Identification of Anaerobic Microorganisms for Converting Kitchen Waste to Biogas

Authors: A. Malakahmad, S.M. Zain, N.E. Ahmad Basri, S. R. Mohamed Kutty, M. H. Isa

Abstract:

Anaerobic digestion process is one of the alternative methods to convert organic waste into methane gas which is a fuel and energy source. Activities of various kinds of microorganisms are the main factor for anaerobic digestion which produces methane gas. Therefore, in this study a modified Anaerobic Baffled Reactor (ABR) with working volume of 50 liters was designed to identify the microorganisms through biogas production. The mixture of 75% kitchen waste and 25% sewage sludge was used as substrate. Observations on microorganisms in the ABR showed that there exists a small amount of protozoa (5%) and fungi (2%) in the system, but almost 93% of the microorganism population consists of bacteria. It is definitely clear that bacteria are responsible for anaerobic biodegradation of kitchen waste. Results show that in the acidification zone of the ABR (front compartments of reactor) fast growing bacteria capable of growth at high substrate levels and reduced pH was dominant. A shift to slower growing scavenging bacteria that grow better at higher pH was occurring towards the end of the reactor. Due to the ability of activity in acetate environment the percentages of Methanococcus, Methanosarcina and Methanotrix were higher than other kinds of methane former in the system.

Keywords: Anaerobic microorganism identification, Kitchenwaste, Biogas.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI): doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1079246

References:

[1] A.J. Ragauskas, C.K. Williams, B.H. Davison, G. Britovsek, J. Cairney, C.A. Eckert, W.J. Frederick Jr., J.P. Hallett, D.J. Leak and C.L. Liotta et al., The path forward for biofuels and biomaterials, Science 311 (2006), pp. 484-489.
[2] G.W. Huber, S. Iborra and A. Corma, Synthesis of transportation fuels from biomass: chemistry, catalysts, and engineering, Chem Rev 106 (2006), pp. 4044-4098.
[3] J.W. Gosselink, Pathways to a more sustainable production of energy: sustainable hydrogen ÔÇö a research objective for Shell, Int J Hydrogen Energy 27 (2002), pp. 1125-1129.
[4] G. Gonzalez-Gil, R. Kleerebezem, A. van Aelst, G.R. Zoutberg, A.I. Versprille and G. Lettinga, Toxicity effects of formaldehyde on methanol degrading sludge and its anaerobic conversion in Biobed® expanded granular sludge bed (EGSB) reactors, Water Sci Technol 40 (1999), pp. 195-202.
[5] R. Kleerebezem and H. Macarie, Treating industrial wastewater: Anaerobic digestion comes of age, Chem Eng 110 (2003), pp. 56-64.
[6] J.B. van Lier, P.N.L. Lens and L.W.H. Pol, Anaerobic treatment for C and S removal in ÔÇÿzero-discharge- paper mills: effects of process design on S removal efficiencies, Water Sci Technol 44 (2001), pp. 189-195.
[7] S. Kortekaas, G. Vidal, Y.L. He, G. Lettinga and J.A. Field, Anaerobicaerobic treatment of toxic pulping black liquor with upfront effluent recirculation, J Ferment Bioeng 86 (1998), pp. 97-110.
[8] L. Seghezzo, C.M. Cuevas, A.P. Trupiano, R.G. Guerra, S.M. Gonzalez, G. Zeeman and G. Lettinga, Stability and activity of anaerobic sludge from UASB reactors treating sewage in subtropical regions, Water Sci Technol 54 (2006), pp. 223-229.
[9] P., A., Vesilind, W., Worrell & D., Renihart, Solid Waste Engineering (2002) CA, USA: Thomson learning.
[10] W.P. Barber & D.C. Stuckey, The use of the anaerobic baffled reactor (ABR) for wastewater treatment: a review. Water Resource 33 (1999): pp. 1559-1578.
[11] APHA - AWWA, 2005. Standard Methods for Water and Wastewater Examinations. 21th ed. American Public Health Association/American Water Works Association: Washington, DC.
[12] R. M. Edwards, Inexpensive device for the aerobic and anaerobic sampling of microorganisms in lake and shallow ocean waters: Applied Microbiology 29 (1975): pp. 506-509.
[13] D. P. Kunte, T. Y. Yeole, D. R. Ranade, Inactivation of Vibrio cholerae during anaerobic digestion of human night soil: Bioresource Technology, 75 (2000): pp. 149-151.
[14] V.N. Anupama, P.N. Amrutha, G.S. Chitra, B. Krishnakumar: Phosphatase activity in anaerobic bioreactors for wastewater treatment Water Research, 42 (2008): pp. 2796-2802.
[15] X. Yang, , G. Garuti, , R. Farina, V. Parisi, & A. Tilche, Process differences between a sludge bed filter and an anaerobic baffled reactor treating soluble wastes. Proceeding of 5th International Symposium on Anaerobic Digestion, Bologna, Italy, 1988, pp. 355-360.
[16] Polprasert, C. 1996. Organic waste recycling, technology and management. 2nd ed. Chichester: John Wiley and sons Publication.
[17] A. Tilche, & X. Yang, Light and scanning electron microscope observations on the granular biomass of experimental SBAF and HABR reactors. Proceedings of Gasmat Workshop, Netherlands, 1987 pp. 170- 178.
[18] R. Boopathy, & A. Tilche, Pelletization of biomass in a hybrid anaerobic baffled reactor (HABR) treating acidified wastewater. Bioresource Technology 40 (1992) : pp. 101-107