Abstract

BALAGURUSAMY, N. A preliminary study on molecular characterization of the eubacteria in a thermophilic, poultry waste fed anaerobic digester. Rev. Mex. Ing. Quím [online]. 2007, vol.6, n.3, pp.237-242. ISSN 1665-2738.

Biomethanation is a unique process which aids the recovery of carbon present in the wastes as methane, an energy rich product. The presence and activity of a variety of bacterial and archaeal microorganisms play a vital role in this process. An understanding of the microbial groups present in the anaerobic digester is important for augmenting the recovery of carbon and also will help in solving the digester related problems as the functioning of the digester depends on the microbial activity. Molecular characterization of the anaerobic bacteria present in a thermophilic (55°C) anaerobic digester fed with poultry waste was analyzed by DNA extraction followed by PCR amplification, cloning and sequencing of the obtained clones. Results showed that more than 75 per cent of the clones represented uncultured bacteria and among the different genera recorded, Clostridium sp. was dominant. Results demonstrated the need for obtaining more number of clones and a combination of different methods for reliable molecular characterization of an anaerobic digester.

Keywords : anaerobic digester; poultry waste; fermentative anaerobes; molecular analysis.