Metagenomic analysis of a desulphurisation system used to treat biogas from vinasse methanisation

• Published in: Bioresource technology Vol. 205; pp. 58 - 66
• Main Authors: Dias, Marcela França, Colturato, Luis Felipe, de Oliveira, João Paulo, Leite, Laura Rabelo, Oliveira, Guilherme, Chernicharo, Carlos Augusto, de Araújo, Juliana Calabria
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01-04-2016
• Subjects: Bacteria; Biofuels; Biogas; Biomass; Bioreactors - microbiology; Desulphurisation; DGGE; Firmicutes; Hydrogen Sulfide - chemistry; Metagenomics; Microbial Consortia; Proteobacteria; Saccharum - metabolism; Sulfides - metabolism; Vinasse; Metagenomics; Desulphurisation; BRT; SOB; VAT; Biogas; DO; ORP; OTU; REH2S; COD; VLRH2S; DGGE; Vinasse
• ISSN: 0960-8524; 1873-2976
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2016.01.007

•A desulphurisation system treating biogas with high amounts of H2S was studied.•Metagenomic analysis of the biomass from the desulphurisation system was performed.•The system showed a high H2S RE; COD and DO were important parameters.•Microbial community remained constant during the experiment.•The abundance and diversity of SOB were affected by the sulphide loading rate.
We investigated the response of microbial community to changes in H2S loading rate in a microaerated desulphurisation system treating biogas from vinasse methanisation. H2S removal efficiency was high, and both COD and DO seemed to be important parameters to biomass activity. DGGE analysis retrieved sequences of sulphide-oxidising bacteria (SOB), such as Thioalkalimicrobium sp. Deep sequencing analysis revealed that the microbial community was complex and remained constant throughout the experiment. Most sequences belonged to Firmicutes and Proteobacteria, and, to a lesser extent, Bacteroidetes, Chloroflexi, and Synergistetes. Despite the high sulphide removal efficiency, the abundance of the taxa of SOB was low, and was negatively affected by the high sulphide loading rate.