Development of microbial community structure and actvity in a high-rate anaerobic bioreactor at 18 °C

Anaerobic digestion in the psychrophilic (< 20 °C) or sub-mesophilic temperature range has recently been proven as an effective treatment option for the mineralization of a wide variety of problematic wastewaters. In this study, an expanded granular sludge bed- anaerobic filter (EGSB-AF) bioreactor was seeded with a full-scale, mesophilic sludge and employed to evaluate the long-term operational potential, and underlying microbial ecology, of this approach for the treatment of a medium-strength (5 g chemical oxygen demand [COD] l−1), synthetic, volatile fatty acid-based wastewater. Throughout the trial period of 625 days, extended intervals of consistently stable and efficient wastewater treatment were sustained. These results were highlighted by a short start-up period (21 d), low hydraulic retention times (4.88 h), high organic (up to 24.64 kg COD m−3 d−1), and volumetric loading rates (up to 4.92 m3 m−3 d−1). A stable, well-settling granular sludge bed was maintained in the bioreactor for the majority of the trial; however, reduced treatment efficiency and biomass washout were observed at an imposed OLR of 36.96 kg COD m−3 d−1. The microbial biomass in the bioreactor was investigated using maximum specific methanogenic activity assays and polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis. A temporal succession of both the bacterial and archaeal populations was noted during the trial, compared to the seed sludge, in response to bioreactor operation at lower temperatures, loading rate increases and to VFA accumulation in the bioreactor. During the trial, an increased contribution of hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis as a pathway of methane production was observed, along with the overall emergence of a highly active psychrotolerent—though still mesophilic biomass.