Microbial Community Response to Seasonal Temperature Variation in a Small-Scale Anaerobic Digester

Ciotola, Richard J.; Martin, Jay F.; Castaño, Juan Mauricio; Lee, Ji-Young; Michel, Frederick C.

doi:10.3390/en6105182

Cited by 19 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 22 publications

(30 reference statements)

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“…The formation of a productive anode community able to digest waste organics and liberate electrons is required for successful application. Although community assembly is poorly understood in the microbial world in general and in BES in particular [1] it might be reasonable to assume that it is affected by both the temperature, substrate and inocula [2,3]. These have been studied independently within BES research, but not consolidated within one study where direct comparisons can be made.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Temperature, inocula and substrate: Contrasting electroactive consortia, diversity and performance in microbial fuel cells

Heidrich

Dolfing

Wade

et al. 2018

Bioelectrochemistry

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The factors that affect microbial community assembly and its effects on the performance of bioelectrochemical systems are poorly understood. Sixteen microbial fuel cell (MFC) reactors were set up to test the importance of inoculum, temperature and substrate: Arctic soil versus wastewater as inoculum; warm (26.5°C) versus cold (7.5°C) temperature; and acetate versus wastewater as substrate. Substrate was the dominant factor in determining performance and diversity: unexpectedly the simple electrogenic substrate delivered a higher diversity than a complex wastewater. Furthermore, in acetate fed reactors, diversity did not correlate with performance, yet in wastewater fed ones it did, with greater diversity sustaining higher power densities and coulombic efficiencies. Temperature had only a minor effect on power density, (Q 10 : 2 and 1.2 for acetate and wastewater respectively): this is surprising given the well-known temperature sensitivity of anaerobic bioreactors. Reactors were able to operate at low temperature with real wastewater without the need for specialised inocula; it is speculated that MFC biofilms may have a self-heating effect. Importantly, the warm acetate fed reactors in this study did not act as direct model for cold wastewater fed systems. Application of this technology will encompass use of real wastewater at ambient temperatures.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Temperature, inocula and substrate: Contrasting electroactive consortia, diversity and performance in microbial fuel cells

Heidrich

Dolfing

Wade

et al. 2018

Bioelectrochemistry

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“…A higher OLR than 0.3 kg VS/m 3 ·day may have been possible if the digesters had been given a longer start up time to allow a greater relative abundance of acetoclastic methanogens to develop prior to decreasing the temperature. Higher levels of Methanosaeta have been detected in ambient temperature systems at lower temperatures and higher loading rates [25]. The digester in that study was operated above 27 °C for approximately 28 days and the reduction in temperature was more gradual than in this laboratory experiment.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 66%

“…While only one ID method was used in this study, the additional calibration and validation procedures described below resulted in robust results, such as reported in previous studies with one ID method [22,24]. Future work could further validate these results using multiple ID methods The identification of the dominant TRFs was determined in a prior experiment [25] using a virtual digest of actual cloned sequences from the digester samples. This experiment used manure feedstock from the same source as well as the same primers and restriction enzymes.…”

Section: T-rflp Analysismentioning

confidence: 72%

The Influence of Loading Rate and Variable Temperatures on Microbial Communities in Anaerobic Digesters

et al. 2014

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Abstract:The relationship between seasonal temperatures, organic loading rate (OLR) and the structure of archaeal communities in anaerobic digesters was investigated. Previous studies have often assessed archaeal community structure at fixed temperatures and constant OLRs, or at variable temperatures not characteristic of temperate climates. The goal of this study was to determine the maximum OLR that would maintain a balanced microbial ecosystem during operation in a variable temperature range expected in a temperate climate (27-10 °C). Four-liter laboratory digesters were operated in a semi-continuous mode using dairy cow manure as the feedstock. At OLRs of 1.8 and 0.8 kg VS/m 3 ·day the digesters soured (pH < 6.5) as a result of a decrease in temperature.The structure of the archaeal community in the sour digesters became increasingly similar to the manure feedstock with gains in the relative abundance of hydrogenotrophic

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“…While this may result in lower gas and methane production during warmer temperatures, it may extend digester operation without risk of system failure when temperature drops to 15 °C; however, under this low OLR, the digester volume needed would be exceedingly large for a given farm application [9,22,38]. Other researchers have evaluated approaches to maintain higher digester temperatures, including supplemental heating to maintain the digester temperature above 20 °C during cold months [35,40]. Although in this approach a substrate other than cow manure was used, the biogas production was acceptable compared to that in mesophilic digesters.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Performance of a Small-Scale, Variable Temperature Fixed Dome Digester in a Temperate Climate

2014

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Small-scale digesters, similar to popular Chinese designs, have the potential to address the energy needs of smaller dairy farmers in temperate U.S. climates. To assess this potential, a 1.14 m 3 (300 gallon) modified fixed-dome digester was installed and operated, at variable temperatures (5.3 to 27.9 °C) typical of the Midwestern United States, from March 2010 to March 2011 (363 days). Temperature, gas production, and other variables were recorded. The system was fed with dilute dairy manure with 6% volatile solids (VS) and an organic loading rate (OLR) ranging from 0.83 to 2.43 kg volatile solids (VS)/m 3 /day. The system was loaded with no interruption and exhibited no signs of inhibition from July 2010 to mid-November 2010 (129 days). During this period the digester temperature was over 20 °C with an average daily biogas production of 842 ± 69 L/day, a methane yield of 0.168 m 3 /kg VS added, and a Volatile Solids reduction of 36%. After the temperature dropped below 20 °C, the digester showed signs of inhibition and soured. These findings suggest that an ambient temperature, modified fixed dome digester could operate without temperature inhibition for approximately six months (169 days) a year in a temperate climate when digester temperatures exceed 20 °C. However, during colder months the digester temperature must maintained above 20 °C for viable gas production year round.

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Microbial Community Response to Seasonal Temperature Variation in a Small-Scale Anaerobic Digester

Cited by 19 publications

References 22 publications

Temperature, inocula and substrate: Contrasting electroactive consortia, diversity and performance in microbial fuel cells

Temperature, inocula and substrate: Contrasting electroactive consortia, diversity and performance in microbial fuel cells

The Influence of Loading Rate and Variable Temperatures on Microbial Communities in Anaerobic Digesters

Performance of a Small-Scale, Variable Temperature Fixed Dome Digester in a Temperate Climate

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