Abstract:
Nanofibrous materials represent a highly promising class of advanced functional materials due to their extremely high specific surface area, interconnected porous structure, tunable surface chemistry, and ability to mimic natural biological microenvironments. These unique properties make nanofibrous structures particularly attractive for microbial immobilization and biofilm engineering in anaerobic biotechnological systems. This contribution presents the development of advanced 3D nanofibrous biomass carriers specifically designed for intensifying anaerobic processes, including wastewater treatment, anaerobic digestion, biofiltration, and biogas production.
The research presented focuses on the preparation and functionalization of nanofibrous yarns and on spatial 3D nanofibrous structures produced via electrospinning technologies. Polymer systems based primarily on polyurethane (PUR), polyacrylonitrile (PAN), and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) were optimized for fiber morphology, mechanical stability, porosity, and long-term resistance under anaerobic operating conditions. The developed nanofibrous structures provide a highly accessible surface for microbial adhesion and formation of stable biofilms while simultaneously enabling efficient transport of nutrients and metabolites through the porous architecture.
A key part of the work involved the development of a specialized spraying system that enables the direct integration of hydrogel particles and nutrient components into nanofibrous yarn structures during the spinning process. This approach enabled the preparation of multifunctional nanofibrous carriers that combine structural support, moisture retention, and controlled local nutrient availability. The resulting 3D nanofibrous carriers exhibited enhanced physicochemical properties suitable for long-term anaerobic biotechnological applications.
The prepared nanofibrous carriers were experimentally tested under anaerobic and oligotrophic conditions using both defined microbial strains and mixed anaerobic microbial consortia. Rapid microbial adhesion to nanofibrous surfaces and the formation of stable spatial biofilms were observed within 24–72 hours, depending on the carrier modification. Compared to non-modified structures, hydrogel- and nutrient-functionalized nanofibrous carriers demonstrated significantly accelerated biofilm initiation, improved biomass retention, and higher long-term microbial stability. Molecular-genetic analyses using qPCR and next-generation sequencing confirmed dense colonization of nanofibrous surfaces and stable retention of functionally important anaerobic microbial populations, including sulfate-reducing bacteria and methanogenic archaea.
The results demonstrate that nanofibrous yarn-based 3D carriers represent a highly promising platform for next-generation anaerobic biotechnology. Their unique structural and surface properties enable rapid biofilm establishment, increased resistance to operational stress, and the potential reduction of anaerobic reactor start-up times. The developed nanofibrous systems, therefore, offer significant potential for advanced environmental technologies focused on sustainable wastewater treatment, bioenergy production, and process intensification.
