Methane Production, Microbial Community, and Volatile Fatty Acids Profiling During Anaerobic Digestion Under Different Organic Loading

Paulina Rusanowska, Marcin Zieliński (), Marta Kisielewska, Magda Dudek, Łukasz Paukszto and Marcin Dębowski
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Paulina Rusanowska: Department of Environmental Engineering, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Warszawska 117, 10-950 Olsztyn, Poland
Marcin Zieliński: Department of Environmental Engineering, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Warszawska 117, 10-950 Olsztyn, Poland
Marta Kisielewska: Department of Environmental Engineering, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Warszawska 117, 10-950 Olsztyn, Poland
Magda Dudek: Department of Environmental Engineering, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Warszawska 117, 10-950 Olsztyn, Poland
Łukasz Paukszto: Department of Botany and Nature Protection, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Plac Łódzki 1, 10-721 Olsztyn, Poland
Marcin Dębowski: Department of Environmental Engineering, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Warszawska 117, 10-950 Olsztyn, Poland

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 3, 1-13

Abstract: The organic loading rate (OLR) is a crucial parameter in the anaerobic digestion of lignocellulosic biomass. Optimizing the OLR ensures a balanced substrate release for gradual hydrolysis, thereby preventing the accumulation of inhibitors that can disrupt methanogenesis. Its significance lies in its direct impact on the stability, efficiency, and overall performance of the digestion process. This study investigated the long-term anaerobic co-digestion of lignocellulosic biomass ( Sida hermaphrodita ) and cattle manure under varying organic loading rates (S1: 2 kgVS/m 3 ·d, S2: 3 kgVS/m 3 ·d, and S3: 4 kgVS/m 3 ·d). Methane production, microbial community dynamics, and volatile fatty acid (VFA) profiles were analyzed. During S1 and S2, methane production was stable, achieving 446.3 ± 153.7 NL/kgVS and 773.4 ± 107.8 NL/kgVS, respectively. However, at S3, methane production declined, accompanied by a pH drop from 7.68 to 6.11, an increase in the FOS/TAC ratio from 0.272 to 0.35, and the accumulation of acetic and propionic acids at the end of the digestion cycle. Microbial analysis revealed that the abundance of Firmicutes increased with higher OLRs, reaching 93.6% in S3, while the Bacteroidota abundance decreased, reaching 3.0% in S3. During S1, methane production occurred through both acetoclastic and hydrogenotrophic pathways.

Keywords: anaerobic digestion; lignocellulose biomass; Fastidiosipila; Caldicoprobacter (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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