Microbiology of Anaerobic Systems

Research Topics

Anaerobic microorganisms, among them the oldest life-forms on Earth, display the most manifold metabolic pathways and lifestyles that have been ever invented by evolution, such as various mechanisms for energy conservation, carbon fixation, elemental cycling, fermentative conversion of organic matter and syntrophic interactions, enabling life on the thermodynamic edge. Anaerobic microbial communities play essential roles in biogeochemical cycles, natural attenuation of contaminated sites and various biotechnological processes, such as wastewater treatment, anaerobic digestion of organic waste and fermentative formation of valuable products.

The MicAS group studies the microbial ecology and physiology of anaerobic microbial communities in natural and engineered environments in order to identify microbial key players and their functions and to elucidate carbon and energy flows as well as microbial interactions. We aim at the biotechnological application of anaerobic microbiota, a deeper understanding of their functions in microbial ecosystem services, and novel insights into the ecophysiology of not yet cultured microbes (microbial dark matter).

In engineered systems such as anaerobic biorectors we develop microbiological strategies to optimize the production of biogas and other fermentation products by open mixed cultures (reactor microbiomes). The main objectives are i) to identify microbial parameters for process control and ii) to exploit novel feedstocks and microbial resources for the production of chemical building blocks and biofuels from renewable resources.

In environmental systems, we aim at the identification of microbial key players in biogeochemical cycles and contaminant degradation as well as the elucidation of the ecophysiological role of not yet cultured microbes.

Our research topics in detail:

• Anaerobic digestion of lignocellulosic and nitrogen-rich waste
• Bioaugmentation of anaerobic bioreactors
• Biomethanation of hydrogen from excess electricity (Power-to-Gas)
• Biotechnological application of anaerobic fermentations (carboxylate platform, syngas platform)
• Carbon flow and syntrophic interactions in anaerobic consortia
• Metagenome-based analysis of metabolic networks in anaerobic consortia
• Microbial ecology of hydrocarbon-contaminated aquifers
• Process monitoring based on biogas isotopic signature
• Trace elements in anaerobic digestion

Head

Dr. Sabine Kleinsteuber

Current Projects

Helmholtz Research Programme Renewable Energies: Sustainable Biotechnology and Bioeconomy (SusBioTech)

Helmholtz Research Programme Terrestrial Environment: Chemicals in the Environment

INNO INDIGO IPP3 S&T Biobased Energy: Development of efficient biomass conversion routes for biofuel production and utilisation (CONVER-B), BMBF FKZ 01DQ17016

IBÖM02: Biobased caproic and caprylic acid – Production, separation, marketing strategy (CapAcidy), BMBF FKZ 031B0389B

ERANet-LAC: Valorisation of agricultural residues via anaerobic digestion: from biogas to carboxylates (carboxAiD), BMBF FKZ 01DN19108

Completed Projects

Monitoring of biogas plants by analysing stable isotope ratios (ISOTOP-BIOGAS), FNR FKZ 22013013

Sustainable bioeconomy in Brazil: Bioenergy from biogas using various types of waste substrates from the Brazilian bioethanol industry (iNoPa)

Trace element supply by energy crops - optimised process biology in agricultural biogas plants (NiCo), FNR FKZ 22019214

External collaboration partners

Deutsches BiomasseForschungsZentrum (DBFZ) / Biochemical Conversion Department / Biorefineries Department

Isodetect

Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences / Department of Engineering

Leipzig University / Institute of Organic Chemistry

Georg-August-University Göttingen, Geoscientific Centre, Dept. Sedimentology and Environmental Geology

IWAR Institute of TU Darmstadt / Material Flow Management and Resource Economy

Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) / Institute for Pulsed Power and Microwave Technology

Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) / Chair of Technical Biology 

University of Konstanz, Department of Biology

University of Eastern Finnland, School of Forest Sciences

Jadavpur University, Chemical Engineering Department

Department of Microbiology, Eötvös Loránd University of Science, Budapest

Inter Baltic Biogas Arena (IBBA)

SLU Biogas Center

Microbial Physiology Group, Wageningen University

Department of Engineering, Aarhus University

Microbial Ecology Group, Istanbul Technical University/Environmental Engineering Dept., Bogazici University/Inst. Environmental Sciences

Landmark University, Dept. Biological Sciences

ESPOL Polytechnic University, Environmental and Chemical Sciences Dept.

Federal Institute of Goiás, Dept. Chemistry and Sustainable Process Technologies