ANAEROBIC MICROBIAL COUNTS OF DIFFERENT POTENTIAL ANAEROBIC INOCULA

Sludges of various origin were analysed on the basis of microbial coun ts of anaerobes in order to investigate potential and alternative sour ces for inoculating anaerobic digestors. Sludges from neutralization a nd oil and fat separation tanks of a sugar cane factory, and from a st abilisation pond of a purified terephthalic-acid-producing plant were found to be adequate potential inocula. Activated sludges were found t o have both hydrogenotrophic and acetoclastic methanogens and obligate hydrogen-producing acetogens (OHPA). In all sludges tested, hydrogeno trophic methanogens were the dominant strict anaerobes. The ratio betw een most probable number counts of acetoclastic methanogens and OHPA s eems to be different between dispersed sludges and granular sludges.