Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Microbial consortium and its spatial distribution in a compartmentalized anaerobic reactor

  • Environmental biotechnology
  • Published:
Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The compartmentalized anaerobic reactor (CAR) is a patent novel high-rate reactor, which consists of three compartments. The reactor has a great potential for application due to its many advantages. In this work, the microbial consortium, spatial distribution, and their relationship with performance of CAR were investigated by means of polymerase chain reaction, denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis, and fluorescence in situ hybridization. The results showed that the predominant archaea were Methanobacterium, Methanosaeta, and Methanospirillum, and the predominant bacteria were Firmicutes, Deltaproteobacteria, Spirochaetes, Actinobacteria, and Gammaproteobacteria in the microbial consortium. The methanogenic archaea (MA), the hydrogen-producing acetogenic bacteria (HAB), and the hydrolytic fermentative bacteria (HFB) were found to be predominant in the upper, middle, and bottom compartments, respectively. The results revealed that the granular sludge took on a stratified microbial structure. The HFB, HAB, and MA were located in the outer shell, middle layer, and core, respectively. The microbial populations from the bottom compartment were relatively homogeneous in the granular sludge, and from the middle and upper compartments, they were relatively heterogeneous in the granular sludge. The microbial consortia and their spatial distribution were in accordance with the organic loading rate and chemical components in the three compartments.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Amann RI (1995) Molecular microbial ecology manual. Springer, Berlin, pp. 331–345

  • Amann RI, Ludwig W, Schleifer KH (1995) Phylogenetic identification and in situ detection of individual microbial cells without cultivation. Microbiol Rev 59(1):143–169

    CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • APHA–AWWA–WEF (2012) Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater, 22nd edn. American Public Health Association, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Bialek K, Kim J, Lee C, Collins G, Mahony T, O’Flaherty V (2011) Quantitative and qualitative analyses of methanogenic community development in high-rate anaerobic bioreactors. Water Res 45(3):1298–1308

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Calderón K, Rodelas B, Cabirol N, González-López J, Noyola A (2011) Analysis of microbial communities developed on the fouling layers of a membrane-coupled anaerobic bioreactor applied to wastewater treatment. Bioresour Technol 102(7):4618–4627

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cavinato C, Fatone F, Bolzonella D, Pavan P (2010) Thermophilic anaerobic co-digestion of cattle manure with agro-wastes and energy crops: comparison of pilot and full scale experiences. Bioresour Technol 101(2):545–550

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cho S.-K., Kim D.-H., Jeong I.-S., Shin, H.-S. and Oh, S.-E. (2013) Application of low-strength ultrasonication to the continuous anaerobic digestion processes: UASBr and dry digester. Bioresour Technol. doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2013.03.116

  • Demirel B, Yenigun O, Onay TT (2005) Anaerobic treatment of dairy wastewaters: a review. Process Biochem 40(8):2583–2595

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gao R, Cao Y, Yuan X, Zhu W, Wang X, Cui Z (2012) Microbial diversity in a full-scale anaerobic reactor treating high concentration organic cassava wastewater. Afr J Biotechnol 11(24):6494–6500

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gutell RR, Larsen N, Woese CR (1994) Lessons from an evolving rRNA: 16S and 23S rRNA structures from a comparative perspective. Microbiol Rev 58(1):10–26

    CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hansen KH, Ahring BK, Raskin L (1999) Quantification of syntrophic fatty acid-β-oxidizing bacteria in a mesophilic biogas reactor by oligonucleotide probe hybridization. Appl Environ Microbiol 65(11):4767–4774

    CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Harmsen H, Akkermans A, Stams A, De Vos W (1996a) Population dynamics of propionate-oxidizing bacteria under methanogenic and sulfidogenic conditions in anaerobic granular sludge. Appl Environ Microbiol 62(6):2163–2168

    CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Harmsen H, Kengen H, Akkermans A, Stams A, De Vos W (1996b) Detection and localization of syntrophic propionate-oxidizing bacteria in granular sludge by in situ hybridization using 16S rRNA-based oligonucleotide probes. Appl Environ Microbiol 62(5):1656–1663

    CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ji J, Zheng P, Zhang J, Lu H (2011) Performance of compartmentalized anaerobic reactor. Transactions of the CSAE 27(11):252–256 (in Chinese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ji J, Zheng K, Xing Y. and Zheng P (2012a) Hydraulic characteristics and their effects on working performance of compartmentalized anaerobic reactor. Bioresour Technol 116:47–52

