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Influence of transitional states on the microbial ecology of anaerobic digesters treating solid wastes

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Abstract

A better understanding of the microbial ecology of anaerobic processes during transitional states is important to achieve a long-term efficient reactor operation. Five wastes (pig manure, biodiesel residues, ethanol stillage, molasses residues, and fish canning waste) were treated in five anaerobic reactors under the same operational conditions. The influence of the type of substrate and the effect of modifying feeding composition on the microbial community structure was evaluated. The highest biomethanation efficiency was observed in reactors fed with fish canning waste, which also presented the highest active archaeal population and the most diverse microbial communities. Only two Bacteria populations could be directly related to a particular substrate: Ilyobacter with biodiesel residues and Trichococcus with molasses residues. Results showed that the time to achieve steady-state performance after these transitional states was not dependent on the substrate treated. But reactors needed more time to handle the stress conditions derived from the start-up compared to the adaptation to a new feeding. Cluster analyses showed that the type of substrate had a clear influence on the microbiology of the reactors, and that segregation was related to the reactors performance. Finally, we conclude that the previous inoculum history treating solid waste and higher values of active Archaea population are important factors to face a successful change in substrate not entailing stability failure.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness through NOVEDAR_Consolider (CSD2007-00055) and COMDIGEST (CTM2010-17196) projects and by the Xunta de Galicia through GRC2010/37 and MicroDAN (EM2012/087) projects and the postdoctoral contract (IPP-08-37) to Dr. Marta Carballa.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, Institute of Technology, University of Santiago de Compostela, Rúa Lope Gómez de Marzoa s/n, 15782, Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain

    Leticia Regueiro, Patricia Veiga, Mónica Figueroa, Juan M. Lema & Marta Carballa

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  1. Leticia Regueiro
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  2. Patricia Veiga
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  3. Mónica Figueroa
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  4. Juan M. Lema
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  5. Marta Carballa
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Correspondence to Leticia Regueiro.

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Regueiro, L., Veiga, P., Figueroa, M. et al. Influence of transitional states on the microbial ecology of anaerobic digesters treating solid wastes. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 98, 2015–2027 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-013-5378-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-013-5378-8

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