Relationship between Temperature, Ph and Population of Selected Microbial Indicators during Anaerobic Digestion of Guinea Grass (Panicum Maximum)

Ogbonna. C. B.^1, , Berebon. D. P.¹ and Onwuegbu. E. K.¹

¹Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Science, College of Natural and Applied Sciences, University of Port Harcourt, P.M.B. 5323 Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Cite this paper:
Ogbonna. C. B., Berebon. D. P. and Onwuegbu. E. K.. Relationship between Temperature, Ph and Population of Selected Microbial Indicators during Anaerobic Digestion of Guinea Grass (Panicum Maximum). American Journal of Microbiological Research. 2015; 3(1):14-24. doi: 10.12691/ajmr-3-1-3

Abstract

In this study, the relationship between process temperature, process pH and population of selected microbial indicators during anaerobic digestion of guinea grass (Panicum maximum) at ambient condition was investigated. A one stage batch-type mesophilic anaerobic digestion system was configured using rumen fluid (RF) as inoculums (AD_RF) and a low solid loading of approximately 7.0% total solid (TS). Physicochemical parameters such as process temperature (PTM_RF), process pH_RF and volatile fatty acid (VFA_RF) were monitored with time. Selected indicator microbial populations were monitored by standard cultural techniques based on metabolic capacity and oxygen sensitivity with respect to time. Result showed that average PTM_RF increased from 27.5°C to 35.2°C, average process pH_RF ranged from 6.5 to 7.9 and VFA_RF ranged from 1,080.00 mg/L to 4,800.33 mg/L with time. In terms of metabolic capacity and oxygen sensitivity, the populations of cellulolytic bacteria (CB_RF), lactose and glucose fermenting (acidogenic) bacteria (LFB_RF and GFB_RF), propionate and ethanol oxidizing (acetogenic) bacteria (POB_RF and EOB_RF), acetate oxidizing methanogens (AOM_RF), obligate anaerobic bacteria (OAB_RF) and total facultative bacteria (FAAB_RF) increased (about 10-fold) respectively with time. Correlation analysis showed positive relationships between the process temperature (PTM_RF) and the population of selected microbial indicators with time. However, there were negative relationships between the process pH_RF and the population of selected microbial indicators with time. Furthermore, there were positive relationships between the populations of selected microbial indicators with time. Rumen fluid significantly (P < 0.05) affected the dynamics of the process temperature (PTM_RF) and process pH_RF inside the AD_RF system with time respectively. These kinds of relationships between biotic factors and between biotic and abiotic factors could be used to monitor the state of anaerobic digestion process with respect to time.

Keywords:
relationship microbial populations temperature pH anaerobic digestion guinea grass

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