Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.3390/microorganisms6040103
Licence creative commons licence
Title (Primary) Long-term biogas production from glycolate by diverse and highly dynamic communities
Author Günther, S.; Becker, D.; Hübschmann, T.; Reinert, S.; Kleinsteuber, S. ORCID logo ; Müller, S.; Wilhelm, C.
Source Titel Microorganisms
Year 2018
Department UMB
Volume 6
Issue 4
Page From art. 130
Language englisch
Supplements https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/6/4/103/s1
Keywords microbial community dynamics; microbial flow cytometry; anaerobic digestion; glycolate-fermenting bacteria; methanogenic archaea
Abstract

Generating chemical energy carriers and bulk chemicals from solar energy by microbial metabolic capacities is a promising technology. In this long-term study of over 500 days, methane was produced by a microbial community that was fed by the mono-substrate glycolate, which was derived from engineered algae. The microbial community structure was measured on the single cell level using flow cytometry. Abiotic and operational reactor parameters were analyzed in parallel. The R-based tool flowCyBar facilitated visualization of community dynamics and indicated sub-communities involved in glycolate fermentation and methanogenesis. Cell sorting and amplicon sequencing of 16S rRNA and mcrA genes were used to identify the key organisms involved in the anaerobic conversion process. The microbial community allowed a constant fermentation, although it was sensitive to high glycolate concentrations in the feed. A linear correlation between glycolate loading rate and biogas amount was observed (R2 = 0.99) for glycolate loading rates up to 1.81 g L−1 day−1 with a maximum in biogas amount of 3635 mL day−1 encompassing 45% methane. The cytometric diversity remained high during the whole cultivation period. The dominating bacterial genera were Syntrophobotulus, Clostridia genus B55_F, Aminobacterium, and Petrimonas. Methanogenesis was almost exclusively performed by the hydrogenotrophic genus Methanobacterium.

Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=20939
Günther, S., Becker, D., Hübschmann, T., Reinert, S., Kleinsteuber, S., Müller, S., Wilhelm, C. (2018):
Long-term biogas production from glycolate by diverse and highly dynamic communities
Microorganisms 6 (4), art. 130 10.3390/microorganisms6040103