Microbial Community Structure in Anaerobic Digestion for Green Energy Production: A Mini Review

Abstract

Anaerobic digestion (AD) is a process driven by microbes that supports renewable energy production, together with waste utilization. The role of microorganisms is undisputable as they are involved in the subsequent processes of hydrolysis, acidogenesis, acetogenesis, and methanogenesis. Microbial communities vary in wide ranges, depending on the type of substrates used and the conditions provided. Anaerobic systems are addressed, operating under mesophilic and thermophilic conditions for the biodegradation of agricultural wastes for biogas/biomethane production. AD comprises successive degradation pathways and syntrophic microbial consortia activities. Identifying the microbial content in digesters could help attaining new information on the digester performance. Archaeal and bacterial associations have to be determined as their important role to be elucidated. Molecular-biological methods of metagenomics are applied to identify the residing mixed cultures therein. Methanogens have been attained to the domain Archaea. Bacterial and archaeal populations, specific for each stage are differentiated in thermophilic or mesophilic conditions as temperature plays a crucial role in AD process, especially for hydrolysis and methanogenesis and determines microorganisms’ variety.

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Identifiers

DOI

10.23880/oajmb-16000298

Journal

Open Access Journal of Microbiology & Biotechnology

Year

2024