Exploring key factors in anaerobic syntrophic interactions: Biomass activity, microbial community, and morphology

Fe oxides nano-modified pumice enhances hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis in anaerobic digestion: Performance and mechanism of microbial community

Anaerobic digestion (AD), as an eco-friendly biological process, shows potential for the decomposition of leachate produced by waste incineration power plants. In this study, the effects of Fe oxides nano-modified pumice (FNP) were investigated on the fresh leachate AD process. Firstly, a simple hydrothermal method was used to prepare FNP, then introduced into the UASB reactor to evaluate its AD efficiency. Results showed that the inclusion of FNP could shorten the lag phase by 10 days compared to the control group. Furthermore, cumulative methane production in the FNP group was enhanced by 20.11%. Mechanistic studies suggested that hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis in the FNP group was more pronounced due to the influence of key enzymes (i.e., dehydrogenase and coenzyme F420). Microbial community analysis demonstrated that FNP could enhance the abundance of Methanosarcina, Proteobacteria, Sytrophomonas, and Limnobacter, which might elevate enzyme activity involved in methane production. These findings suggest that FNP might mediate interspecies electron transfer among these microorganisms, which is essential for efficient leachate treatment.

Resilience and response of anaerobic digestion systems to short-term hydraulic loading shocks: Focusing on total and active microbial community dynamics

Anaerobic digestion is known to be sensitive to operational changes, such as hydraulic loading shock, yet the impact on the microbiome, particularly the active RNA-based community, has not been fully understood. This study aimed to investigate the performance of anaerobic reactors and their microbial communities under short-term hydraulic loading shocks. Using synthetic wastewater, the reactor was subjected to 24-h shocks at three-fold and seven-fold the baseline loading rate, followed by DNA and RNA analyses to assess the system's resiliency and microbial responses. The research focused on shifts in major microbial groups and their functions, paying close attention to the active RNA community during loading shock events to better reflect the system's immediate condition. Findings indicated that although the microbial community structure, particularly among the archaea, was altered, the reactor quickly regained its balance. Differences were observed between DNA and RNA profiles and between regular and shock loadings; however, the alpha diversity and functions of the overall community were sustained. This study offers important insights for the design and operation of wastewater treatment plants, with the goal of achieving stable and efficient anaerobic digestion systems.

Rethinking the biochar impact on the anaerobic digestion of food waste in bench-scale digester: Spatial distribution and biogas production

The improvement of biogas production in anaerobic digestion (AD) by biochar introduction has been demonstrated. However, the distribution of biochar in the digester and its effect on AD have been seldom explored. In this study, the distribution of biochar and their impact on AD were investigated in a 30 L semi-continuously operated bench-scale anaerobic digester. The results demonstrated that the biochar significantly increased biogas yields by 23.38 % under an organic loading rate (OLR) of 3.0 g VS/L·d. The stability of the AD under an OLR of 4.0 g VS/L·d was also improved by biochar introduction. The increased stirring speed of the digester enhanced the spatial distribution uniformity of biochar and increased biogas production by 5.89 %. Reducing the particle size of biochar improved its spatial distribution uniformity but did not significantly increase biogas production, likely due to excessive microbial accumulation on the biochar, which have caused substrate competition. Biochar aided AD by boosting microbial genera of Syntrophomonas, Bacteroidota, Cloacimonadot, and Methanosaeta, accelerating volatile fatty acids consumption, and improving microorganisms' spatial ecological niches. The economic analysis showed that applying residue-based biochar for biogas production presented superior benefits and greater development potential than residue incineration in the food waste AD process. Overall, this study presented a novel and comprehensive understanding of the biochar distribution and impact on food waste AD in digesters.

