Microbial Diversity Analysis of Anaerobic Sludge with Chloroform Treatment for Fermentive H2 Production

Abstract:

The effects of different CHCl3 concentrations treatment on fermentative H2 production and microbial diversity of anaerobic sludge were investigated. At CHCl3 concentration of 0.050%, the cumulative H2, maximum H2 yield, VFA concentration and total sugar degradability all reached the maximum and were 639 mL, 1.71 mol H2/mol consumed glucose, 2880 mg/L and 85%, respectively. The microbial diversity and community structure of sludge samples with different CHCl3 concentrations treatment were analyzed by applying PCR-DGGE. The results showed that 4 bacteria clones belonged to Clostridia, 2 bacteria clones belonged to Acidobacteria and δ-proteobacteria, respectively, and other 4 bacteria clones were uncultured bacterium. All 4 microbes that belonged to Clostridia were H2-producing bacteria (HPB) and bacteria of band 7 might belong to HPB. The optimum microbial community structure for H2 production was observed in sample C3, which mainly contained Megasphaera sueciensis, Megasphaera paucivorans, Clostridium cellulosi, Clostridium sp. and uncultured bacterium.

Key words:Anaerobic H2 production, CHCl3 treatment, PCR-DGGE, H2-producing bacteria (HPB)