USE OF MULTISTAGE CONTINUOUS-CULTURE SYSTEMS TO INVESTIGATE THE EFFECTS OF TEMPERATURE ON THE METHANOGENIC FERMENTATION OF CELLULOSE-DEGRADATION INTERMEDIATES

A three-stage continuous culture system was used to segregate the comp onent physiological groups of an anaerobic cellobiose-degrading associ ation enriched and isolated from a landfill site. The optimum temperat ures for methanogenesis were 30-35 degrees C, although differences app arent in Vessels B and C at lower temperatures suggested the presence of distinct populations in the two vessels. There was no evidence of t hermophilic methanogenic activity. Sulphate-reducing bacterial (SRB) a ctivity was less affected by temperature perturbation, and there was s ignificant SRB activity at 55 degrees C.