Alkalophilic, methanogenic bacteria and fermentation method for the fast production of methane.

摘要

Methanosarcina alcaliphilum bacteria are described which are alkalophilic, methanogenic and have an optimum growth pH range of from about 8.1 to about 8.7. A preferred bacterium is Methanosarcina alcaliphilum (NY-728) FERM BP-2309. These bacteria exhibit excellent properties such as alkalophilicity and resistance to low temperature. They make it possible to carry out methane fermentation methods at an alkaline pH and at low temperature conditions. The bacteria are applied in methane fermentation in treating solid waste and waste water. Moreover, the concentration of the bacteria in a reactor can be increased within a very short time and, therefore, the size of such a reactor can be made compact.