Operation-driven heterogeneity and overlooked feed-associated populations in global anaerobic digester microbiome

Research output: Journal Publications and ReviewsRGC 21 - Publication in refereed journalpeer-review

78 Scopus Citations
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Author(s)

  • Ran Mei
  • Masaru K. Nobu
  • Takashi Narihiro
  • Kyohei Kuroda
  • Julian Muñoz Sierra
  • Zhuoying Wu
  • Lin Ye
  • Po-Heng Lee
  • Jules B. van Lier
  • Michael J. McInerney
  • Yoichi Kamagata
  • Wen-Tso Liu

Related Research Unit(s)

Detail(s)

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)77-84
Journal / PublicationWater Research
Volume124
Online published20 Jul 2017
Publication statusPublished - 1 Nov 2017

Abstract

Anaerobic digester (AD) microbiomes harbor complex, interacting microbial populations to achieve biomass reduction and biogas production, however how they are influenced by operating conditions and feed sludge microorganisms remain unclear. These were addressed by analyzing the microbial communities of 90 full-scale digesters at 51 municipal wastewater treatment plants from five countries. Heterogeneity detected in community structures suggested that no single AD microbiome could be defined. Instead, the AD microbiomes were classified into eight clusters driven by operating conditions (e.g., pretreatment, temperature range, and salinity), whereas geographic location of the digesters did not have significant impacts. Comparing digesters populations with those present in the corresponding feed sludge led to the identification of a hitherto overlooked feed-associated microbial group (i.e., the residue populations). They accounted for up to 21.4% of total sequences in ADs operated at low temperature, presumably due to ineffective digestion, and as low as 0.8% in ADs with pretreatment. Within each cluster, a core microbiome was defined, including methanogens, syntrophic metabolizers, fermenters, and the newly described residue populations. Our work provides insights into the key factors shaping full-scale AD microbiomes in a global scale, and draws attentions to the overlooked residue populations.

Research Area(s)

  • Anaerobic digester, Feed sludge, Microbiome, Operation

Citation Format(s)

Operation-driven heterogeneity and overlooked feed-associated populations in global anaerobic digester microbiome. / Mei, Ran; Nobu, Masaru K.; Narihiro, Takashi et al.
In: Water Research, Vol. 124, 01.11.2017, p. 77-84.

Research output: Journal Publications and ReviewsRGC 21 - Publication in refereed journalpeer-review