TY - JOUR
T1 - Dynamic shifts within volatile fatty acid–degrading microbial communities indicate process imbalance in anaerobic digesters
AU - Mathai, Prince P.
AU - Nicholes, Melinda S.
AU - Venkiteshwaran, Kaushik
AU - Brown, Clairessa M.
AU - Morris, Rachel L.
AU - Zitomer, Daniel H.
AU - Maki, James S.
PY - 2020/5/1
Y1 - 2020/5/1
N2 - Buildup of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) in anaerobic digesters (ADs) often results in acidification and process failure. Understanding the dynamics of microbial communities involved in VFA degradation under stable and overload conditions may help optimize anaerobic digestion processes. In this study, five triplicate mesophilic completely mixed AD sets were operated at different organic loading rates (OLRs; 1–6 g chemical oxygen demand [COD] LR −1day−1), and changes in the composition and abundance of VFA-degrading microbial communities were monitored using amplicon sequencing and taxon-specific quantitative PCRs, respectively. AD sets operated at OLRs of 1–4 g COD LR −1day−1 were functionally stable throughout the operational period (120 days) whereas process instability (characterized by VFA buildup, pH decline, and decreased methane production rate) occurred in digesters operated at ≥ 5 g COD LR −1day−1. Though microbial taxa involved in propionate (Syntrophobacter and Pelotomaculum) and butyrate (Syntrophomonas) degradation were detected across all ADs, their abundance decreased with increasing OLR. The overload conditions also inhibited the proliferation of the acetoclastic methanogen, Methanosaeta, and caused a microbial community shift to acetate oxidizers (Tepidanaerobacter acetatoxydans) and hydrogenotrophic methanogens (Methanoculleus). This study’s results highlight the importance of operating ADs with conditions that promote the maintenance of microbial communities involved in VFA degradation.
AB - Buildup of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) in anaerobic digesters (ADs) often results in acidification and process failure. Understanding the dynamics of microbial communities involved in VFA degradation under stable and overload conditions may help optimize anaerobic digestion processes. In this study, five triplicate mesophilic completely mixed AD sets were operated at different organic loading rates (OLRs; 1–6 g chemical oxygen demand [COD] LR −1day−1), and changes in the composition and abundance of VFA-degrading microbial communities were monitored using amplicon sequencing and taxon-specific quantitative PCRs, respectively. AD sets operated at OLRs of 1–4 g COD LR −1day−1 were functionally stable throughout the operational period (120 days) whereas process instability (characterized by VFA buildup, pH decline, and decreased methane production rate) occurred in digesters operated at ≥ 5 g COD LR −1day−1. Though microbial taxa involved in propionate (Syntrophobacter and Pelotomaculum) and butyrate (Syntrophomonas) degradation were detected across all ADs, their abundance decreased with increasing OLR. The overload conditions also inhibited the proliferation of the acetoclastic methanogen, Methanosaeta, and caused a microbial community shift to acetate oxidizers (Tepidanaerobacter acetatoxydans) and hydrogenotrophic methanogens (Methanoculleus). This study’s results highlight the importance of operating ADs with conditions that promote the maintenance of microbial communities involved in VFA degradation.
KW - Amplicon sequencing
KW - Organic loading rate
KW - Quantitative PCR
KW - Syntrophic microbial communities
KW - Volatile fatty acids
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U2 - 10.1007/s00253-020-10552-9
DO - 10.1007/s00253-020-10552-9
M3 - Article
C2 - 32219463
AN - SCOPUS:85083155957
VL - 104
SP - 4563
EP - 4575
JO - Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology
JF - Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology
SN - 0175-7598
IS - 10
ER -