Biogas production from high solids digestion of Pennisetum purpureum x Pennisetum typhoideum: Suitable conditions and microbial communities

Effects of organic loading rates (OLRs), temperatures and effluent recirculation rates on biogas production from Giant Juncao Grass (GJG) using pilot-scale semi-continuously fed CSTRs were investigated. Thermophilic reactors could be stably operated at OLR up to 5.0 kg VS m−3 d−1, while damaged process stability was detected in mesophilic reactors at OLR of 4.0 kg VS m−3 d−1. Higher effluent recirculation rate (3:1) helped lessen negative effects of system being over-loaded, especially for mesophilic reactors. Microbial community analysis revealed that temperatures had the highest effect on bacterial community structure. Firmicutes were the dominant bacterial phyla found under high temperatures, while majority of archaea in all reactors belonged to the phylum Bathyarchaeota. Changes of microbial communities could partly explain system performance under different operating conditions. This study was the first to show GJG as a superior biogas feedstock to other energy crops thanks to its higher methane yields per planting area. [Display omitted] •Potential of semi-continuous anaerobic digestion of GJG is originally proposed.•Considerably high CH4 yields per area are obtained from fresh GJG.•High effluent recirculation rate positively affects mesophilic reactor performance.•Microbial community analysis partly explains effects of operating conditions.