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Changes in microbial ecology in an anaerobic reactor
1Institute of Environmental Sciences, Bogazici University, Bebek 34342, Istanbul, Turkey.
Bioresource Technology
|August 2, 2005
Summary
This study monitored microbial populations in an anaerobic reactor treating dairy wastewater. Methanogen activity decreased significantly at shorter hydraulic retention times (HRTs).
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Environmental Engineering
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Anaerobic digestion is crucial for wastewater treatment.
- Understanding microbial dynamics is key to optimizing reactor performance.
- Dairy wastewater presents unique challenges for anaerobic digestion.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate microbial community shifts in a continuous flow anaerobic reactor.
- To assess the impact of hydraulic retention time (HRT) on bacterial and methanogen populations.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of different reactor configurations for recycling.
Main Methods:
- Utilized epifluorescence microscopy and microbiological enumeration.
- Operated a laboratory-scale, completely mixed anaerobic reactor.
- Tested a range of hydraulic retention times (24 to 12 hours) with dairy wastewater.
Main Results:
- Total bacterial counts and autofluorescent methanogens decreased during reactor start-up.
- Autofluorescent methanogens constituted 5-16% of the total bacterial community.
- Methane-forming bacteria activity significantly declined at 16 and 12-hour HRTs.
Conclusions:
- Shorter HRTs negatively impact methanogen activity in this system.
- Membrane modules are potentially more effective than settling tanks for recycling in anaerobic systems.
- Optimizing HRT is critical for efficient anaerobic treatment of dairy wastewater.