Bioaugmentation of anaerobic digester systems

摘要

Disclosed herein are methods for improving performance of an anaerobic digester system. The methods typically include adding a culture comprising hydrogenotrophic methanogens to the system, otherwise referred to as bioaugmentation.

主权项

1. A method of increasing methane production and reducing recovery time in an anaerobic digester system after the anaerobic digester system has experienced organic overload, the method comprising:
(a) adding a culture comprising a mixture of methanogens to the anaerobic digester system, wherein the mixture comprises Methanospirillum hungatei, or a related hydrogenotrophic methanogen, and wherein prior to being added to the anaerobic digester system the culture was grown in the presence of oxygen given at a daily dose of 2.5 mg/L-day to 25 mg/L-day and the culture has a specific methanogenic activity that is higher than a culture not grown in the presence of oxygen, and wherein prior to being added to the anaerobic digester system the culture was enriched for methanogens that degrade an organic acid or a salt thereof; and (b) producing methane in the anaerobic digester system wherein the anaerobic digester system produces an increased amount of methane and has a reduced recovery time after the culture is added to the anaerobic digester system.