Microbial community dynamics associated with biomass granulation in low-temperature (15 degrees C) anaerobic wastewater treatment bioreactors.

Granular biofilms underpin the operation of several categories of anaerobic wastewater treatment bioreactors. Recent studies have demonstrated the feasibility of treating both industrial and domestic wastewaters at their discharge temperatures (usually <18 degrees C), thereby avoiding the heating expenses of mesophilic (20-45 degrees C) or thermophilic (45-65 degrees C) treatments. Previous low-temperature trials used mesophilic inocula and little information is available on the viability of low-temperature anaerobic granulation.

Quantitative and qualitative analysis of methanogenic communities in mesophilically and psychrophilically cultivated anaerobic granular biofilims.

Anaerobic granulation describes the self-immobilisation of methanogenic consortia into dense, particulate biofilms. This procedure underpins the operation of several categories of high-rate anaerobic wastewater treatment system. Full-scale anaerobic granular sludge plants have been generally operated in the mesophilic (20-45 degrees C) or thermophilic (45-65 degrees C) temperature range.