An enriched mixed culture of thermophilic (60°C) bacteria was assembled for the purpose of using cellulose to produce current in thermophilic microbial electrolysis cells (MECs). Cellulose was fermented into sugars and acids before being consumed by anode-respiring bacteria (ARB) for current production. Current densities (j) were sustained at 6.5 ± 0.2 A m-2 in duplicate reactors with a coulomb...

This study reports surface complexation models (SCMs) for quantifying metal ion adsorption by thermophilic microorganisms. In initial cadmium ion toxicity tests, members of the genus Geobacillus displayed the highest tolerance to CdCl2 (as high as 400 to 3,200 microM). The thermophilic, gram-positive bacteria Geobacillus stearothermophilus and G. thermocatenulatus were selected for further elec...

Thermophilic organisms have been less explored due to the difficulties in isolation and maintenance of pure culture. Therefore, it remains to explore their diversity and biotechnological potential from majority of the thermal habitats. As a consequence of growth at high temperature and unique macromolecular properties, thermophiles can possess high metabolic rates, physically and chemically sta...

Airborne contamination by thermophilic actinomycetes, micromycetes and Gram negative bacteria was determined on 34 dairy farms and related to fodder drying and storage methods. Eighteen farms had a barn drying system, eight with additional heating; the remaining 16 had traditional fodder storage methods. Three air samples were obtained for each farm with a six stage Andersen sampler. The thermo...

High numbers (10 to 10 cells per g [dry weight]) of heterotrophic, gram-negative, rod-shaped, non-sporeforming, aerobic, thermophilic bacteria related to the genus Thermus were isolated from thermogenic composts at temperatures between 65 and 82&C. These bacteria were present in different types of wastes (garden and kitchen wastes and sewage sludge) and in all the industrial composting systems ...

mesophilic bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes varied during composting cycles with high numbers in the initial and final cycles with maximal values in compost c and d, and sharply decreased in the heating cycles. staphylococcus aureus and bacillus subtilis were dominated at the initial composting cycle. whereas, at maturity bacillus subtilis was the major followed by b.badies, b.polymixa and b.b...

After immobilization of anaerobes on polyurethane foam in a thermophilic, fixed-bed, anaerobic digester supplied with acetate, the results of real-time PCR analysis indicated that the major immobilized methanogenic archaea were Methanosarcina spp., and that the major free-living methanogenic archaea were Methanosarcina and Methanobacterium spp. 16S rRNA gene densities of Methanosarcina spp. and...