title: Augmented biogas production from protein-rich substrates and associated metagenomic changes.
abstract: This study demonstrates that appropriate adaptation of the microbial community to protein-rich biomass can lead to sustainable biogas production. The process of acclimation to these unusual mono-substrates was controlled by the protease activity of the microbial community. Meat extract (C/N=3.32) and kitchen waste (C/N=12.43) were used as biogas substrates. Metagenome analysis highlighted several mesophilic strains that displayed a preference for protein degradation. Bacillus coagulans, Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas fluorescens were chosen for detailed investigation. Pure cultures were added to biogas reactors fed solely with protein-rich substrates. The bioaugmentation resulted in a 50% increase in CH4 production even without any acclimation. The survival and biological activity of the added bacteria were followed in fed-batch fermenters by qPCR. Stable biogas production was observed for an extended period of time in laboratory CSTR reactors fed with biomass of low C/N.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, University of Szeged, H-6726 Szeged, Közép fasor 52, Hungary; Institute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Center, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, H-6726 Szeged, Temesvári krt. 52, Hungary. Electronic address: kovacse@brc.hu.
authors.forename: Etelka
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kovács
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, University of Szeged, H-6726 Szeged, Közép fasor 52, Hungary. Electronic address: roland.w@freemail.hu.
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wirth
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Center, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, H-6726 Szeged, Temesvári krt. 52, Hungary. Electronic address: maroti.gergely@brc.mta.hu.
authors.forename: Gergely
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Maróti
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, University of Szeged, H-6726 Szeged, Közép fasor 52, Hungary. Electronic address: bagiz@brc.hu.
authors.forename: Zoltán
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Bagi
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Biology and Experimental Dental Research, University of Szeged, H-6720 Szeged, Tisza L. krt. 64, Hungary. Electronic address: stoma@stoma.szote.u-szeged.hu.
authors.forename: Katalin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nagy
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Biology and Experimental Dental Research, University of Szeged, H-6720 Szeged, Tisza L. krt. 64, Hungary. Electronic address: minarovits.janos@stoma.szote.u-szeged.hu.
authors.forename: János
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Minárovits
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, University of Szeged, H-6726 Szeged, Közép fasor 52, Hungary; Institute of Biophysics, Biological Research Center, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, H-6726 Szeged, Temesvári krt. 52, Hungary. Electronic address: rakhely@brc.hu.
authors.forename: Gábor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rákhely
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, University of Szeged, H-6726 Szeged, Közép fasor 52, Hungary; Department of Oral Biology and Experimental Dental Research, University of Szeged, H-6720 Szeged, Tisza L. krt. 64, Hungary; Institute of Biophysics, Biological Research Center, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, H-6726 Szeged, Temesvári krt. 52, Hungary. Electronic address: Kovacs.kornel@brc.mta.hu.
authors.forename: Kornél L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Kovács
mesh_terms: D000693:Anaerobiosis; D001419:Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism; D061249:Batch Cell Culture Techniques; D056804:Biofuels; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile / Q000032:analysis; D008460:Meat; D056186:Metagenomics; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D014675:Vegetables / Q000737:chemistry; D014866:Waste Products / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile; D011506:Proteins; D014866:Waste Products
keywords: Anaerobic degradation; Bioaugmentation; Biogas; Metagenomics; Protein-rich waste