Characterization of microbial community dynamics during the anaerobic co-digestion of thermally pre-treated slaughterhouse wastes with glycerin addition.

Microbial community dynamics during the anaerobic co-digestion of pig manure, pasteurized slaughterhouse waste and glycerin were studied in a lab-scale CSTR. The feed composition was optimized through progressive co-substrate additions for enhanced methane production and organic matter removal without accumulation of intermediate compounds. Microbial community structure of biomass samples was studied by means of qPCR and DGGE profiling of 16S rRNA genes (Bacteria and Archaea), and genus-specific qPCR of the methyl coenzyme M reductase gene (mcrA), which encodes for an enzyme universally involved in methanogenesis. The composition of the dominant bacterial populations remained relatively stable, when compared to those in the influent, but the highest changes were observed upon the introduction of glycerin. Biodiversity of archaea was restricted to a few representatives of the genera Methanosaeta and Methanosarcina, but Methanospirillum sp. was detected only when glycerin was introduced in the feeding. Glycerin supplementation coincided with the strongest increase in methane yield (from 0.22 to 0.64 m3CH4 m-3 d-1).

Effects of thermal pre-treatments on solid slaughterhouse waste methane potential.

The effects of thermal pre-treatments on the biogas production potential of two solid slaughterhouse waste types (poultry and piggery slaughterhouse by-products) were assessed by means of batch experiments. Both animal by-products were characterized in terms of fat, protein and carbohydrate concentrations. The selected thermal pre-treatments, pasteurization (70 °C for 60 min) and sterilization (133 °C and 3 bars for 20 min), are included in the current European regulations for the disposal or use of animal by-products. The pre-treatments produced notable improvements in organic matter solubilization, but had different effects on the anaerobic bioavailability of the treated substrates. The methane yield of the initial volatile solids did not increase significantly after pre-treatment when carbohydrate concentration was high, reaching a maximum of 0.48 m(CH4)(3) kg(VS)(-1) for the pasteurized poultry waste. However, this yield increased by up to 52.7% after pasteurization and 66.1% after sterilization for the lower carbohydrate concentration sample (piggery waste), reaching maxima of 0.88 and 0.96 m(CH4)(3) kg(VS)(-1), respectively. The maximum methane production rates, measured as the maximum slope of the accumulated methane production curve, per unit of initial biomass content, were also different. While this rate increased by 52.6% and 211.6% for piggery waste after pasteurization and sterilization, respectively, it decreased by 43.8% for poultry waste after pasteurization with respect to untreated waste. Compounds with low biodegradability that are produced by Maillard reactions during thermal pre-treatment could explain the low bioavailability observed for waste with a high carbohydrate concentration.

Biomass adaptation over anaerobic co-digestion of sewage sludge and trapped grease waste.

The feasibility of sewage sludge co-digestion using intermediate waste generated inside a wastewater treatment plant, i.e. trapped grease waste from the dissolved air flotation unit, has been assessed in a continuous stirred lab reactor operating at 35°C with a hydraulic retention time of 20 days. Three different periods of co-digestion were carried out as the grease waste dose was increased. When the grease waste addition was 23% of the volatile solids fed (organic loading rate 3.0 kg(COD)m(-3)d(-1)), an increase in methane yield of 138% was reported. Specific activity tests suggested that anaerobic biomass had adapted to the co-substrate. The adapted inoculum showed higher acetoclastic methanogenic and ß-oxidation synthrophic acetogenic activities but lower hydrogenotrophic methanogenic activity. The results indicate that a slow increase in the grease waste dose could be a strategy that favours biomass acclimation to fat-rich co-substrate, increases long chain fatty acid degradation and reduces the latter's inhibitory effect.