The relationship between denitrifying bacteria and methanogenic bacteria in a mixed culture system of acclimated sludges

Abstract

The interaction between denitrification and methanogenesis, with methanol functioning as an electron donor, has been examined through usage of a mixed culture system of denitrifying sludge and methanogenic sludge in an anaerobic bioreactor. Competition for methanol between these two kinds of biocommunity could not be observed, whereas methanogenesis was suppressed as long as nitrate and nitrite were made available in the mixed system. The inhibition of methanogenesis in the methanogenic sludge caused by nitrogen oxides was studied. The redox potential ( E h ) of the culture was monitored and/or controlled for the sake of characterizing the behavior of the biocommunities. An addition of nitrite elevated the E h of the culture less than nitrate did. Nitrite addition, however, exerted a stronger inhibitory effect on methanogenesis as compared to nitrate at the same concentration. The influence of redox potential on the methanation of methanol was examined by using a methanogenic sludge in the E h -stat batch culture. The hypothesis that the inhibitory effect being expressed by the nitrogen oxides is not simply attributed to an elevation of the redox potential of the culture is supported by the experimental results. The toxic effect of the nitrogen oxides themselves could also have possibly contributed significantly.