Combined Еffects of Heavy Metal Ions (Fe3+-Cu2+, Fe3+-Zn2+, Fe3+-Cr3+, Cu2+-Zn2+, Cu2+-Cr3+ and Zn2+-Cr3+) on the Productivity of Biogas and Biomethane Production
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.20535/ibb.2026.10.1.354790Keywords:
heavy metal, Iron, Zinc, Copper, Сhromium, biogas, biomethaneAbstract
Abstract. Background. Determining the effect of combined metal action on the anaerobic microbial association during the fermentation process and methane production.
Objective. To investigate the effect of the simultaneous interaction of heavy metal ions (Zn–Fe, Zn–Cu, Zn–Cr, Fe–Cu, Fe–Cr, Cu–Cr) on the process of biogas production and methane formation in it.
Methods. A laboratory study performed under conditions approximating industrial biogas production, involving the application of heavy-metal-ion salts and the measurement of the quantitative and qualitative composition of the final product.
Results. The combined effect of two heavy-metal ions on biogas production by an anaerobic microbial association is specific: the synergy of certain metal ions may stimulate the biosynthesis of biomethane while simultaneously inhibit-ing biogas production. In particular, Fe (20 mg/dm³) – Cu (40 mg/dm³) and Fe (20 mg/dm³) – Cr (10 mg/dm³) exhibit a slight positive effect on biogas yield compared to the control, whereas the interaction of these metal ions with Zn (5 mg/dm³) reduces the biogas yield but improves its qualitative composition — the methane content increases.
Conclusions. The combined effect of two heavy-metal ions generally reduces biogas production compared to the con-trol; however, it stimulates the production of a higher methane content in the biogas. Compared with the effect of a sin-gle heavy metal, the combined exposure does not have a positive impact on biogas production, which is attributed to the elevated concentrations of metal ions used in the experiment.
References
Datsko O, Zakharchenko E, Butenko Y, Melnyk O, Kovalenko I, Onychko V, et al. Ecological Assessment of Heavy Metal Content in Ukrainian Soils. Journal of Ecological Engineering. 2024;25(11):100-8. DOI: 10.12911/22998993/192669.
Martynova N, Kolombar T. Phytoremediation technologies promising for the restoration of agricultural lands damaged by military actions. Regulatory Mechanisms in Biosystems. 2025;16(3):e25155. DOI: 10.15421/0225155
Wall DM, O’Shea R. Biogas Systems in Industry: An analysis of sectoral usage, sustainability, logistics and technology development. IEA Bioenergy: Task 37, 2025.
Darmey J, Narra S, Achaw O-W, Stinner W, Ahiekpor JC, Ansah HF, et al. A Review of Pretreatment Strategies for Anaerobic Digestion: Unlocking the Biogas Generation Potential of Wastes in Ghana. Waste. 2025;3(3):24. DOI: 10.3390/waste3030024
Ayantokun AS, Matambo TS, Rashama C, Van der Merwe I, Van Niekerk JA. A critical review of food waste and poultry manure anaerobic co-digestion: an eco-friendly valorization for sustainable waste management and biogas production. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems. 2025;9:1695945. DOI: 10.3389/fsufs.2025.1695945
Neri A, Bernardi B, Zimbalatti G, Benalia S. An Overview of Anaerobic Digestion of Agricultural By-Products and Food Waste for Biomethane Production. Energies. 2023;16(19):6851. DOI: 10.3390/en16196851
Razanov S, Alieksieiev O, Alieksieieva O, Vradii O, Mazur K, Puyu V, et al. The Content of Heavy Metals and Trace Elements in Different Soils Used under the Conditions of Homestead Plots and Field Agricultural Lands of Ukraine. Journal of Ecological Engineering. 2024;25(6):42-50. DOI: 10.12911/22998993/186820
Kadam R, Jo S, Lee J, Khanthong K, Jang H, Park J. A Review on the Anaerobic Co-Digestion of Livestock Manures in the Context of Sustainable Waste Management. Energies. 2024;17(3):546. DOI: 10.3390/en17030546
