Braga, Cátia S.N.Martins, GilbertoSoares, O. Salomé G.P.Pereira, M. Fernando R.Pereira, Inês A.C.Pereira, LucianaAlves, M. MadalenaSalvador, Andreia F.2025-05-072025-05-072024-090960-8524PURE: 99959837PURE UUID: 91386177-24ef-415d-8deb-66be6b909066Scopus: 85199546179PubMed: 39043281http://hdl.handle.net/10362/182751Funding Information: This study was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under the scope of the CM4Methane project (Ref: PTDC/BTA-BTA/2249/2021, DOI https://doi.org/10.54499/PTDC/BTA-BTA/2249/2021) , the strategic funding of UIDB/04469/2020 unit, with DOI https://doi.org/10.54499/UIDB/04469/2020 , and by LSRE-LCM, UIDB/50020/2020 ( https://doi.org/10.54499/UIDB/50020/2020) and UIDP/50020/2020 ( https://doi.org/10.54499/UIDP/50020/2020) ; and ALiCE, LA/P/0045/2020 ( https://doi.org/10.54499/LA/P/0045/2020) . This research was also supported by BioEcoNorte project (NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000070) funded by the European Regional Development Fund under the scope of Norte2020 \u2013 Programa Operacional Regional do Norte. C\u00E1tia S. N. Braga held SFRH/BD/132003/2017 and COVID/BD/152431/2022 grants funded by FCT and European Union, through the Portuguese State Budget and the European Social Fund under the scope of Norte2020 \u2013 Programa Operacional Regional do Norte. Publisher Copyright: © 2024 The AuthorsConductive materials (CM) enhance methanogenesis, but there is no clear correlation between conductivity and faster methane production (MP) rates. We investigated if MP by pure cultures of methanogens (Methanobacterium formicicum, Methanospirillum hungatei, Methanothrix harundinacea and Methanosarcina barkeri) is affected by CM (activated carbon (AC), magnetite), and other sustainable alternatives (sand and glass beads, without conductivity, and zeolites (Zeo)). The significant impact of the materials was on M. formicicum as MP was significantly accelerated by non-CM (e.g., sand reduced the lag phase (LP) duration by 48 %), Zeo and AC (LP reduction in 71 % and 75 %, respectively). Conductivity was not correlated with LP reduction. Instead, silicon content in the materials was inversely correlated with the time required for complete MP, and silicon per se stimulated M. formicicum's activity. These findings highlight the potential of using non-CM silicon-containing materials in anaerobic digesters to accelerate methanogenesis.1521894engConductive materialsLag phaseMethane production ratesMethanogensNon-conductive materialsBioengineeringEnvironmental EngineeringRenewable Energy, Sustainability and the EnvironmentWaste Management and DisposalSDG 7 - Affordable and Clean Energyjournal article10.1016/j.biortech.2024.131144https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85199546179