separated using students’ t-test. Significance was declared at P &lt; 0.05.</p></sec></sec><sec id="s3"><title>3. Results and Discussion</title><sec id="s3_1"><title>3.1. MFC Operation</title><p>Current densities were 240 &#177; 5.4 mA/m<sup>2</sup> on d-1 before experiment started. MFCs were constructed with AD fluid, which was directly transferred from a dairy anaerobic digester, and cellulose as experimental substrates. MFCs have shown the utilization of AD efflux in electricity generation [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.91790-ref22">22</xref>], therefore, in addition to supplemented cellulose, AD fluid might include nutrients (electron donors) in AD-MFCs.</p><p>Stable MFC operation during the experimental period was observed in both control and treatment groups. Open circuit voltages and currents observed were highly correlated and regression r<sup>2</sup> were 0.98 (P &lt; 0.05) and 0.97 (P &lt; 0.05) for control and treatment group, respectively (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig1">Figure 1</xref>). Slops in regressions (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig1">Figure 1</xref>) imply the internal resistance, and slops were 947 and 965 for control and rumen fluid treatment, respectively. The high internal resistance, close to 1 kOhm, may result from the characteristics of H-type MFC with the small area of proton exchange membrane and the long distance between anode and cathode [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.91790-ref19">19</xref>]. Intercept should be zero theoretically; however was positive numbers for both treatments. Variations in voltage and current measurements and small observation number might make the intercept in equation of voltage and current. Proper MFC establishment and operation before and after treatment can be deduced from the power generation prior to treatment and the correlation of open circuit voltage and current throughout the experiment.</p></sec><sec id="s3_2"><title>3.2. Methane Production</title><p>Total gas productions for 9d incubation were 256 and 580 mL in control and rumen fluid treatment, respectively (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig4">Figure 4</xref>). Gases are produced from biomass fermentation, and it was much greater (P &lt; 0.05) when cellulolytic rumen fluid was added to AD-MFCs which containing cellulose as substrates (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig2">Figure 2</xref>). Cellulose is a linear polymer of glucose connected via beta-1,4-linkages, and it is arranged in structures of varying crystallinity [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.91790-ref7">7</xref>]. Its insolubility and heterogeneity</p><p>makes native cellulose a recalcitrant substrate for enzymatic hydrolysis [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.91790-ref28">28</xref>]. Rumen fluid contains microorganisms which can degrade cellulose. Principle rumen cellulolytic bacteria are Fibrobacter succinogenes, Ruminococcus albus, R. flavefaciens and Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens, and also rumen cellulolytic microorganisms include fungi and protozoa [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.91790-ref29">29</xref>]. In the current study, anaerobic digester fluid (AD) fermented cellulose and consequently produced gas during the 9d incubation; however its cellulolytic activity was likely much lower than inoculated rumen fluid. Impacts of rumen fluid addition on cellulose degradation reflect the establishment of rumen microbial population, which was inoculated at 1% (v/v) dosage to AD community.</p><p>Methane and CO<sub>2</sub> productions were 190 and 65 mL, respectively, in control group, and 379 and 201 mL, respectively, in rumen fluid treatment. The methane to CO<sub>2</sub> ratios were 2.9 and 1.9 for control and rumen fluid treatment, respectively. Methane production was greater (P &lt; 0.05) in rumen fluid treatment. In the rumen, cellulose is not completely converted to CO<sub>2</sub> and methane. Volatile fatty acids such as acetate, propionate and butyrate are significant products of cellulose fermentation in the rumen, and the predominant substrates for methanogens are H<sub>2</sub> and CO<sub>2</sub>. In complete bioconversion systems, acetate, as well as H<sub>2</sub> and CO<sub>2</sub>, are primary substrates for methanogens (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig3">Figure 3</xref>; [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.91790-ref29">29</xref>] ). For</p><p>preparation of rumen fluid treatment in the current study, strained rumen fluid collected from forage diet fed cow passed 3 consecutive subcultures in cellobiose medium, and while cellulolytic microorganisms were enriched, other microorganisms might be diluted out. The greater amount of methane might result from symbiosis of inoculated rumen fluid and AD microbial communities. AD operation is to convert chemical energy in biomass to methane; therefore its microorganisms might be readily produce methane from cellulose fermentation product by rumen fluid.</p></sec><sec id="s3_3"><title>3.3. Electricity Generation</title><p>Power generation decreased with time courses (P &lt; 0.001) in control MFCs. Power density gradually decreased until d5 and drastically dropped at d6 and stayed at 4 to 5 mW/m<sup>2</sup> (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig4">Figure 4</xref>). For MFC operation period, including 9d stabilization, electron donors besides supplemented cellulose might deplete in AD-MFC, and slow cellulolysis maintained the low level of power generation. Acetate and other volatile fatty acids served as electron donors for electricity generation in MFCs (CH<sub>3</sub>COO<sup>−</sup> + 2H<sub>2</sub>O → 2CO<sub>2</sub> + 7H<sup>+</sup> + 8e<sup>−</sup>; [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.91790-ref29">29</xref>] ), therefore acetoclastic methanogenesis (CH<sub>3</sub>COO<sup>−</sup> + H<sup>+</sup> → CH<sub>4</sub> + CO<sub>2</sub>) does not decrease</p><p>only proton flow but also electrogenic substrates for electrochemically active microorganisms in AD-MFCs. Both slow cellulolysis and methane production might lower the power generation in AD-MFCs.