Effects of biological pretreatments of microalgae on hydrolysis, biomethane potential and microbial community

Abstract

Parameters of temperature-phased anaerobic digestion (TPAD) were varied to study their effects on hydrolysis, biomethane potential (BMP), and microbial diversity of microalgae biodegradation. Anaerobic pretreatments at 85 °C demonstrated the release of soluble carbohydrate and protein molecules under low microbial metabolic activity. However, at 55 °C, anaerobic pretreatments showed superior performance in methane yield, nutrient release, and volatile fatty acids (VFAs) production due to dominant Clostridium. Furthermore, the highest destruction of volatile solids (VS) was observed during aerobic pretreatments at 55 °C under the influence of various quantities of these genera – Luteimonas, Symbiobacterium, Soehngenia, Thermobacillus, and Ureibacillus. Statistical analysis revealed that hydrolysis and BMP were not correlated. However, soluble nitrogen and phosphorous showed strong correlation with methane (r = 0.623 and 0.948, respectively) under thermo-anaerobic pretreatment, while VS removal and concentrations of acetic and butyric acids and lipids were positively correlated with each other under thermo-aerobic pretreatment.