Enzymatic characterization of microbial isolates from lignocellulose waste composting: chronological evolution

Successful composting is dependent upon microbial performance. An interdependent relationship is established between environmental and nutritional properties that rule the process and characteristics of the dominant microbial communities. To reach a better understanding of this relationship, the dynamics of major metabolic activities associated with cultivable isolates according to composting phases were evaluated. Ammonification (72.04%), amylolysis (35.65%), hemicellulolyis (30.75%), and proteolysis (33.61%) were the more frequent activities among isolates, with mesophilic bacteria and fungi as the prevalent microbial communities. Bacteria were mainly responsible for starch hydrolysis, while a higher percentage of hemicellulolytic and proteolytic isolates were ascribable to fungi. Composting seems to exert a functional selective effect on microbial communities by promoting the presence of specific metabolically dominant groups at each stage of the process. Moreover, the application of conglomerate analysis led to the statement of a clear correlation between the chronology of the process and characteristics of the associated microbiota. According to metabolic capabilities of the isolates and their density, three clear clusters were obtained corresponding to the start of the process, including the first thermophilic peak, the rest of the bio-oxidative stage, and the maturation phase.