Method to produce a synthesis product, e.g. methane utilizing methanogenic microorganisms in a microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) by applying a separated nutrient feeding strategy

A method to produce methane during the methane production phase or at least one other synthesis product by methanogenic microorganisms in a microbial electrolysis cell (MEC), the method comprising the steps:

• i. providing a MEC, comprising an anode, a cathode, and a culture of methanogenic microorganisms in a suitable liquid aqueous electrolytic culture medium;
• ii. culturing the methanogenic microorganisms in a continuous process;
• iii. supplying electrons from the anode to the cathode of the MEC and contacting the methanogenic microorganisms with said electrons;
• iv. contacting the methanogenic microorganisms with at least one inorganic carbon source;
• v. contacting the methanogenic microorganisms with a sulfur source, or with a nitrogen source and a sulfur source, by separately supplying at least one of the nitrogen source and the sulfur source in a discrete or a continuous manner into the culture medium, thereby continuously controlling and regulating the concentration of the supplement source in the culture medium to maintain the nitrogen source concentration in the culture medium to be at a given amount of 0.005 to 0.2 M, or the sulfur source concentration in the culture medium to be at a given amount of 0.1 to 100 mM;
• vi. collecting methane, a methane enriched gas composition, or at least one other synthesis product from the MEC.