title: Improving anaerobic digestion of a cellulosic waste via routine bioaugmentation with cellulolytic microorganisms.
abstract: This study investigated routine bioaugmentation in the acid-phase of a two-phase anaerobic digestion (AD) process treating a largely cellulosic waste material generated from sweet corn processing. A proprietary cellulolytic bioculture was used for bioaugmentation with the aim of increasing substrate hydrolysis to improve overall methanogenic efficiency. In a sequencing batch experiment routine bioaugmentation achieved significantly greater soluble chemical oxygen demand (sCOD) generation (+25%) and methane production (+15%) compared to one-time bioaugmentation. In a continuous bench-scale system, routine bioaugmentation increased acid-phase sCOD by 29-68% and acetic acid concentrations by 31-34%. This benefit to hydrolysis and acetogenesis subsequently led to sustained increase in methane production (+56%) compared to non-bioaugmentation. A cursory economic analysis indicated that routine bioaugmentation could improve the economics of corn waste AD by $27-$34/dry tonne of waste. Overall, routine bioaugmentation showed significant promise for improving AD of corn waste by achieving sustained increases in substrate hydrolysis and methane production.
authors: Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1304 W Pennsylvania Ave., Urbana, IL 61801, USA. Electronic address: martinr2@illinois.edu.
authors: Ana
authors: A
authors: Martin-Ryals
authors: Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1304 W Pennsylvania Ave., Urbana, IL 61801, USA. Electronic address: schidema@illinois.edu.
authors: Lance
authors: L
authors: Schideman
authors: Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1304 W Pennsylvania Ave., Urbana, IL 61801, USA. Electronic address: pengli1@illinois.edu.
authors: Peng
authors: P
authors: Li
authors: Department of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1102 South Goodwin, Urbana, IL 61801, USA. Electronic address: hwilkins@illinois.edu.
authors: Henry
authors: H
authors: Wilkinson
authors: Microbial Energy Systems Inc., 3416 Ashwood Drive, Bloomington, IN 47401, USA. Electronic address: RICHARD_WAGNER_720@comcast.net.
authors: Richard
authors: R
authors: Wagner
mesh_terms: D000693:Anaerobiosis; D001419:Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism*; D061249:Batch Cell Culture Techniques / Q000191:economics; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D057919:Biological Oxygen Demand Analysis; D019149:Bioreactors / Q000382:microbiology; D002482:Cellulose / Q000378:metabolism*; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile / Q000032:analysis; D008697:Methane / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012037:Refuse Disposal / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D012995:Solubility; D013997:Time Factors; D003313:Zea mays / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile; D002482:Cellulose; D008697:Methane
keywords: Anaerobic digestion; Bioaugmentation; Cellulosic; Hydrolysis; Two-phase