Metagenome analyses of the planktonic phase and foam supports from a full-scale anaerobic digester. Anaerobic digester metagenomic sequencing study

The microbial community structures in a full-scale anaerobic digester, fresh bovine slurry and the sediment from waste slurry were analyzed by means of ultrafast 454-pyrosequencing. The results revealed that the presence of polyurethane foam supports in the anaerobic digester promotes adhesion of specific microorganisms: Plantomyces, Chloroflexi, Spirochites and Methanobacterium. Introduction of a variety of supporting materials aids the generation of specific genetic profiles leading to optimization of biogas production.