Study on the development of methanogenic microflora during anaerobic digestion of sugar beet pulp

Abstract

The pattern of increase in cell number in 12 different groups of bacteria was studied during anaerobic digestion of enzymatically prehydrolysed sugar beet pulp in a 70-l fermentor with sequential feeding over a period of 130 days. Glucose-fermenting bacteria accounted for 90% of the total microflora as estimated by direct epifluorescence. Strictly anaerobic bacteria were largely dominant; only 10% were methanogens. Sulphatereducing bacteria accounted for 0.1% of the total microflora. The yield of biogas was compared with the numbers of bacteria.