Bacterial community structure in maximum volatile fatty acids production from alginate in acidogenesis

• The bacterial community structure was monitored in acidogenesis from alginate.
• Bacteroides-related organism might be contributed to hydrolysis of alginate.
• Clostridium spp. corresponded to alginate-fermenting were mainly detected.
• Bacterial community shifts corresponded to VFA profiles was statistically verified.

Alginate as biomass feedstock for bioconversion into volatile fatty acids (VFAs) is limited primarily by the low solubility in water or little utilization as microbial substrate and yet unknown about the microbial community structure for acidogenesis. The bacterial community structure was demonstrated the reflected changes in VFAs profiles in the maximized acidogenic process from alginate. Bacteroides- and Clostridium-related microorganisms were suggested to be mainly responsible for the hydrolysis of alginate and VFAs production, respectively. And the bacterial community shifted corresponded to VFAs producing was statistically demonstrated. A number of features discussed in this research can stimulate further interests on bioconversion of alginate into anaerobic biofuels production.