Acitivity measurements as a tool to characterize the microbial composition of methanogenic environments

https://doi.org/10.1016/0167-7012(85)90002-8Get rights and content

Abstract

A rapid and reliable method to assess the potential specific activity of methagenic sludge is presented. The method is based on the gas chromatographic analysis for methane in the headspace of closed vials. Gas is sampled with a pressure lock syringe, which allows quantification independent of the pressure prevailing in the vials.

The influence of various parameters as substrates, pH, NaCl and NH4 Cl concentrations on the activity of methaogenic sludge was investigated with this method. Data on the methanogenic activities on different substrate are discussed in terms of different physiological groups present in the sludge.

References (32)

  • H.J. Perski et al.

    Sodium dependence of methane formation in methanogenic bacteria

    FEBS Lett.

    (1982)
  • J.G. Zeikus

    Metabolism of one-carbon compounds by chemotrophic anaerobes

    Adv. Microbial Phys.

    (1983)
  • R.E. Hungate

    A roll tube method for cultivation of strict anerobes

  • R.A. Mah

    Methanogenesis and methanogenic partnership

    Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. B

    (1982)
  • H.W. van Gils

    Bacteriology of activated sludge

  • A.D. Adamse et al.

    Microbial activities in soil near natural gas leaks

    Arch. Mickrobiol.

    (1972)
  • L.W. Belser et al.

    Use of nitrifier activity measurements to estimate to efficiency of viable nitrifier counts in soild and sediments

    Appl. Environ. Microbiol.

    (1982)
  • D.R. Lovely et al.

    Intermediary metabolism of organic matter in the sediments of a eutrophic lake

    Appl. Environ. Microbiol.

    (1982)
  • H.F. Kaspar et al.

    Kinetic parameters and relative turnovers of some important catabolic reactions in digesting sludge

    Appl. Environ. Microbiol.

    (1978)
  • N.L. Schaure et al.

    Metabolism of formate in Methanobacterium formicicum

    J. Bacteriol.

    (1980)
  • A.J.B. Zehnder et al.

    Physiology of a Methanobacterium strain AZ

    Arch. Microbiol.

    (1977)
  • B.A. Huser et al.

    Methanothrix soehngenii gen. nov. sp. nov., a new acetotrophic non-hydrogen-oxidizing methane bacterium

    Arch. Microbiol.

    (1982)
  • D.O. Mountford et al.

    Effect of inorganic sulfide on the growth and metabolism of Methanosarcina barkeri strain DM

    Appl. Environ. Microbiol.

    (1979)
  • J.A. Krzycki et al.

    Comparison of unitrophic and mixotrophic substrate metabolism by an acetate-adapted strain of Methanosarcina barkeri

    J. Bacteriol.

    (1982)
  • M.R. Smith et al.

    Acetate as sole carbon and energy source for growth of Methanosarcina strain 227

    Appl. Environ. Microbiol.

    (1980)
  • R.A. Mah et al.

    Studies on an acetate-fermenting strain of Methanosarcina

    Appl. Environ. Microbiol.

    (1978)
  • Cited by (111)

    • Use of polymeric scouring agent as fluidized media in anaerobic fluidized bed membrane bioreactor for wastewater treatment: System performance and microbial community

      2020, Journal of Membrane Science
      Citation Excerpt :

      Specific methane activity (SMA) test that can identify the maximum methane production from a particular substrate was conducted to investigate microbial activity associated with fluidized PVDF media. The SMA test was carried out by using the method designed by Dolfing and Bloeman (1985) [29]. The purpose of the SMA test was to investigate the role of PVDF media regarding biomass growth and methane production from AFMBR accordingly.

    • Effects of sodium hypochlorite concentration on the methanogenic activity in an anaerobic fluidized membrane bioreactor

      2019, Science of the Total Environment
      Citation Excerpt :

      This study also aimed to find out the higher NaOCl concentration range that can possibly be tolerated for efficient in-situ membrane cleaning without compromising with microbial safety in the AFMBR, containing GAC as a biocarrier. The specific acetoclastic methanogenic activity (SAMA) test as described by Dolfing and Bloeman (1985) was carried out to evaluate the activity of the anaerobic bacteria. In this study, 500 mL serum bottles were first filled separately with GAC and bulk liquid followed by addition of substrate and nutrient.

    • Alkali-assisted membrane cleaning for fouling control of anaerobic ceramic membrane bioreactor

      2017, Bioresource Technology
      Citation Excerpt :

      This result did not correlate well with the F420 activities. Although coenzyme F420 has been detected in all methanogenic bacteria (Dolfing and Bloemen, 1985), it cannot be a indicator of the total methanogenic activity but rather a parameter reflecting the behaviours of hydrogenotrophic methanogenic microbes, as reported previously (Dolfing and Mulder, 1985; Zabranska et al., 1985). On the other hand, acetotrophic methanogenesis is widely regarded as the predominant pathway for treating low strength wastewater (Demirel and Scherer, 2008).

    View all citing articles on Scopus
    View full text