Methane production improvement by modulation of solid phase immersion in dry batch anaerobic digestion process: Dynamic of methanogen populations

• Published in: Bioresource technology 2016-05, Vol.207, p.353-360
• Main Authors: André, L., Ndiaye, M., Pernier, M., Lespinard, O., Pauss, A., Lamy, E., Ribeiro, T.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 16S rRNA; Anaerobiosis; Animals; Bioreactors; Cattle; Dry batch anaerobic digestion; Euryarchaeota - genetics; Euryarchaeota - metabolism; Manure; Methane - biosynthesis; Methane production; Methanobacteriales - genetics; Methanobacteriales - metabolism; Methanogenic populations; Methanomicrobiales; Methanomicrobiales - genetics; Methanomicrobiales - metabolism; Methanosaetaceae; Methanosarcinaceae; Methanosarcinales - genetics; Methanosarcinales - metabolism; Quantitative real-time PCR; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S - genetics; Waste Management - methods
• ISSN: 0960-8524; 1873-2976
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2016.02.033

•The high immersion of cattle manure improved the biogas production.•Methanosarcinaceae was a relevant bio-indicator of the methane production.•Methanosarcinaceae and Methanobacteriales dominated in dry AD process on manure.•DNA extraction and qPCR were adapted to quantify methanogens in dry batch AD.•The development of methanogens was significantly enhanced in the solid phase. Several 60L dry batch anaerobic digestion (AD) reactors were implemented with or without liquid reserve on cattle manure. The immersed part modulation of cattle manure increased the methane flow of about 13%. The quantitative real time PCR and the optimized DNA extraction were implemented and validated to characterize and quantify the methanogen dynamic in dry batch AD process. Final quantities of methanogens converged toward the same level in several inocula at the end of AD. Methanogen dynamic was shown by dominance of Methanosarcinaceae for acetotrophic methanogens and Methanobacteriales for the hydrogenotrophic methanogens. Overall, methanogens populations were stabilized in liquid phase, except Methanosaetaceae. Solid phase was colonized by Methanomicrobiales and Methanosarcinaceae populations giving a support to biofilm development. The methane increase could be explained by a raise of Methanosarcinaceae population in presence of a total contact between solid and liquid phases. Methanosarcinaceae was a bio-indicator of the methane production.