Factors affecting acetate degradation in anaerobic digesters

Technical Report · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1988

OSTI ID:5267099

Mah, R A; Boone, D R

Acetate is the major source of methane produced in anaerobic digestion, accounting for about two thirds of all the methane produced. The major methanogenic bacteria responsible for this reaction are )ital Methanosarcina barkeri) and )ital Methanosarcina mazei). One strain of each of these bacteria was selected for this study, in which the effect of molecular hydrogen on acetate dissimilation was examined. We examined the effects that hydrogen concentration had on the active growth of aceticlastic (acetate-splitting) cultures. We found that, during steady-state growth, each of these methanogens ()ital M. barkeri) or )ital M. mazei)) could tolerate a wide range of hydrogen concentrations with little change in their rates of acetate degradation. At hydrogen partial pressures as low as 2 Pa and as high as 800 Pa no change was detected in the growth rate or acetate degradation rate of either of these methanogens. However, we also showed that small amounts of hydrogen were produced or consumed by )ital Methanosarcina) in order to bring the hydrogen concentration in their environment to a pressure of 16 to 92 Pa, similar to that found in anaerobic digestors.

• Research Organization: California Univ., Los Angeles (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• OSTI ID: 5267099
• Report Number(s): ANL/CNSV-TM-197; ON: DE88008642
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
090122* -- Hydrocarbon Fuels-- Preparation from Wastes or Biomass-- (1976-1989)
550200 -- Biochemistry
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ACETATES
ALKANES
ANAEROBIC DIGESTION
BACTERIA
BIOCONVERSION
CARBOXYLIC ACID SALTS
CATABOLISM
DIGESTION
ELEMENTS
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROGEN
MANAGEMENT
METABOLISM
METHANE
METHANOGENIC BACTERIA
MICROORGANISMS
NONMETALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PROCESSING
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING