Linking process performances and core microbial community structures in anaerobic membrane bioreactor with rotatory disk (ARMBR) system fed with high-strength food waste recycling wastewater.

ABSTRACT

This study first evaluated the process performances and microbial community structures of anaerobic rotary membrane bioreactor (ARMBR) fed with food waste recycling wastewater (FRW). Three identical ARMBRs were operated under different organic loading rate (OLR) conditions (1.5, 3.0, and 6.0 kg COD m-3 d-1) after the same start-up periods. The start-up performances and archaeal community structures differed among the ARMBRs, probably due to the sudden OLR shock. After the start-up, bio-methane was stably produced until the end of the operational period, with all of the ARMBRs showing >95% COD removal efficiency. Methanosaeta spp. was the predominant methanogen; diverse hydrogenotrophic methanogens co-existed. Bacteroidetes-like bacteria and Candidatus Cloacamonas acted as major fermentative bacteria producing acetate or hydrogen for the growth of methanogens. The results suggest that our ARMBR system can be a promising option to manage high-strength organic wastewater such as FRW.