</p><p>Power densities in rumen fluid inoculated AD-MFCs were greater (P &lt; 0.05) than control AD-MFC from d2 throughout the observation period, and increased until the end of experimental period with time (P = 0.0010; <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig4">Figure 4</xref>). Power density increased from 20 - 25 to 43 mW/m<sup>2</sup> after 4 d and reached 67 mW/m<sup>2</sup> on d9. Because no single microorganism which can hydrolyze cellulose and transfer electron to electrode simultaneously has been reported, the increase in power generation with rumen fluid inoculation may result solely from the improved cellulolysis. Cellulose fermentation products by rumen fluid are mainly volatile fatty acids including acetate, propionate, and butyrate [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.91790-ref29">29</xref>], and these products are readily metabolized and converted to electric energy by electrochemically active microbial community on electrode [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.91790-ref30">30</xref>]. In accordance with gas production, power generation also implies the low cellulolytic activities of anaerobic digester microbial community.</p><p>Maximum power densities reported from rumen fluid researches were 55 mW/m<sup>2</sup> from microcrystalline cellulose [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.91790-ref7">7</xref>], 100 mW/m<sup>2</sup> from carboxymethyl cellulose [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.91790-ref31">31</xref>], and 405 mW/m<sup>3</sup> from Canna indica (canna). These previous researches focused on both cellulolysis and anode reducing activities of rumen fluid, and artificial medium were used in anolyte, and/or potassium ferricyanide (K<sub>3</sub>Fe(CN)<sub>6</sub>) were used to enhance oxidation in cathode chamber. In addition, incubation conditions, MFC volume, electrode materials and surface area were different between studies, therefore, direct comparison is not feasible even after normalize power to geometric characteristic of the MFC reactor [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.91790-ref32">32</xref>]. However all studies using rumen fluid including the current study provided the strong evidence that rumen fluid microorganisms would degrade cellulose and provide electron donor to electrochemically active microorganisms to convert chemical energy to electric power,</p></sec></sec><sec id="s4"><title>4. Conclusions</title><p>Simultaneous electricity and biomethane production from cellulose via consolidated AD-MFC using rumen fluid were demonstrated in this research. Rumen fluid inoculated at 1% dosage established population in AD microbial communities and increased cellulose degradation and consequently improved electricity generation and biomethane production.</p><p>New energy carrier techniques are required to reduce fossil fuel use to minimize the greenhouse gas addition to atmosphere and/or to prepare the future depletion of fossil fuels. Cellulosic biomass is the most abundant sustainable and carbon neutral resource for renewable energy production on earth; however it is also the most recalcitrant resource for biohydrolysis. Both AD and MFCs have been investigated for energy production and pollution prevention through conversion of biomass in waste to energy carriers.</p><p>In the current study, AD was consolidated in MFC, and cellulose was provided to biomass in AD to produce biomethane and electricity. Inoculation of rumen fluid to AD showed the great impact on cellulosic energy. However, further studies are required to develop rumen microbial community as inoculants. Cows cannot be maintained for inoculants production for all AD-DFMs or cellulosic energy production industry. Furthermore, cellulolytic activity and symbiosis with AD of rumen fluid may vary from cow to cow. Functional rumen microorganisms with the highest efficiency need to be defined and cultured. Due to complexity of cellulose biomass, studies extended to natural resources are also required to accomplish the AD-MFC.</p></sec><sec id="s5"><title>Acknowledgements</title><p>The authors acknowledge the STEM Research Institute and Youth with Talents for sponsoring this research project.</p></sec><sec id="s6"><title>Conflicts of Interest</title><p>The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.</p></sec><sec id="s7"><title>Cite this paper</title><p>Chung, R., Kang, E.Y., Shin, Y.J., Park, J.J., Park, P.S., Han, C.H., Kim, B., Moon, S.I., Park, J. and Chung, P.S. (2019) Development of a Consolidated Anaerobic Digester and Microbial Fuel Cell to Produce Biomethane and Electricity from Cellulosic Biomass Using Bovine Rumen Microorganisms. Journal of Sustainable Bioenergy Systems, 9, 17-28. https://doi.org/10.4236/jsbs.2019.92002</p></sec></body><back><ref-list><title>References</title><ref id="scirp.91790-ref1"><label>1</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Goldemberg, J. and Johansson, T.B. (2004) World Energy Assessment Overview: 2004 Update. United Nations Development Programme, New York.</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.91790-ref2"><label>2</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Saratale, G. and Oh, S. (2011) Production of Thermotolerant and Alkalotolerant Cellulolytic Enzymes by Isolated Nocardiopsis sp. KNU. 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