RT-RiboSyn used to investigate the specific growth rate of methanogenicpopulations in anaerobic digesters

摘要

RT-RiboSyn, a method that has been shown to measure the specific growth rate ofpure cultures, will be applied for the same purpose in an environmental sample. Onesystem of interest to environmental engineers and scientists is the anaerobic digestersludge used to treat wastewater solids. Of particular interest is the growth of themethanogens that are responsible for the production of methane. In order toinvestigate the specific growth rates of these archaeal microorganisms, a series ofbench-scale anaerobic digesters will be operated at hydraulic retention times of 10,15, and 20 days. After reaching steady daily biogas production, the sludge will besubjected to chloramphenicol treatment and a time series of samples collected foranalysis using RT-RiboSyn. The samples will also have increased levels of acetate inorder to stimulate the growth of methanogens. It has been long accepted thatmethanogens grow at low specific growth rates. This work will determine if there is asignificant difference in specific growth rate due to different organic loading rates.