Modelling start-up performance of anaerobic digestion of saline-rich macro-algae.

Some of the key factors affecting the adaptation of anaerobic digestion processes to increasing levels of salinity were determined in batch tests using brown seaweed as a feedstock. It was found that cultures seeded with non-saline anaerobic inoculum required an adaptation period of up to two months to reach the same level of methane production rate as in those cultures seeded with saline-adapted inoculum. The Anaerobic Digestion Model No.1 (ADM1) was modified to include an extra inhibition function to account for the effect of salinity, and calibrated using a set of experimental data obtained from batch biochemical methane potential tests. After calibration, the model was able to accurately predict methane production rates. Thus, the results show that, in the absence of saline-adapted inoculum, non-saline inoculum can be used for the start-up of anaerobic digestion systems treating saline-rich feedstocks.

The impact and mode of action of phenolic compounds extracted from brown seaweed on mixed anaerobic microbial cultures.

AIMS: This study discusses the effect of phenolic compounds extracted from brown seaweed (phlorotannins) on mixed microbial cultures found in anaerobic systems. METHODS AND RESULTS: Assays were conducted with phloroglucinol as the nonpolymerized form of phlorotannin and with phlorotannins extracted from the brown seaweed Laminaria digitata. Electron micrographs revealed that phlorotannins induce significant extra- and intracellular effects upon cells, with the disruption of cell membranes observed with most micro-organisms. Microscopy results were further confirmed by cell membrane leakage assays demonstrating that phloroglucinol strongly affects cell membrane permeability. However, cell membrane leakage could not be observed with phlorotannins as the cell suspension immediately started to coagulate and impaired spectrophotometric measurements. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that the bactericidal activity of phlorotannins is a function of the level of polymerization of the compounds. By monitoring intermediary compounds during the anaerobic digestion of phlorotannins, it was also found that higher energy consumption is required by micro-organisms for survival under stress induced by phlorotannins. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The successful anaerobic degradation of brown seaweed is thus likely to be dependant on the concentration of phenolic compounds present and their bactericidal effect on micro-organisms. This is the first article to posit a probable mode of action for the antimicrobial effect of phlorotannins.

Modelling sodium inhibition on the anaerobic digestion process.

Sodium is a known process inhibitor in anaerobic systems and impacts on methanogens through an increase of osmotic pressure or complete dehydration of microorganisms. In this study, a combination of experimental and modelling approaches has been employed to determine and simulate sodium inhibition on the anaerobic digestion process. The ADM1, which has been successfully used in modelling anaerobic processes, has been modified to include an extra inhibition function that considers the effect of sodium on acetoclastic methanogens and the impact on biogas production and composition. A non-competitive inhibition function was added to the rate of acetate uptake for the model to take into account sodium toxicity. Experimental studies consisted of both batch and reactor tests to obtain parameters for model calibration and validation. The calibrated model was used to predict the effect of ammonia nitrogen on sodium toxicity. It was found that relatively low sodium levels can bring about significant levels of process inhibition in the presence of high levels of ammonia. On the other hand, where the concentration of ammonia is relatively low, the tolerance threshold for sodium ions increases. Hence, care must be taken in the use of sodium hydroxide for pH adjustment during anaerobic digestion of protein-rich substrates.