Microbial transitions and degradation pathways driven by butyrate concentration in mesophilic and thermophilic anaerobic digestion under low hydrogen partial pressure

Butyrate accumulation significantly affects the efficiency and stability of anaerobic digestion, while its specific impact on methane yield and butyrate degradation remains unclear. This study investigated how butyrate concentrations (2.0, 5.0, 10.0, and 20.0 g COD/L) affected methane production and butyrate degradation at 37 °C and 55 °C. Methane yield decreased when butyrate concentrations exceeded 10.0 g COD/L. Methanogenesis transitioned from the acetoclastic to the hydrogenotrophic pathway with butyrate concentration increasing at 37 °C, but this transition wasn't observed at 55 °C. Butyrate was fully degraded at butyrate concentrations of 2.0-20.0 g COD/L. Iso-butyrate production was observed at 37 °C, while it only occurred with 20 g COD/L butyrate at 55 °C. Metagenomic analysis identified distinct microbes responsible for butyrate degradation at each temperature, and revealed a novel iso-butyrate metabolic pathway. These insights significantly advance the comprehension of microbial and enzymatic mechanisms driving butyrate degradation and methane production.