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Microbial community composition is consistent across anaerobic digesters processing wheat-based fuel ethanol waste

Jennifer Town1, Holly Annand2, Dyan Pratt2

  • 1Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 107 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK S7N 0X2, Canada; Department of Veterinary Microbiology, WCVM, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Dr., Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B4, Canada.

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|February 19, 2014
PubMed
Summary

Adding feedlot manure to wheat ethanol plant byproducts significantly boosted methane production rates and consistency. Co-digestion with manure enhanced biogas yield beyond individual substrate potential, indicating synergistic effects for biofuel generation.

Keywords:
Quantitative PCRThermophilic anaerobic digestionThin stillageWheat ethanol byproductsWhole stillage

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Area of Science:

  • Biotechnology and Bioengineering
  • Environmental Science and Engineering
  • Anaerobic Digestion and Biogas Production

Background:

  • Dry-grind wheat-based ethanol production generates significant byproducts like whole stillage (WST), thin stillage (TST), and wet cake (WCK).
  • These lignocellulosic byproducts are potential feedstocks for anaerobic digestion to produce biogas, but their recalcitrance can limit efficiency.
  • Feedlot manure is a readily available co-substrate often rich in nutrients and microbial consortia beneficial for anaerobic digestion.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the impact of feedlot manure addition on the biochemical methane potential (BMP) of wheat ethanol plant byproducts.
  • To determine optimal ratios of byproduct to manure for enhanced methane yield and digestion stability.
  • To investigate the microbial community shifts in response to co-digestion.

Main Methods:

  • Bench-scale batch anaerobic digestion assays were performed using WST, TST, and WCK.
  • Substrates were tested individually and amended with feedlot manure at 1:1 and 2:1 ratios (volatile solids basis).
  • Methane production was monitored, and bacterial and archaeal communities were analyzed using pyrosequencing.

Main Results:

  • Manure addition consistently increased the rate and stability of methane production across all tested byproduct types.
  • Co-digestion of thin stillage and manure at 1:1 and 2:1 ratios yielded 125% and 119% of the expected methane, respectively.
  • A stable core of 42 bacterial taxa was identified across all reactors, alongside significant populations of hydrogenotrophic and acetoclastic methanogens.

Conclusions:

  • Co-digesting wheat ethanol byproducts with feedlot manure is a viable strategy to enhance biogas production efficiency and reliability.
  • Synergistic interactions between substrates and microbial communities contribute to increased methane yields.
  • The stable microbial community structure suggests resilience and adaptability during the co-digestion process.