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
Scientists
PhD students
Fabian Bonk
Flávio César Freire Baleeiro
Bruna Grosch Schroeder
Andreas Hardy Keller
Bin Liu
Washington Logroño
Rico Lucas
Emine Gözde Özbayram
Students
Felix Kaufmann
Paul Kluge
Carolin Köbe
Johanna Mischke
Michael Schmidt
Technicians
Elke Häusler
Ute Lohse
Guest scientists
Dr. Olatunde Samuel Dahunsi
Alumni
Lisa-Marie Bangen
Birke Brumme
Dr. Franziska Bühligen
Dr. Tarek M.M. Hamed Elzamel
Dr. Christin Koch
Dr. Athaydes Leite
Dr. Zuopeng Lv
Dr. Denny Popp
Dr. Katharina Porsch
Sebastian Röther
Dr. Babett Wintsche
Current Projects
Helmholtz Research Programme Terrestrial Environment: Chemicals in the Environment
Completed Projects
Monitoring of biogas plants by analysing stable isotope ratios (ISOTOP-BIOGAS), FNR FKZ 22013013
External collaboration partners
Deutsches BiomasseForschungsZentrum (DBFZ) / Biochemical Conversion Department / Biorefineries Department
Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences / Department of Engineering
Leipzig University / Institute of Organic Chemistry
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)
Microbial Physiology Group, Wageningen University