Biodiversity and succession of microbial community in a multi-habitat membrane bioreactor

• Published in: Bioresource technology 2014-07, Vol.164, p.354-361
• Main Authors: Tang, Bing, Zhang, Zi, Chen, Xuan, Bin, Liying, Huang, Shaosong, Fu, Fenglian, Yang, Huiwen, Chen, Cuiqun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bacteria - growth & development; Biodiversity; Biological and medical sciences; Biomass; Bioreactors; Bioreactors - microbiology; Biotechnology; Communities; Dissolution; DNA, Ribosomal - genetics; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Membrane bioreactor; Membranes; Membranes, Artificial; Methods. Procedures. Technologies; Microbial community; Microbiota; Microorganisms; Multi-habitat; Oxygen - analysis; Phylogeny; Succession; Various methods and equipments
• ISSN: 0960-8524; 1873-2976
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2014.05.007

[Display omitted] •A combined membrane bioreactor without an external recycling pump was presented.•A multi-habitat was successfully established in a single membrane bioreactor.•The microbial community and its succession in the bioreactor were revealed.•The biodiversity increased along with the succession of the microbial community.•Dominant species during the operation were mainly distributed among 6 major phyla. The present study focused on establishing a multi-habitat membrane bioreactor, as well as exploring its biodiversity and succession of microbial communities. In a long-term operational period (100days), the dissolved oxygen level of a local zone within the bioreactor decreased consistently from the original oxic state to the final anaerobic state, which led to a continuous succession of the microbial community in the bioreactor. The results revealed that the biodiversity of the microbial community in different zones simultaneously increased, with a similar microbial composition in their final successional stage. The results also indicated that the dominant species during the whole operation were distributed among 6 major phyla. At the initial operational stages, the dominant species in the anoxic–anaerobic and the oxic zones exhibited distinguished difference, whereas at the final operational stage, both zones presented nearly the same dominant microbial species and a rather similar structure in their microbial communities.