    Google Scholar 

  • Ji J, Zheng p, Zhang J, Zhang M (2012b) Vertical distribution of compartmentalized anaerobic reactor (CAR) performances. J Chem Eng Chin Univ 6:028 (in Chinese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee C, Kim J, Hwang K, O’Flaherty V, Hwang S (2009) Quantitative analysis of methanogenic community dynamics in three anaerobic batch digesters treating different wastewaters. Water Res 43(1):157–165

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Liu F, Wang S, Zhang J, Zhang J, Yan X, Zhou H, Zhao G, Zhou Z (2009) The structure of the bacterial and archaeal community in a biogas digester as revealed by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and 16S rDNA sequencing analysis. J Appl Microbiol 106(3):952–966

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Merlino G, Rizzi A, Villa F, Sorlini C, Brambilla M, Navarotto P, Bertazzoni B, Zagni M, Araldi F, Daffonchio D (2012) Shifts of microbial community structure during anaerobic digestion of agro-industrial energetic crops and food industry byproducts. J Chem Technol Biotechnol 87:1302–1311

    Google Scholar 

  • Nelson MC, Morrison M, Schanbacher F, Yu Z (2012) Shifts in microbial community structure of granular and liquid biomass in response to changes to infeed and digester design in anaerobic digesters receiving food-processing wastes. Bioresour Technol 107:135–143

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Panichnumsin P, Ahring B, Nopharatana A, Chaiprasert P (2012) Microbial community structure and performance of an anaerobic reactor digesting cassava pulp and pig manure. Water Sci Technol 66(7):1590

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Poh P, Chong M (2009) Development of anaerobic digestion methods for palm oil mill effluent (POME) treatment. Bioresour Technol 100(1):1–9

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Satoh H, Miura Y, Tsushima I, Okabe S (2007) Layered structure of bacterial and archaeal communities and their in situ activities in anaerobic granules. Appl Environ Microbiol 73(22):7300–7307

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Shin SG, Lee S, Lee C, Hwang K, Hwang S (2010) Qualitative and quantitative assessment of microbial community in batch anaerobic digestion of secondary sludge. Bioresour Technol 101(24):9461–9470

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stahl DA, Flesher B, Mansfield HR, Montgomery L (1988) Use of phylogenetically based hybridization probes for studies of ruminal microbial ecology. Appl Environ Microbiol 54(5):1079–1084

    CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Takai K, Horikoshi K (2000) Rapid detection and quantification of members of the archaeal community by quantitative PCR using fluorogenic probes. Appl Environ Microbiol 66(11):5066–5072

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tale V, Maki J, Struble C, Zitomer D (2011) Methanogen community structure-activity relationship and bioaugmentation of overloaded anaerobic digesters. Water Res 45(16):5249–5256

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vanysacker L, Declerck SA, Hellemans B, De Meester L, Vankelecom I, Declerck P (2010) Bacterial community analysis of activated sludge: an evaluation of four commonly used DNA extraction methods. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 88(1):299–307

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Woese CR (1987) Bacterial evolution. Microbiol Rev 51(2):221

    CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yang K, Yu Y, Hwang S (2003) Selective optimization in thermophilic acidogenesis of cheese-whey wastewater to acetic and butyric acids: partial acidification and methanation. Water Res 37(10):2467–2477

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yu Y, Lee C, Kim J, Hwang S (2005) Group-specific primer and probe sets to detect methanogenic communities using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Biotechnol Bioeng 89(6):670–679

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yu Y, Kim J, Hwang S (2006) Use of real-time PCR for group-specific quantification of aceticlastic methanogens in anaerobic processes: population dynamics and community structures. Biotechnol Bioeng 93(3):424–433

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

Financial supports of this work by Major Scientific and Technological Specialized Project of Zhejiang Province (No. 2010C13001) and Specialized Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education (No. J20120067) are greatly appreciated.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China

    Ya-juan Xing, Jun-yuan Ji, Ping Zheng, Ji-qiang Zhang & Abbas Ghulam

Authors
  1. Ya-juan Xing
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jun-yuan Ji
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ping Zheng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Ji-qiang Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Abbas Ghulam
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ping Zheng.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Xing, Yj., Ji, Jy., Zheng, P. et al. Microbial consortium and its spatial distribution in a compartmentalized anaerobic reactor. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 98, 1357–1366 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-013-5003-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-013-5003-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation