Statistical analysis of nutrient and mineral content in anaerobic biomasses across five industries

Abstract

Anaerobic bacteria require specific concentrations of nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) and micronutrients (minerals) to function efficiently. Many industries produce waste that can be treated anaerobically for the improvement of waste characteristics or the generation of biogas. Anaerobic biomasses will adapt to the feedstock conditions and reflect the nutrient and mineral content of the material they are digesting. This paper used a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) test with Tukey's post hoc tests to compare the nutrient and mineral content of biomass from five different industries (beverage, brewery, dairy, food, and pulp–paper). The complete dataset contains nutrient/mineral compositions of over 300 anaerobic biomass samples from these five industries. The analyses showed that there were substantial differences in the concentration of key micronutrients contained in the anaerobic biomasses of the five industries. Results of the analysis can serve as a resource for operators and engineers to anticipate nutrient and mineral needs for a digester or to diagnose the cause of poor reactor performance related to nutrient and trace element deficiencies. A recommended minimum concentration for cells grown in an anaerobic reactor is provided.