Skip to main content
NCBI home page
Applied and Environmental Microbiology logoLink to Applied and Environmental Microbiology
. 1982 Jan;43(1):57–64. doi: 10.1128/aem.43.1.57-64.1982

Terminal Reactions in the Anaerobic Digestion of Animal Waste †

David R Boone 1
PMCID: PMC241780  PMID: 16345928

Abstract

An anaerobic mesophilic digestor was operated using beef cattle waste (diluted to 5.75% volatile solids) as substrate; retention time was 10 days with daily batch feed. Volatile solids destruction was 36%. Daily gas production rate was 1.8 liters of gas (standard temperature and pressure) per liter of digestor contents (0.99 liters of CH4 per liter of digestor contents). Acetate turnover was measured, and it was calculated that 68% of the CH4 was derived from the methyl group of acetate. When the methanogenic substrates acetic acid or H2/CO2 were added to the digestor on a continuous basis, the microflora were able to adapt and convert them to terminal products while continuing to degrade animal waste to the same extent as without additions. The methanogenic substrates were added at a rate at least 1.5 times the microbial production rate which was measured in the absence of added substrates. Added acetate was converted directly to CH4 by acetoclastic methanogens; H2 addition greatly stimulated acetate production in the digestor. A method is described for the measurement of acetate turnover in batch-fed digestors.

Full text

PDF
57

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Baresi L., Mah R. A., Ward D. M., Kaplan I. R. Methanogenesis from acetate: enrichment studies. Appl Environ Microbiol. 1978 Jul;36(1):186–197. doi: 10.1128/aem.36.1.186-197.1978. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Boone D. R., Bryant M. P. Propionate-Degrading Bacterium, Syntrophobacter wolinii sp. nov. gen. nov., from Methanogenic Ecosystems. Appl Environ Microbiol. 1980 Sep;40(3):626–632. doi: 10.1128/aem.40.3.626-632.1980. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Ghosh S., Conrad J. R., Klass D. L. Anaerobic acidogenesis of wastewater sludge. J Water Pollut Control Fed. 1975 Jan;47(1):30–45. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. JAYASURIYA G. C., HUNGATE R. E. Lactate conversions in the bovine rumen. Arch Biochem Biophys. 1959 Jun;82(2):274–287. doi: 10.1016/0003-9861(59)90123-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Kaspar H. F., Wuhrmann K. Kinetic parameters and relative turnovers of some important catabolic reactions in digesting sludge. Appl Environ Microbiol. 1978 Jul;36(1):1–7. doi: 10.1128/aem.36.1.1-7.1978. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Mackie R. I., Bryant M. P. Metabolic Activity of Fatty Acid-Oxidizing Bacteria and the Contribution of Acetate, Propionate, Butyrate, and CO(2) to Methanogenesis in Cattle Waste at 40 and 60 degrees C. Appl Environ Microbiol. 1981 Jun;41(6):1363–1373. doi: 10.1128/aem.41.6.1363-1373.1981. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Mountfort D. O., Asher R. A. Changes in proportions of acetate and carbon dioxide used as methane precursors during the anaerobic digestion of bovine waste. Appl Environ Microbiol. 1978 Apr;35(4):648–654. doi: 10.1128/aem.35.4.648-654.1978. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Ohwaki K., Hungate R. E. Hydrogen utilization by clostridia in sewage sludge. Appl Environ Microbiol. 1977 Jun;33(6):1270–1274. doi: 10.1128/aem.33.6.1270-1274.1977. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Smith P. H., Mah R. A. Kinetics of acetate metabolism during sludge digestion. Appl Microbiol. 1966 May;14(3):368–371. doi: 10.1128/am.14.3.368-371.1966. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. TRUEPER H. G., SCHLEGEL H. G. SULPHUR METABOLISM IN THIORHODACEAE. I. QUANTITATIVE MEASUREMENTS ON GROWING CELLS OF CHROMATIUM OKENII. Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek. 1964;30:225–238. doi: 10.1007/BF02046728. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Varel V. H., Isaacson H. R., Bryant M. P. Thermophilic methane production from cattle waste. Appl Environ Microbiol. 1977 Feb;33(2):298–307. doi: 10.1128/aem.33.2.298-307.1977. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Applied and Environmental Microbiology are provided here courtesy of American Society for Microbiology (ASM)

RESOURCES