Application of real time qPCR methodology to identify microorganisms as indicators of the biogas production capacity during anaerobic digestion

Biogas is a bio-fuel with a quiet energy value that is connected to its methane content. It is a renewable energy source and produced via anaerobic digestion of various organic materials. In reactors, anaerobic microorganisms can degrade the waste organic matter into two different products: digestate and biogas. If the microbial community is optimised, then the methane production rate could be improved, and the digestate could be used as a soil fertiliser. Among the microorganisms involved in the digestion, the methanogens are the major microbiologic group responsible for methane production. Other microorganisms such as sulphate reducing bacteria, sulphur compounds oxidizing bacteria and syntrophic acetogenic bacteria have a relevant role in the consequent quantity and quality of the biogas. In order to study the microbiologic equilibrium into the anaerobic reactor, we are discussing on the application of Real Time quantitative PCR to detect microbiological group searching functional target genes, in the reactor, during the digestion. The discussed data suggest a role of some microorganisms, especially some methanogens, as diagnostic tool in the digestion optimisation. The illustrated integrative tools - some clearly still in a development phase - can greatly enhance the insight in the anaerobic digestion system.