Effect of Microbial Species and Inoculum Dosage on Anaerobic Digestion

Year : 2026 | Volume : 13 | Issue : 01 | Page : 12 23
    By

    C.P. Ukpaka,

  • J.A.G. Azuatalam,

  1. Professor, Department of Chemical/ Petrochemical Engineering, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
  2. Research Scholar, Department of Chemical Engineering, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Abstract

This work aims at studying the effect of microbial species and inoculum dosage on anaerobic digestion of food waste using cattle rumen content as inoculum. Four different batch runs were carried out with different percentage inoculations which were (control sample), 25% dosage, 50% dosage and 75% dosage. To have both logical and scientific explanation why the inoculated samples had better performance than the control sample, microbial identification was carried out using standard method during the reaction period. The result of the microbial identification showed that inoculation was essential for better biogas quality and yield. The better biogas quality from the inoculated samples was traceable to the presence of Thermoplasma volcanium and Archaeoglobus fulgidus which are sulfur reducing bacteria as well as Methanosarcina barkeri which forms methane using different metabolic pathways. However, while the CRC furnishes the reacting media with the essential microbes, the results of the effects of inoculum dosage showed that inoculation using CRC should be done within 25% and 50% with the former slightly better. This was because; beyond 50% dosage, there was sharp decline in the performance of the system which is an indication of self-inhibition. Therefore, it was concluded that to improve the performance of anaerobic digestion without the risk of inhibition at high inoculum dosage, biostimulation of the system with isolated samples of necessary species of microbes was recommended and where isolation is not used, inoculation should not exceed 25% when using CRC.

Keywords: Anaerobic digestion, cattle rumen content, food waste, inoculum dosage, microbial species

[This article belongs to Emerging Trends in Chemical Engineering ]

How to cite this article:
C.P. Ukpaka, J.A.G. Azuatalam. Effect of Microbial Species and Inoculum Dosage on Anaerobic Digestion. Emerging Trends in Chemical Engineering. 2026; 13(01):12-23.
How to cite this URL:
C.P. Ukpaka, J.A.G. Azuatalam. Effect of Microbial Species and Inoculum Dosage on Anaerobic Digestion. Emerging Trends in Chemical Engineering. 2026; 13(01):12-23. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/etce/article=2026/view=241462


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Regular Issue Subscription Original Research
Volume 13
Issue 01
Received 20/01/2026
Accepted 02/02/2026
Published 27/02/2026
Publication Time 38 Days
7

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