Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 4, 2026
15:19
Development of Sulfidogenic Sludge from Marine Sediments and Trichloroethylene Reduction in an Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket Reactor
Published on: October 15, 2015
10.1K
Utilizing bioaugmentation to improve performance of a two-phase AnMBR treating sewage sludge.
Ana D Martin-Ryals1, Lance C Schideman1, Matthew Ong1
1Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA.
Environmental Technology
|October 11, 2018
Summary
Bioaugmentation enhanced primary sludge digestion in anaerobic membrane bioreactors (AnMBRs). Adding specific microbial blends improved hydrolysis, acid production, and methane yield, boosting overall efficiency.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Microbiology
- Biotechnology
- Waste Management
Background:
- Two-phase anaerobic membrane bioreactors (AnMBRs) are effective for primary sludge treatment.
- Hydrolysis and acetogenesis are critical rate-limiting steps in anaerobic digestion.
- Optimizing microbial communities can enhance biogas production and solids reduction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate bioaugmentation for improving hydrolysis and acetogenesis in the acid-phase of AnMBRs.
- To assess the impact of a microbial bioculture blend on primary sludge anaerobic digestion.
- To identify key microbial players responsible for performance enhancements.
Main Methods:
- Bioaugmentation of the acid-phase AnMBR with a hydrolytic, acidogenic, and acetogenic microbial blend.
- Comparison of bioaugmentation with a bioculture alone versus combined with recycled methane-phase sludge.
- Analysis of process performance metrics including hydrolysis, volatile fatty acid production, methane yield, and solids reduction.
- Microbial community analysis using 16S rRNA gene sequencing (Illumina MiSeq).
Main Results:
- Bioaugmentation significantly improved hydrolysis (25-38%) and acetic acid generation (31-52%).
- Methane production increased by 10-13% and solids reduction by 25-55% in bioaugmented reactors.
- Increased relative abundance of *Acetobacter* and *Syntrophomonas* species was observed.
- The relative abundance of augmented microorganisms was generally low, indicating a need for optimization.
Conclusions:
- Bioaugmentation is a viable strategy to enhance primary sludge conversion to methane in AnMBRs, particularly when initial solubility is low.
- Optimizing bioculture composition and dosage is crucial for maximizing effectiveness, stability, and cost-efficiency.
- Further research should focus on long-term stability and economic viability of bioaugmentation strategies.
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