Responses of microbial community and acidogenic intermediates to different water regimes in a hybrid solid anaerobic digestion system treating food waste

This study investigated the effects of different water regimes in an acidogenic leach bed reactor (LBR) during 16-day batch mode food waste digestion. LBRs were operated under five water replacement ratios (WRRs) (100%, 75%, 50%, 25% and 5% in LBRs R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5, respectively) and methanogenic effluent (ME) addition with two leachate recirculation frequencies (once in 24 h and 12 h in LBRs R6 and R7, respectively). Results showed that 50–100% WRRs accelerated the hydrolysis and acidogenesis with butyrate as the dominant product (∼35% of COD); whereas 5–25% WRRs promoted propionate production. The ME recirculation enhanced protein decomposition and reduced ethanol production. Lactobacillus dominated in LBRs with water addition (R1–R5), while Clostridium and hetero-fermenting lactic acid bacteria dominated in LBR with ME addition (R7). The highest volatile solid degradation (82.9%) and methane yield (0.29 L-CH4/g VS) were obtained with ME addition at 0.7 d hydraulic retention time.