Comparison of mixed-acid fermentations inoculated with six different mixed cultures

► Fermentations performed under same operating parameters with six inoculum sources. ► 16S rRNA sequencing identified the bacterial communities in the fermentations. ► Yue-Clayton similarity calculations revealed that they were extremely different. ► All fermentations had similar conversion and end-product formation performance. ► The operating parameters determined the fermentation end-products.