Effects of temperature on methanogenesis in a thermophilic (58/sup 0/C) anaerobic digestor. [Methanosarcina sp. ; Methanothrix sp. ; Methanobacterium sp]

Journal Article · Sun Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1984 · Appl. Environ. Microbiol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6528045

Zinder, S H; Anguish, T; Cardwell, S C

The short-term effects of temperature on methanogenesis from acetate or CO/sub 2/ in a thermophilic (58/sup 0/C) anaerobic digestor were studied by incubating digestor sludge at different temperatures with /sup 14/C-labeled methane precursors (/sup 14/CH/sub 3/COO/sup -/ or /sup 14/CO/sub 2/). During a period when Methanosarcina sp. was numerous in the sludge, methanogenesis from acetate was optimal at 55 to 60/sup 0/C and was completely inhibited at 65/sup 0/C. A Methanosarcina culture isolated from the digestor grew optimally on acetate at 55 to 58/sup 0/C and did not grow or produce methane at 65/sup 0/C. An accidental shift of digestor temperature from 58 to 64/sup 0/C during this period caused a sharp decrease in gas production and a large increase in acetate concentration within 24 h, indicating that the aceticlastic methanogens in the digestor were the population most susceptible to this temperature increase. During a later period when Methanothrix sp. was numerous in the digestor, methanogenesis from /sup 14/CH/sub 3/COO/sup -/ was optimal at 65/sup 0/C and completely inhibited at 75/sup 0/C. Methanogenesis from /sup 14/CO/sub 2/ in the sludge was optimal at 65/sup 0/C and still proceeded at 75/sup 0/C. A CO/sub 2/-reducing methanobacterium sp. isolated from the digestor was capable of methanogenesis at 75/sup 0/C. During the period when Methanothix sp. was apparently dominant, sludge incubated for 24 h at 65/sup 0/C produced more methane than sludge incubated at 60/sup 0/C, and no acetate accumulated at 65/sup 0/C. Methanogenesis was severely inhibited in sludge incubated at 70/sup 0/C, but since neither acetate nor H/sub 2/ accumulated, production of these methanogenic substrates by fermentative bacteria was probably the most temperature-sensitive process. 19 references.

• Research Organization: Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-81ER10872
• OSTI ID: 6528045
• Journal Information: Appl. Environ. Microbiol.; (United States), Journal Name: Appl. Environ. Microbiol.; (United States) Vol. 47:4; ISSN AEMID
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
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140504 -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Biomass Production & Conversion-- (-1989)
ACETATES
ALKANES
ANAEROBIC DIGESTION
BACTERIA
BIOCONVERSION
CARBON 14 COMPOUNDS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CARBOXYLIC ACID SALTS
CHALCOGENIDES
DIGESTION
GROWTH
HYDROCARBONS
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
MANAGEMENT
METHANE
METHANOGENIC BACTERIA
MICROORGANISMS
OPTIMIZATION
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PROCESSING
PRODUCTION
SLUDGES
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
TRACER TECHNIQUES
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING