Screening and Maintenance of Mixed Methanogenic Bacterial Populations

Abstract

Forty two samples of soil, mud, water and animal excreta from various places within Kamphaengsaen Campus, Kasetsart University and Sue-E-Daang village, Kamphaengsaen District, Nakornpathom, Thailand were tested for methane fermentation. The results indicate that where there is deposit of organic matter there is possibility to obtain mixed methanogenic bacterial populations of both thermophilic and mesophilic types. However, acclimatization of these bacterial populations is essential for obtaining the sludge samples which generate appreciable methane gas yield. The acclimatization was performed such that selected Kamphaengsaen soil and small amount of bentonite were mixed and used as the bedding for the bacteria which were maintained on the mixture of glucose, cellulose, plant residues and nitrogen sources.