Print Email Facebook Twitter Diversity of microbial communities in open mixed culture fermentations: Impact of the pH and carbon source Title Diversity of microbial communities in open mixed culture fermentations: Impact of the pH and carbon source Author Temudo, M.F. Muyzer, G. Kleerebezem, R. Van Loosdrecht, M.C.M. Faculty Applied Sciences Department Biotechnology Date 2008-09-18 Abstract Anaerobic fermentation by an open mixed culture was investigated at different pH values (4–8.5) and with three substrates (glucose, glycerol and xylose). The populations established in each condition were assessed by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analysis of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene fragments. The fermentation pattern and the composition of the microbial population were also evaluated when operational variations were imposed (increase of substrate concentration or introduction of a second substrate). The experimental results demonstrated that at low and high pH values, a clearly different fermentation pattern was associated with the dominance of a specialised group of clostridiae. At intermediate pH values, the product spectrum was rather variable and seemed to be sensitive to variations in the microbial community. Different substrates resulted in the establishment of different microbial communities. When fed with a mixture of two substrates, mixotrophic microorganisms (capable of degrading both substrates) were found to overgrow the originally dominant specialists. Overall, the experiments have shown that some operational variables have a clear impact on the fermentation pattern and on the population established. However, a uniform relationship between the process characteristics (associated to a metabolic response) and the microbial population present is not always possible. Subject fermentationmicrobial communitiespHglucoseglycerolxylose To reference this document use: http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:15f0a553-9798-4100-93b6-01163658349d Publisher Springer ISSN 0175-7598 Source Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 80 (6), 2008 Part of collection Institutional Repository Document type journal article Rights (c) 2008 Temudo, M.F. ; Muyzer, G. ; Kleerebezem, R. ; van Loosdrecht, M.C.M. ; Springer Files PDF Temudo2_2008.pdf 386.69 KB Close viewer /islandora/object/uuid:15f0a553-9798-4100-93b6-01163658349d/datastream/OBJ/view