R. Padma Bai

Bio: R. Padma Bai is an academic researcher from Central Leather Research Institute. The author has contributed to research in topics: Methanogenesis & Population. The author has an hindex of 2, co-authored 2 publications receiving 31 citations.

Kinetics of biomethanation of solid tannery waste and the concept of interactive metabolic control.

Abstract: Anaerobic digestion of calf skin collagenous waste was optimized for a batch process based on accelerated maximal methane yield per gram of input volatile solid. A kinetic analysis with respect to changes in the levels of volatile solid, collagen, amino sugars, amino acids, hydroxyproline, ammonium ions, and volatile fatty acid were followed for a period of 80 d. Distinct metabolic phases included an initial high rate collagenolysis for 4d, with 50% degradation and was followed by an acidogenic phase between 4-12 d with volatile fatty acids levels increasing to 215 mmol/L. Subsequently methanogenesis ensued and was maximal between 12-24 d when volatile fatty acids attained steady state levels. During the period of 80 d, the overall decrease in volatile solid level was 65%, whereas the collagen level declined by 85% with 0.45 L of methane yield/g of volatile solid degraded. Based on the levels of various metabolites detected, the concept of interactive metabolic control earlier proposed has been validated.

Methanogenesis mediated by methylotrophic mixed culture

Abstract: Enrichment of methanogenic cultures on methanol from the microbial population in the anaerobic digesters operated on agricultural wastes revealed a high rate of biomethanation efficiency. Routine maintenance of this enrichment in a minimal basal medium at room temperature resulted in maximal growth in 40–50 d, and indicated pigment production toward the end of the growth phase. The cultures grown in three different media, with different substrates under light and dark conditions, were analyzed for protein, pigment, and gaseous products, and morphological studies were carried out by light, phase-contrast, fluorescence, and electron microscopy. In different media with methanol as substrate, growth and pigment production were maximal for the light-grown cells, decreasing in the order: phototrophic (PS(m)) > mineral > basal medium. Methanation and phototrophic growth were inversely correlated under lightgrown conditions. In contrast, growth in the dark was predominently methanogenic in the decreasing order: mineral > basal > PS (m). Among other growth conditions tested, utilization of phototrophic substrates under light and dark conditions indicated the following: 1. Basal and mineral media were supportive of methanogenic growth under both light and dark conditions, although methane yields under light-grown conditions were low; 2. Among the different substrates tested, methanol-grown cells gave the highest methane yield in the dark and; 3. Phototrophic growth in PS medium with succinate, malate, and pyruvate was better than that with methanol.

Control of interspecies electron flow during anaerobic digestion: significance of formate transfer versus hydrogen transfer during syntrophic methanogenesis in flocs. [Methanobacterium formicicum; Desulfovibrio vulgaris]

Abstract: Microbial formate production and consumption during syntrophic conversion of ethanol or lactate to methane was examined in purified flocs and digestor contents obtained from a whey-processing digestor. Formate production by digestor contents or purified digestor flocs was dependent on CO/sub 2/ and either ethanol or lactate but not H/sub 2/ gas as an electron donor. Floc preparations accumulated fourfold-higher levels of formate (40 ..mu..M) than digestor contents, and the free flora was the primary site for formate cleavage to CO/sub 2/ and H/sub 2/ (90 ..mu..M formate per h). Inhibition of methanogenesis by CHCl/sub 3/ resulted in formate accumulation and suppression of syntrophic ethanol oxidation. H/sub 2/ gas was an insignificant intermediary metabolite of syntrophic ethanol conversion by flocs, and it exogenous addition neither stimulated methanogenes nor inhibited the initial rate of ethanol oxidation. These results demonstrated that >90% of the syntrophic ethanol conversion to methane by mixed cultures containing primarily Desulfovibrio vulgaris and Methanobacterium formicicum was mediated via interspecies formate transfer and the <10% was mediated via interspecies H/sub 2/ transfer. The results are discussed in relation to biochemical thermodynamics. A model is presented which describes the dynamics of a bicarbonate-formate electron shuttle mechanism for control of carbon andmore » electron flow during syntrophic methanogenesis and provides a novel mechanism for energy conservation by syntrophic acetogens.« less

The study of cow dung as co-substrate with rice husk in biogas production

Abstract: The co-digestion of cow dung with rice husk for biogas production at laboratory scale was the subject of this investigation. The study was carried out at room temperature that is, 26 - 29°C for a period of 52 days with a total solid concentration of 8% in each sample (fermentation slurry). The biogas produced was collected by water displacement method which was subsequently measured. Sample A (50 wt % cow dung, 50 wt % rice husk) showed a cumulative biogas production of 161.5 ml at the end of the 38th day of the experiment after which there was no further production. The production from sample B (25 wt % cow dung, 75 wt % rice husk) was not significant, while there was no production from sample C(0 wt % cow dung, 100 wt % rice husk). Key words: Biogas, cow dung, rice husk, co-digestion.