Biodeterioration kinetics and microbial community organization on surface of cementitious materials exposed to anaerobic digestion conditions

Anaerobic digestion is a process that can produce renewable energy through the fermentation of biodegradable biomass. Industrial anaerobic tanks are usually made concrete but production various aggressive compounds (CO2, NH4+ and volatile fatty acids) during microbial leads to deterioration structure. In addition, formation biofilm on cementitious material surface could generate even more intense biodeterioration. The objective this study gain better understanding involvement in biodeterioration materials an process. More specifically, focuses heterogeneity populations within reactive medium digestion. Laboratory scale bioreactors mimicking industrial were constructed CEM I cement pastes immersed for 2, 3, 4, 5, 10 15 weeks. was evaluated by determining deteriorated thickness. quantified. attached analyzed using 16 s rRNA gene sequencing. To evaluate biofilm, growth layers successively caused stall two distinct removal techniques. Three fractions defined: planktonic microorganisms, microorganisms loosely strongly attached. results showed lifestyle associated with producing methane consuming acids, while bacteria mainly members Clostridium genus. A community shift due reversible propionic acid accumulation first 5 weeks also observed. no major differences spotted between biomass, indicating homogeneity biofilm. These suggest increase since acids be produced massive quantities near samples acidogenic population present