Anaerobic digestion is a naturally occurring biological process in which large numbers of anaerobic bacteria convert organic matter into methane and carbon dioxide (a mixture called biogas) in the absence of air. It is a widely used biological process for treating wastewater solids. This process stabilizes the organic matter in wastewater solids, reduces pathogens and odors, and reduces the tot...

Aerobic and anaerobic microbial key processes were quantified and compared to microbial numbers and morphological structure in Mediterranean sponges. Direct counts on histological sections stained with DAPI showed that sponges with high microbial abundances (HMA sponges) have a denser morphological structure with a reduced aquiferous system compared to low microbial abundance (LMA) sponges. In ...

The UK Water Industry currently generates approximately 800 GWh pa of electrical energy from sewage sludge, a renewable by-product from wastewater treatment. Advanced anaerobic digestion processes are beginning to improve energy yields from this resource which the industry has in abundance. These processes are being implemented across the UK and within Thames Water. However, these processes are...

Anaerobic digestion is a naturally occurring biological process in which large numbers of anaerobic bacteria convert organic matter into methane and carbon dioxide (a mixture called biogas) in the absence of air. It is a widely used biological process for treating wastewater solids. This process stabilizes the organic matter in wastewater solids, reduces pathogens and odors, and reduces the tot...

During the last two decades the brewing industry has shown increasing awareness for environmental protection and the need of sustainable production processes. Implementation of ISO 14001 certification and more stringent environmental legislation have been important drivers for the brewing industry to invest in biological effluent treatment. The role of biological effluent treatment is discussed...

The relationship between oxygen and microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) resulting from obligate anaerobic microbial processes is complex. Most reported cases of MIC of carbon steel and copper alloys in marine environments are caused by sulphate-reducing bacteria (SRB) with some dissolved oxygen in the bulk medium. Yet most laboratory experiments with SRB are conducted in the absolute a...

Thermophilic bacteria have been isolated from several terrestrial, marine and industrial environments. Anaerobic digesters treating organic wastes are often an important source of these microorganisms, which catalyze a wide array of metabolic processes. Moreover, organic wastes are primarily composed of proteins, whose degradation is often incomplete. Coprothermobacter spp. are proteolytic anae...

The effects of mesothermic anaerobic or aerobic sludge digestion on survival of eggs from the roundworms Ascaris suum, toxocara canis, Trichuris vulpis, and Trichuris suis and from the rat tapeworm Hymenolepis diminuta were studied. Destruction of eggs throughout a 15-day treatment period, as well as their viabilities after reisolation, was analyzed. The laboratory model digesters used in this ...

Anaerobic treatment is an energy generating process, in contrast to aerobic systems that generally demand a high energy input for aeration purposes. It is a technically simple and relatively inexpensive technology which consumes less energy, space and produces less excess sludge in comparison to the conventional aerobic treatment technologies. Net energy production from biogas makes the anaerob...

Anaerobic digestion (AD) is a biological process where different trophic groups of microorganisms break down biodegradable organic materials in the absence of oxygen. A wide range of AD technologies is being used to convert livestock manure, municipal and industrial wastewaters, and solid organic wastes into biogas. AD gains importance not only because of its relevance in waste treatment but al...