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Microbial community analysis in a combined anaerobic and aerobic digestion system for treatment of cellulosic ethanol production wastewater

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Abstract

This study investigated the microbial diversity established in a combined system composed of a continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR), expanded granular sludge bed (EGSB) reactor, and sequencing batch reactor (SBR) for treatment of cellulosic ethanol production wastewater. Excellent wastewater treatment performance was obtained in the combined system, which showed a high chemical oxygen demand removal efficiency of 95.8 % and completely eliminated most complex organics revealed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis revealed differences in the microbial community structures of the three reactors. Further identification of the microbial populations suggested that the presence of Lactobacillus and Prevotella in CSTR played an active role in the production of volatile fatty acids (VFAs). The most diverse microorganisms with analogous distribution patterns of different layers were observed in the EGSB reactor, and bacteria affiliated with Firmicutes, Synergistetes, and Thermotogae were associated with production of acetate and carbon dioxide/hydrogen, while all acetoclastic methanogens identified belonged to Methanosaetaceae. Overall, microorganisms associated with the ability to degrade cellulose, hemicellulose, and other biomass-derived organic carbons were observed in the combined system. The results presented herein will facilitate the development of an improved cellulosic ethanol production wastewater treatment system.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the National Scientific Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars (51125033). The research also got the support from Key Science & Technology Program of Heilongjiang Province (WB10A401).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China

    Lili Shan, Yanling Yu, Zebing Zhu, Wei Zhao, Haiman Wang, John J. Ambuchi & Yujie Feng

  2. School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China

    Yanling Yu

Authors
  1. Lili Shan
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  2. Yanling Yu
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  3. Zebing Zhu
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  4. Wei Zhao
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  5. Haiman Wang
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  6. John J. Ambuchi
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  7. Yujie Feng
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Correspondence to Yujie Feng.

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Responsible editor: Robert Duran

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Shan, L., Yu, Y., Zhu, Z. et al. Microbial community analysis in a combined anaerobic and aerobic digestion system for treatment of cellulosic ethanol production wastewater. Environ Sci Pollut Res 22, 17789–17798 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-4938-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-4938-0

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