After the successful development of an advanced composite bioaugmentation inoculum over the past months of the project, the time has come for its application in real conditions, specifically in the CSTRs. This innovative inoculum is composed of ammonia-tolerant methanogenic consortia, including Methanoculleus bourgensis (M. bourgensis) and the bacterium Ruminococcus albus. The consortia have undergone lyophilization using the optimized method developed within the project, ensuring their robustness and viability.
The post-lyophilization inoculum has now been applied in CSTR experiments, where performance is continuously monitored. The focus lies on evaluating reactor performance by comparing the different bioaugmentation inocula with control setups.
The objective of this application is to assess the efficiency of the bioaugmentation inoculum in terms of lignocellulose and ammonia degradation, biogas production enhancement, and reactor recovery time. This strategy emphasizes rapid recovery, high degradation rates, and improved biogas yields. Ultimately, it aims to establish a model for enhanced biogas production and provide a reliable protocol for managing inhibition caused by high lignocellulosic and ammonia concentrations in challenging biogas reactor environments.