Microbial community redundancy in anaerobic digestion drives process recovery after salinity exposure

De Vrieze, J., Christiaens, M. E.R., Walraedt, D., Devooght, A., Ijaz, U. Z. and Boon, N. (2017) Microbial community redundancy in anaerobic digestion drives process recovery after salinity exposure. Water Research, 111, pp. 109-117. (doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2016.12.042) (PMID:28063283)

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Abstract

Anaerobic digestion of high-salinity wastewaters often results in process inhibition due to the susceptibility of the methanogenic archaea. The ability of the microbial community to deal with increased salinity levels is of high importance to ensure process perseverance or recovery after failure. The exact strategy of the microbial community to ensure process endurance is, however, often unknown. In this study, we investigated how the microbial community is able to recover process performance following a disturbance through the application of high-salinity molasses wastewater. After a stable start-up, methane production quickly decreased from 625 ± 17 to 232 ± 35 mL CH4 L−1 d−1 with a simultaneous accumulation in volatile fatty acids up to 20.5 ± 1.4 g COD L−1, indicating severe process disturbance. A shift in feedstock from molasses wastewater to waste activated sludge resulted in complete process recovery. However, the bacterial and archaeal communities did not return to their original composition as before the disturbance, despite similar process conditions. Microbial community diversity was recovered to similar levels as before disturbance, which indicates that the metabolic potential of the community was maintained. A mild increase in ammonia concentration after process recovery did not influence methane production, indicating a well-balanced microbial community. Hence, given the change in community composition following recovery after salinity disturbance, it can be assumed that microbial community redundancy was the major strategy to ensure the continuation of methane production, without loss of functionality or metabolic flexibility.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Ijaz, Dr Umer
Authors: De Vrieze, J., Christiaens, M. E.R., Walraedt, D., Devooght, A., Ijaz, U. Z., and Boon, N.
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Infrastructure and Environment
Journal Name:Water Research
Publisher:Elsevier
ISSN:0043-1354
ISSN (Online):1879-2448
Published Online:26 December 2016
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd.
First Published:First published in Water Research 111:109-117
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

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Project CodeAward NoProject NamePrincipal InvestigatorFunder's NameFunder RefLead Dept
652771Understanding microbial community through in situ environmental 'omic data synthesisUmer IjazNatural Environment Research Council (NERC)NE/L011956/1ENG - ENGINEERING INFRASTRUCTURE & ENVIR