title: Dynamics of the microbial community during continuous methane fermentation in continuously stirred tank reactors.
abstract: Methane fermentation is an attractive technology for the treatment of organic wastes and wastewaters. However, the process is difficult to control, and treatment rates and digestion efficiency require further optimization. Understanding the microbiology mechanisms of methane fermentation is of fundamental importance to improving this process. In this review, we summarize the dynamics of microbial communities in methane fermentation chemostats that are operated using completely stirred tank reactors (CSTRs). Each chemostat was supplied with one substrate as the sole carbon source. The substrates include acetate, propionate, butyrate, long-chain fatty acids, glycerol, protein, glucose, and starch. These carbon sources are general substrates and intermediates of methane fermentation. The factors that affect the structure of the microbial community are discussed. The carbon source, the final product, and the operation conditions appear to be the main factors that affect methane fermentation and determine the structure of the microbial community. Understanding the structure of the microbial community during methane fermentation will guide the design and operation of practical wastewater treatments.
authors.affiliation: College of Architecture and Environment, Sichuan University, No. 24, South Section 1, First Ring Road, Chengdu, Sichuan 610065, China. Electronic address: tangyq@scu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Yue-Qin
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science, Faculty of Applied Life Sciences, Niigata University of Pharmacy and Applied Life Sciences (NUPALS), 265-1 Higashijima, Akiha-ku, Niigata, Niigata 956-8603, Japan.
authors.forename: Toru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shigematsu
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Science and Technology, Kumamoto University, 2-39-1 Kurokami, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto 860-0862, Japan.
authors.forename: Shigeru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Morimura
authors.affiliation: College of Architecture and Environment, Sichuan University, No. 24, South Section 1, First Ring Road, Chengdu, Sichuan 610065, China.
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kida
mesh_terms: D001421:Bacteria, Anaerobic / Q000378:metabolism*; D019149:Bioreactors / Q000382:microbiology*; D002244:Carbon / Q000378:metabolism; D005285:Fermentation; D008697:Methane / Q000378:metabolism*; D062065:Wastewater; D018508:Water Purification
chemical_list: D002244:Carbon; D008697:Methane; D062065:Wastewater
keywords: Anaerobic digestion; Chemostat; Continuous methane fermentation; Continuous stirred tank reactor; Microbial community; Phylogenetic analysis