Multivariate comparison of taxonomic, chemical and technical data from 80 full-scale an-aerobic digester-related systems

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

This study represents one of the most comprehensive characterisations of the anaerobic digestion (AD) microbiome with 80 samples from 45 different large-scale reactors in three coun-tries. Technical, chemical and taxonomic data was thoroughly collected, analyzed and correlated to identify the main drivers of AD processes. Our results showed that MBA03, Proteiniphilum , a member of Dethiobacteraceae , and Caldicoprobacter were present in all the samples, while Meth-anosarcina was the most abundant and prevalent archaea. Two distinct bacterial clusters were iden-tified by correlating microbial abundances. One was correlated with hydrogenotrophic and the other with acetoclastic methanogenesis. Organic acids, ammonia, nitrogen, COD and the trace el-ements Fe, Mo, and the macro nutrient P had the greatest impact on AD microbiomes. Temperature, reactor type and substrate also influenced the formation of a specialized microbial community. Overall, this work sheds light on the microbial key players involved in AD and evaluates how they are affected by technical and chemical parameters. Highlights Generation of a holistic dataset of chemical, taxonomic and technical parameters of 80 large-scale anaerobic digestion systems. Identification of a core microbiome comprising MBA03, Proteiniphilum , an uncultured or-ganism from the Dethiobacteraceae family, and the Caldicoprobacter family. Identification of the main influencing parameters that determine the occurrence and non-occurrence of specific genera. Correlation of bacterial taxa with hydrogenotrophic and/or acetoclastic archaea.