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Monitoring methanogenic population dynamics in a full-scale anaerobic digester to facilitate operational management

This study is the first evaluation of long-term monitoring of the diversity of methanogens in a full-scale digester treating food wastes. Microbial quantification with monitoring of organic acids and alkalinity has supported operational optimisation and enabled a doubling of waste treatment capacity and power generation. This study substantiates a paradigm shift that some trace metals are essential to support mostly the growth of aceticlastic methanogens by demonstrating the extensive impact of the metals on the Eubacteria instead. This work has already led to further collaborations with numerous Anaerobic Digester operators and universities Welsh Water, Indah Water Malaysia and Birmingham University.