Wang K, Yun S, Xing T, Li B, Abbas Y, Liu X. Binary and ternary trace elements to enhance anaerobic digestion of cattle manure: Focusing on kinetic models for biogas production and digestate utilization. Bioresource Technology. 2021;323:124571. DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2020.124571
Song Y, Qiao W, Westerholm M, Huang G, Taherzadeh MJ, Dong R. Microbiological and Technological Insights on Anaerobic Digestion of Animal Manure: A Review. Fermentation. 2023;9(5):436. DOI: 10.3390/fermentation9050436
Sarode SD, Kumar D, Mathias D, McNeill D, Kaparaju P. Anaerobic Digestion of Spoiled Maize, Lucerne and Barley Silage Mixture with and without Cow Manure: Methane Yields and Kinetic Studies. Energies. 2023;16(17):6179. DOI: 10.3390/en16176179
Guo Q, Majeed S, Xu R, Zhang K, Kakade A, Khan A, et al. Heavy metals interact with the microbial community and affect biogas production in anaerobic digestion: A review. Journal of Environmental Management. 2019;240:266-72. DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.03.104
Golub NB, Shynkarchuk AV, Kozlovets OA, Kozlovets MV. Effects of Heavy Metal Ions (Fe3+, Cu2+, Zn2+ and Cr3+) on the Productivity of Biogas and Biomethane Production. Advances in Bioscience and Biotechnology. 2022;13(1):1-14. DOI: 10.4236/abb.2022.131001
Dincă M, Moiceanu G, Paraschiv G, Voicu G, Ungureanu N, Toma L, Ionescu M. The influence of heavy metals on biogas production during the anaerobic digestion process. In: Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference of Thermal Equipment, Renewable Energy and Rural Development (TE-RE-RD 2014), Mamaia, Romania. 2014, pp. 219-24.
González-Suárez A, Pereda-Reyes I, Oliva-Merencio D, Suárez-Quiñones T, José da Silva A, Zaiat M. Bioavailability and dosing strategies of mineral in anaerobic mono-digestion of maize straw. Engineering in Life Sciences. 2018;18(8):562-9. DOI: 10.1002/elsc.201700018
Zayed G, Winter J. Inhibition of methane production from whey by heavy metals - protective effect of sulfide. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology. 2000;53(6):726-31. DOI: 10.1007/s002530000336
Tian Y, Zhang H, Sanganyado E. Biodegradability during Anaerobic Fermentation Process Impacted by Heavy Metals. In: New Advances on Fermentation Processes. IntechOpen; 2020. DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.87161
Wang Z, Wang R, Yuan H, Zhu N. A novel strategy for high efficiency of anaerobic digestion of waste activated sludge by using a Fe-Cu microelectrolysis method: performance, electron transfer, key enzymes and microbial community. Water Research. 2025;287(Part A):124322. DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2025.124322
Cai Y, Cheng M, Liu X, Qu G, Zou H, Li H, et al. Effects of copper and zinc on three stages-anaerobic fermentation of organic wastes. Environmental Research. 2025;284:122216. DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2025.122216
Wongsaroj L, Chanabun R, Tunsakul N, Prombutara P, Panha S, Somboonna N. First reported quantitative microbiota in different livestock manures used as organic fertilizers in the Northeast of Thailand. Scientific Reports. 2021;11:102. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-80543-3
Shynkarchuk M. Biotechnology of biogas production from fat-containing raw materials: PhD thesis. National Technical University of Ukraine “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute”, 2020. Available from: https://ela.kpi.ua/handle/123456789/35946
Baird RB, Eaton AD, Rice EW (eds.). Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, 23rd edition. American Public Health Association, American Water Works Association, Water Environment Federation; 2017.
VDI 4630. Vergärung organischer Stoffe - Substratcharakterisierung, Probenahme, Stoffdatenerhebung, Gärversuche. Verein Deutscher Ingenieure; 2016.
