Unveiling the bioaugmentation mechanism of Clostridium thermopalmarium HK1 enhancing methane production in thermophilic anaerobic digestion of food waste

To enhance methane production and ensure system stability in the thermophilic anaerobic digestion (TAD) of food waste (FW), bioaugmentation is a straightforward and effective strategy. This study investigated the bioaugmentation effect of Clostridium thermopalmarium HK1 on the TAD of FW. The results showed that the cumulative methane production (CMP) and the average methane content after bioaugmentation increased by 23.67% and 22.69%, respectively. Moreover, the addition of C. thermopalmarium HK1 contributed to alleviating ammonia inhibition and promoting volatile fatty acids (VFAs) conversion, thus maintaining the system stability. The dominant hydrolytic bacteria and hydrogenotrophic methanogens were enriched in the early stage after bioaugmentation. The genus Clostridium was positively correlated with methane content. Metagenomic analysis further suggested that methane metabolism was strengthened, and the relative abundances of genes encoding the key functional enzymes associated with hydrogenotrophic and acetoclastic methanogenic pathways were enhanced. Therefore, bioaugmentation with C. thermopalmarium HK1 had great potential for improving the efficiency of the TAD of FW.