Solid-state anaerobic digestion of sugarcane bagasse at different solid concentrations: Impact of bio augmented cellulolytic bacteria on methane yield and insights on microbial diversity.

This study investigated the impact of the potential cellulose degrading bacteria that could be bioaugmented in the solid-state anaerobic digestion (SSAD) of bagasse to enhance the methane yield. The prospective anaerobic cellulose degrading bacteria was isolated from the soil. SSAD experiments were organized with & without bioaugmentation with a substrate total solid (TS) of 25%, 30%, 40% and 50% at an optimized feed to microorganism (F/M) ratio of 1:1. The maximum yield of 0.44 L CH/ (g VS added) was obtained from bioaugmented bagasse at a TS of 40% whereas it was 0.34 L CH/(g VS added) for non-bioaugmented bagasse. The isolated bacterial strain was identified that belongs species Pseudomonas of Gamma Proteobacteria which exhibited good cellulolytic activity. Metagenomic studies found 90% of archaeal microorganisms affiliated to Methanosaeta, a strict acetoclastic methanogen.