Anaerobic digestion of biowaste under extreme ammonia concentration: Identification of key microbial phylotypes

• Published in: Bioresource technology Vol. 207; pp. 92 - 101
• Main Authors: Poirier, Simon, Desmond-Le Quéméner, Elie, Madigou, Céline, Bouchez, Théodore, Chapleur, Olivier
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.05.2016; Elsevier
• Subjects: 16S rRNA gene sequencing; Ammonia; Ammonia - chemistry; Anaerobiosis; ARISA; Bacteria, Anaerobic - genetics; Bioreactors - microbiology; Environmental Sciences; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; IC50; Inhibitory Concentration 50; Methane - chemistry; Methanoculleus; Methanomicrobiaceae - genetics; Methanosarcina; Methanosarcina - genetics; Phenotype; Phylogeny; Principal Component Analysis; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S - genetics; Ruminococcus; Ruminococcus - genetics; Software; Temperature; Treponema; Treponema - genetics; Ammonia; 16S rRNA gene sequencing; ARISA; Principal Component Analysis; IC50; IC; SEQUENCAGE 16S; AZOTE AMMONIACAL
• ISSN: 0960-8524; 1873-2976
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2016.01.124

[Display omitted] •Microbial community shifts were investigated from 0.0 up to 50.0g/L of TAN.•Ultimate CH4 yield was not impaired by TAN up to 25.0g/L.•Methanosarcina populations were present up to 25.0g/L of TAN.•Treponema relative abundance increased with TAN concentration up to 10.0g/L.•Abundant Caldicoprobacter populations detected from 5.0 up to 25.0g/L of TAN. Ammonia inhibition represents a major operational issue for anaerobic digestion (AD). In order to get more insights into AD microbiota resistance, anaerobic batch reactors performances were investigated under a wide range of Total Ammonia Nitrogen (TAN) concentrations up to 50.0g/L at 35°C. The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) value was determined to be 19.0g/L. Microbial community dynamics revealed that above a TAN concentration of 10.0g/L, remarkable modifications within archaeal and bacterial communities occurred. 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis showed a gradual methanogenic shift between two OTUs from genus Methanosarcina when TAN concentration increased up to 25.0g/L. Proportion of potential syntrophic microorganisms such as Methanoculleus and Treponema progressively raised with increasing TAN up to 10.0 and 25.0g/L respectively, while Syntrophomonas and Ruminococcus groups declined. In 25.0g/L assays, Caldicoprobacter were dominant. This study highlights the emergence of AD key phylotypes at extreme ammonia concentrations.