Biomineralization of phosphorus during anaerobic treatment of distillery wastewaters

This study addresses the pressing environmental concerns associated with the rapidly growing distillery industry, which is a significant contributor to wastewater generation. By focusing on the treatment of distillery wastewater using anaerobic digestion, this research explores the potential to convert organic materials into biofuels (methane). Moreover, the study aims to recover both methane and phosphorus from distillery wastewater in a single anaerobic reactor, which represents a novel and unexplored approach. Laboratory-scale experiments were conducted using mesophilic and thermophilic upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactors. A key aspect of the study involved the implementation of a unique strategy: the mixing of centrate and spent caustic wastewater streams. This approach was intended to enhance treatment performance, manipulate the microbial community structure, and thereby optimizing the overall treatment performance. The integration of the centrate and spent caustic streams yielded remarkable co-benefits, resulting in significant biomethane production and efficient phosphorus precipitation. The study demonstrated a phosphorus removal efficiency of ∼60 % throughout the 130-140 days operation period. The recovery of phosphorus via the reactor sludge offers exciting opportunities for its utilization as a fertilizer or as a raw material within the phosphorus refinery industry. The biomethane produced during the treatment exhibits significant energy potential, estimated at 0.5 GJ/(m3 distillery wastewater).

Switching from wet to dry anaerobic digestion of food waste with different dilution times under no mechanical mixing condition

Previous research on anaerobic digestion of food waste has primarily focused on either wet or dry anaerobic digestion (AD), typically accompanied by continuous mechanical mixing. However, the necessary dilution rates and the extent of mixing required have yet to be addressed. In this study, we investigated switching from wet to dry AD of food waste without mechanical mixing, employing different dilution rates. Lab-scale anaerobic reactors were operated with dilution rates of 10, 5, and 2 times during Phases I (0-56 days), II (57-121 days), and III (122-209 days), respectively. The methane production rates were not significantly different (p > 0.05) across the dilution rates decreased from 10 to 2 times. Remarkably, the methane production in the anaerobic reactors exhibited fluctuations due to variations in feeding, with the methane production rate ranging from 2.0 to 2.7 g CH4-COD/(L d), without mechanical mixing, as the solids content transitioned from wet to near-dry digestion conditions (15 %, food waste). The distribution of sludge volatile solids concentrations remained uniform in the reactor, even at high solids concentrations of up to 15 %. A dynamic microbial community response to changes in dilution rates, with a shift from aceticlastic to hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis pathways. Syntrophic acetate oxidization bacteria (the genus Syner-01 (4.2-8.9 %) and f_Synergistaceae (3.6-4.2 %)) were highly enriched as switching from wet AD to dry AD. The study's findings provide crucial operational insights for anaerobic food waste treatment, potentially resulting in decreased water usage and operational costs, particularly in scenarios with low dilution rates and without mechanical mixing.

From start-up to maximum loading: An approach for methane production in upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor fed with the liquid fraction of fruit and vegetable waste

This investigation provides a reproducible approach for determining the limits of an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor designed for the methanization of the liquid fraction of fruit and vegetable waste (FVW_L). Two identical mesophilic UASB reactors were operated for 240 days with a three-day fixed hydraulic retention time and an organic load rate (OLR) increased from 1.8 to 10 gCOD L^-1 d^-1. Because of the previous estimation of flocculent-inoculum methanogenic activity, it was possible to design a safe OLR for the quick start-up of both UASB reactors. The operational variables obtained from the operation of the UASB reactors did not show statistical differences, ensuring the experiment's reproducibility. As a result, the reactors achieved methane yield close to 0.250 L_CH4 gCOD^-1 up to the OLR of 7.7 gCOD L^-1 d^-1. Furthermore, the maximum volumetric methane production rate of 2.0 L_CH4 L^-1 d^-1 was discovered for the OLR ranges between 7.7 and 10 gCOD L^-1 d^-1. The possible overload at OLR of 10 gCOD L^-1 d^-1 resulted in a significant reduction of methane production in both UASB reactors. Based on the methanogenic activity of the UASB reactors sludge, a maximum loading capacity of approximately 8 gCOD L^-1 d^-1 was estimated.