title: Inoculum selection influences the biochemical methane potential of agro-industrial substrates.
abstract: Obtaining a reliable estimation of the methane potential of organic waste streams in anaerobic digestion, for which a biochemical methane potential (BMP) test is often used, is of high importance. Standardization of this BMP test is required to ensure inter-laboratory repeatability and accuracy of the BMP results. Therefore, guidelines were set out; yet, these do not provide sufficient information concerning origin of and the microbial community in the test inoculum. Here, the specific contribution of the methanogenic community on the BMP test results was evaluated. The biomethane potential of four different substrates (molasses, bio-refinery waste, liquid manure and high-rate activated sludge) was determined by means of four different inocula from full-scale anaerobic digestion plants. A significant effect of the selected inoculum on the BMP result was observed for two out of four substrates. This inoculum effect could be attributed to the abundance of methanogens and a potential inhibiting effect in the inoculum itself, demonstrating the importance of inoculum selection for BMP testing. We recommend the application of granular sludge as an inoculum, because of its higher methanogenic abundance and activity, and protection from bulk solutions, compared with other inocula.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Microbial Ecology and Technology (LabMET), Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, Gent, B-9000, Belgium.
authors.forename: Jo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: De Vrieze
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Microbial Ecology and Technology (LabMET), Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, Gent, B-9000, Belgium.|Innolab, Derbystraat 223, Sint-Denijs-Westrem, 9051, Belgium.
authors.forename: Linde
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Raport
authors.affiliation: Innolab, Derbystraat 223, Sint-Denijs-Westrem, 9051, Belgium.
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Willems
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Microbial Ecology and Technology (LabMET), Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, Gent, B-9000, Belgium.
authors.forename: Silke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Verbrugge
authors.affiliation: Department of Biosystems Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, Gent, B-9000, Belgium.
authors.forename: Eveline
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Volcke
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry and Applied Biochemistry, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, Gent, B-9000, Belgium.
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Meers
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA.
authors.forename: Largus T
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Angenent
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Microbial Ecology and Technology (LabMET), Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, Gent, B-9000, Belgium.
authors.forename: Nico
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Boon
mesh_terms: D000693:Anaerobiosis; D001711:Biotransformation; D008372:Manure; D008697:Methane / Q000378:metabolism*; D059013:Microbial Consortia; D008965:Molasses; D012722:Sewage / Q000382:microbiology*; D014866:Waste Products
chemical_list: D008372:Manure; D012722:Sewage; D014866:Waste Products; D008697:Methane