The aim of this study was to investigate how the microbial community structure adapts during the start-up phase and how the 13C fractionation of biogas reflects the microbial population dynamics in two parallel swine manure-fed anaerobic digesters. Two swine manure-fed reactors for the start-up of continuously stirred tank reactors at mesophilic condition were evaluated. Changes in community structure were monitored using 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing to measure the abundance of fermenting bacteria and methanogens. Digesters with relatively stable Methanosarcinaceae started up successfully and contained high gas production and low levels of propionate. In contrast, the digester that experienced a difficult start-up period had reduced Methanosarcinaceae along with accumulated propionate and low gas production. Specific gas production, specific methane production, and 13C fractionation of biogas were influenced significantly by Methanosarcinaceae, Methanobacteriaceae, and Clostridiaceae, indicating that the 13C fractionation of biogas had significant potential to reflect microbial population changes and digester performance during the start-up period.

• Keywords
• 13C fractionation of biogas, Anaerobic digestion, Methanogenesis, Microbial community, Swine manure,
• MeSH
• Anaerobiosis MeSH
• Bacteria MeSH
• Biofuels MeSH
• Bioreactors microbiology   MeSH
• Chemical Fractionation MeSH
• Fermentation MeSH
• Manure microbiology   MeSH
• Swine MeSH
• RNA, Ribosomal, 16S genetics   MeSH
• Carbon chemistry   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Biofuels MeSH
• Manure MeSH
• RNA, Ribosomal, 16S MeSH
• Carbon MeSH