In biogas processes, methane production from acetate proceeds by either aceticlastic methanogenesis or through syntrophic acetate oxidation (SAO). In the present study, the pathway for methane production from acetate was analysed; i) during a gradual increase of the ammonia concentration (final concentration 7 g NH4+−N/L) in a semi-continuous lab-scale anaerobic digester (4.3 L), operating at mesophilic temperature (37°C) or ii) in diluted enrichment cultures (100 ml) experiencing a gradual increase in ammonia, sodium, potassium and propionic acid. The pathway for methane formation was determined by calculating the 14CO2/14CH4 ratio after incubating samples with 14C-2-acetate. In the anaerobic digester, as well as in the enrichment cultures, the 14CO2/14CH4 ratio clearly increased with increasing ammonium-nitrogen concentration, i.e. as the ammonia concentration increased, a shift from the aceticlastic mechanism to the syntrophic pathway occurred. The shift was very distinct and occurred as the NH4+−N concentration rose above 3 g/l. No shift in pathway was seen during increasing concentrations of sodium, potassium or propionic acid. The shift to SAO in the biogas digester resulted in a twofold decrease in the specific gas and methane yield.
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Research Article|
April 01 2008
Ammonia, a selective agent for methane production by syntrophic acetate oxidation at mesophilic temperature
A. Schnürer;
1Department of Microbiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7025, S-750 07, Uppsala, Sweden
E-mail: anna.schnrer@mikrob.slu.se
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Å. Nordberg
Å. Nordberg
2Swedish Institute of Agricultural Engineering, P.O. Box 7033, S-750 07, Uppsala, Sweden
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Water Sci Technol (2008) 57 (5): 735–740.
Citation
A. Schnürer, Å. Nordberg; Ammonia, a selective agent for methane production by syntrophic acetate oxidation at mesophilic temperature. Water Sci Technol 1 April 2008; 57 (5): 735–740. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2008.097
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