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Title: Microbial diversity and dynamics during methane production from municipal solid waste

Abstract

Highlights: ► Similar bacterial communities developed following different start-up operation. ► Total methanogens in leachate during the decelerated methane phase reflected overall methane yield. ► Created correlations between methanogens, methane yield, and available substrate. ► Predominant bacteria identified with syntrophic polysaccharide degraders. ► Hydrogenotrophic methanogens were dominant in the methane generation process. - Abstract: The objectives of this study were to characterize development of bacterial and archaeal populations during biodegradation of municipal solid waste (MSW) and to link specific methanogens to methane generation. Experiments were conducted in three 0.61-m-diameter by 0.90-m-tall laboratory reactors to simulate MSW bioreactor landfills. Pyrosequencing of 16S rRNA genes was used to characterize microbial communities in both leachate and solid waste. Microbial assemblages in effluent leachate were similar between reactors during peak methane generation. Specific groups within the Bacteroidetes and Thermatogae phyla were present in all samples and were particularly abundant during peak methane generation. Microbial communities were not similar in leachate and solid fractions assayed at the end of reactor operation; solid waste contained a more abundant bacterial community of cellulose-degrading organisms (e.g., Firmicutes). Specific methanogen populations were assessed using quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Methanomicrobiales, Methanosarcinaceae, and Methanobacteriales were the predominant methanogens in all reactors,more » with Methanomicrobiales consistently the most abundant. Methanogen growth phases coincided with accelerated methane production, and cumulative methane yield increased with increasing total methanogen abundance. The difference in methanogen populations and corresponding methane yield is attributed to different initial cellulose and hemicellulose contents of the MSW. Higher initial cellulose and hemicellulose contents supported growth of larger methanogen populations that resulted in higher methane yield.« less

Authors:
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [4];  [5]
  1. Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado State University, Ft. Collins, CO 80532 (United States)
  2. (United States)
  3. Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706 (United States)
  4. Bacteriology, Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706 (United States)
  5. Civil and Environmental Engineering, Geological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706 (United States)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
22300304
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Waste Management
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 33; Journal Issue: 10; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2012 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Journal ID: ISSN 0956-053X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; 09 BIOMASS FUELS; BACTERIA; BIODEGRADATION; CELLULOSE; HEMICELLULOSE; METHANE; MUNICIPAL WASTES; POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION; REACTOR OPERATION; SANITARY LANDFILLS; SOLID WASTES; YIELDS

Citation Formats

Bareither, Christopher A., E-mail: christopher.bareither@colostate.edu, Geological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, Wolfe, Georgia L., E-mail: gwolfe@wisc.edu, McMahon, Katherine D., E-mail: tmcmahon@engr.wisc.edu, and Benson, Craig H., E-mail: chbenson@wisc.edu. Microbial diversity and dynamics during methane production from municipal solid waste. United States: N. p., 2013. Web. doi:10.1016/J.WASMAN.2012.12.013.
Bareither, Christopher A., E-mail: christopher.bareither@colostate.edu, Geological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, Wolfe, Georgia L., E-mail: gwolfe@wisc.edu, McMahon, Katherine D., E-mail: tmcmahon@engr.wisc.edu, & Benson, Craig H., E-mail: chbenson@wisc.edu. Microbial diversity and dynamics during methane production from municipal solid waste. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.WASMAN.2012.12.013
Bareither, Christopher A., E-mail: christopher.bareither@colostate.edu, Geological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, Wolfe, Georgia L., E-mail: gwolfe@wisc.edu, McMahon, Katherine D., E-mail: tmcmahon@engr.wisc.edu, and Benson, Craig H., E-mail: chbenson@wisc.edu. 2013. "Microbial diversity and dynamics during methane production from municipal solid waste". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.WASMAN.2012.12.013.
@article{osti_22300304,
title = {Microbial diversity and dynamics during methane production from municipal solid waste},
author = {Bareither, Christopher A., E-mail: christopher.bareither@colostate.edu and Geological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706 and Wolfe, Georgia L., E-mail: gwolfe@wisc.edu and McMahon, Katherine D., E-mail: tmcmahon@engr.wisc.edu and Benson, Craig H., E-mail: chbenson@wisc.edu},
abstractNote = {Highlights: ► Similar bacterial communities developed following different start-up operation. ► Total methanogens in leachate during the decelerated methane phase reflected overall methane yield. ► Created correlations between methanogens, methane yield, and available substrate. ► Predominant bacteria identified with syntrophic polysaccharide degraders. ► Hydrogenotrophic methanogens were dominant in the methane generation process. - Abstract: The objectives of this study were to characterize development of bacterial and archaeal populations during biodegradation of municipal solid waste (MSW) and to link specific methanogens to methane generation. Experiments were conducted in three 0.61-m-diameter by 0.90-m-tall laboratory reactors to simulate MSW bioreactor landfills. Pyrosequencing of 16S rRNA genes was used to characterize microbial communities in both leachate and solid waste. Microbial assemblages in effluent leachate were similar between reactors during peak methane generation. Specific groups within the Bacteroidetes and Thermatogae phyla were present in all samples and were particularly abundant during peak methane generation. Microbial communities were not similar in leachate and solid fractions assayed at the end of reactor operation; solid waste contained a more abundant bacterial community of cellulose-degrading organisms (e.g., Firmicutes). Specific methanogen populations were assessed using quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Methanomicrobiales, Methanosarcinaceae, and Methanobacteriales were the predominant methanogens in all reactors, with Methanomicrobiales consistently the most abundant. Methanogen growth phases coincided with accelerated methane production, and cumulative methane yield increased with increasing total methanogen abundance. The difference in methanogen populations and corresponding methane yield is attributed to different initial cellulose and hemicellulose contents of the MSW. Higher initial cellulose and hemicellulose contents supported growth of larger methanogen populations that resulted in higher methane yield.},
doi = {10.1016/J.WASMAN.2012.12.013},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/22300304}, journal = {Waste Management},
issn = {0956-053X},
number = 10,
volume = 33,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Oct 15 00:00:00 EDT 2013},
month = {Tue Oct 15 00:00:00 EDT 2013}
}