Hao H, Tian Y, Zhang H, Chai Y. Copper stressed anaerobic fermentation: biogas properties, process stability, biodegradation and enzyme responses. Biodegradation. 2017;28(5-6):369-81. DOI: 10.1007/s10532-017-9802-0
Erşan M, Şenol H. Anaerobik Sindirimdeki Demir, Nikel ve Krom İz Elementlerin En İyi Konsantrasyonunun Cevap Yüzey Yöntemi ile Belirlenmesi. Karadeniz Fen Bilimleri Dergisi. 2024;14(1):281-94. DOI: 10.31466/kfbd.1402300
Lu T, Zhang J, Wei Y, Shen P. Effects of ferric oxide on the microbial community and functioning during anaerobic digestion of swine manure. Bioresource Technology. 2019;287:121393. DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2019.121393
Xing B-S, Su Y-M, Fu Y-L, Wu Y-F, Yan C-H, Wang XC, et al. Comparison of the short- and long-term effects of zinc ions on the anaerobic mesophilic co-digestion of food waste and waste activated sludge: Digester performance, antibiotic resistance gene reduction and the microbial community. Journal of Hazardous Materials. 2024;480:136119. DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.136119
Casals E, Barrena R, García A, González E, Delgado L, Busquets-Fité M, et al. Programmed Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Disintegration in Anaerobic Digesters Boosts Biogas Production. Small. 2014;10(14):2801-8. DOI: 10.1002/smll.201303703
Fermoso FG, Collins G, Bartacek J, Lens PNL. Zinc deprivation of methanol fed anaerobic granular sludge bioreactors. Journal of Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology. 2008;35(6):543-57. DOI: 10.1007/s10295-008-0315-z
Tian Y, Zhang H, Zheng L, Li S, Hao H, Huang H. Effect of Zn Addition on the Cd-Containing Anaerobic Fermentation Process: Biodegradation and Microbial Communities. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2019;16(16):2998. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16162998
Verma VK, Singh YP, Rai JPN. Biogas production from plant biomass used for phytoremediation of industrial wastes. Bioresource Technology. 2007;98(8):1664-9. DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2006.05.038
Alrawashdeh KA, Gul E, Yang Q, Yang H, Bartocci P, Fantozzi F. Effect of Heavy Metals in the Performance of Anaerobic Digestion of Olive Mill Waste. Processes. 2020;8(9):1146. DOI: 10.3390/pr8091146
Luna-delRisco M, Orupõld K, Dubourguier H-C. Particle-size effect of CuO and ZnO on biogas and methane production during anaerobic digestion. Journal of Hazardous Materials. 2011;189(1–2):603-8. DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2011.02.085
Ganzoury MA, Allam NK. Impact of nanotechnology on biogas production: A mini-review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. 2015;50:1392-404. DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2015.05.073
Chen Y, Cheng JJ, Creamer KS. Inhibition of anaerobic digestion process: A review. Bioresource Technology. 2008;99(10):4044-64. DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2007.01.057
Glass JB, Orphan VJ. Trace Metal Requirements for Microbial Enzymes Involved in the Production and Consumption of Methane and Nitrous Oxide. Frontiers in Microbiology. 2012;3:61. DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2012.00061
Cruz VA, Marques RS, Kvamme K, Limede AC, Cidrini FAA, Cidrini IA, et al. Effects of maternal Cu, Mn, and Zn supplementation from different sources on physiological and productive responses of cows and their offspring. Journal of Animal Science. 2025;103:skae391. DOI: 10.1093/jas/skae391
Golub N, Shinkarchuk A. Influence of heavy metal ions on the process of biogas production. In: Materials of the XXIII International Scientific and Practical Conference "Renewable energy and energy efficiency in the 21st century", Kyiv, Ukraine. 2022, pp. 275-7.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 The Author(s)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
The ownership of copyright remains with the Authors.
Authors may use their own material in other publications provided that the Journal is acknowledged as the original place of publication and National Technical University of Ukraine “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute” as the Publisher.
Authors are reminded that it is their responsibility to comply with copyright laws. It is essential to ensure that no part of the text or illustrations have appeared or are due to appear in other publications, without prior permission from the copyright holder.
IBB articles are published under Creative Commons licence:- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under CC BY 4.0 that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work.
