Impact of organic loading rate on performance and methanogenic microbial communities of a fixed-bed anaerobic reactor at 4 °C

Abstract

We investigated the feasibility of producing biogas in a fixed-bed anaerobic reactor at 4 °C with a gradual increase in organic loading rate (OLR). Reactor efficiency was highest when OLR was 4.33 kg/m3·d, whereas the reactor acidification occurred when OLR was 4.67 kg/m3·d. The values of methane content, biogas production, chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal rate, biogas production rate, acetic acid content, and propionic acid content were 69.3%, 5.33 L, 59.8%, 1.03 L/OLR, 0.17 g/L, and 1.15 g/L, respectively. The pH was stable and ranged from 7.2 to 6.8 when the reactor was operating at 4 °C during OLR increase. The 16S rRNA gene analysis revealed that the dominant archaea were Methanosaetaceae at 30 °C. At 4 °C, the dominant archaea were Methanomicrobiales, which were more abundant in adhering sludge compared to settled sludge. In conclusion, operating a fixed-bed anaerobic reactor at psychrophilic temperatures is more suitable.