Investigating the structure and function of the microbiome underpinning anaerobic digestion for resource recovery from carbon-rich, nutrient-rich ferm

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We aim to maximise resource recovery from carbon-rich, nutrient-rich fermentation wastewater using anaerobic digestion (AD) by investigating microbiome structure and function under different operational parameters. We will first characterise the physicochemical composition of samples provided from Quorn(TM) as a representative fermentation wastewater. We will measure chemical oxygen demand, total nitrogen, nitrites, nitrates, ammonium, sulfate, phosphates, total and volatile solids, protein concentration, amino acid content, sugar and sugar alcohol content, and pH. We then aim to assess biodegradability by conducting biomethane potential tests, measuring experimental biogas production against theoretical biogas production. To do so, we will use AD 1L semi-continuous batch reactors with inoculum obtained from a UK-based food waste plant. We will assess general reactor functionality and stability by measuring biogas composition (methane: carbon dioxide) pH, and volatile fatty acid content.To gain insight into the role of structure and function of the core microbial community underpinning AD reactions we will operate continuous treatment reactors (CSTR) paired with a metagenomic approach. We will use two different case studies to address our aims:1) Single stage 5L CSTR reactors operating at increasing organic loading rates (OLR) to gain insight into the core microbiome's stability, function and structure underpinning the AD of Quorn fermentation wastewater. This will also give insight into microbiome adaptation to stress conditions and identify optimum OLR. 2) 2-stage CSTR reactors to gain insight into the functional groups of the microbiome underpinning the fermentation and methanogenesis phases of AD. Reactor performance, stability and microbiome insights will be compared to single stage to identify potential functional species within each stage. We will then use a pangenomic approach to investigate functionality of key species identified in the case studies.