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Article
Qualitative Analysis of Microbial Dynamics during Anaerobic Digestion of Microalgal Biomass in a UASB Reactor
International Journal of Microbiology
  • Anna Doloman, Utah State University
  • Yousef Soboh, Palestine Technical Colleges
  • Andrew J. Walters, Utah State University
  • Ronald C. Sims, Utah State University
  • Charles D. Miller, Utah State University
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2017
Publisher
Hindawi Publishing Corporation
Abstract

Anaerobic digestion (AD) is a microbiologically coordinated process with dynamic relationships between bacterial players. Current understanding of dynamic changes in the bacterial composition during the AD process is incomplete. The objective of this research was to assess changes in bacterial community composition that coordinates with anaerobic codigestion of microalgal biomass cultivated on municipal wastewater. An upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor was used to achieve high rates of microalgae decomposition and biogas production. Samples of the sludge were collected throughout AD and extracted DNA was subjected to next-generation sequencing using methanogen mcrA gene specific and universal bacterial primers. Analysis of the data revealed that samples taken at different stages of AD had varying bacterial composition. A group consisting of Bacteroidales, Pseudomonadales, and Enterobacteriales was identified to be putatively responsible for the hydrolysis of microalgal biomass. The methanogenesis phase was dominated by Methanosarcina mazei. Results of observed changes in the composition of microbial communities during AD can be used as a road map to stimulate key bacterial species identified at each phase of AD to increase yield of biogas and rate of substrate decomposition. This research demonstrates a successful exploitation of methane production from microalgae without any biomass pretreatment.

Citation Information
Anna Doloman, Yousef Soboh, Andrew J. Walters, Ronald C. Sims, et al.. "Qualitative Analysis of Microbial Dynamics during Anaerobic Digestion of Microalgal Biomass in a UASB Reactor" International Journal of Microbiology Vol. 2017 (2017) p. 1 - 12
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/ronald_sims/69/