Metagenomic study of food waste anaerobic digestion

ABSTRACT This study explores anaerobic digestion of food waste to understand the microbial community dynamics and metabolic pathways that drive the conversion of organic waste into biogas. Sampling was done at multiple time points during those 4 weeks (weekly) to capture microbial succession/changes over time. The microbial profile was evaluated using QIIME2 and BV-BRC, while functional annotation tools (PICRUSt2) were used to identify dominant pathways. The results reveal a temporal shift in microbial communities, with fermentative bacteria, such as Lactobacillus and Clostridia, dominating the early stages of digestion, followed by methanogenic archaea like Methanomicrobia in the later stages. Pathway analysis showed that fermentation, aromatic compound degradation, and methanogenesis were the primary metabolic processes, with methanogenesis becoming more prominent by week 3 (FW3_S162_R1). The study highlights the critical role of microbial community adaptation in maximizing methane production and offers new insights into optimizing anaerobic digestion for more efficient food waste biogas generation. By combining metagenomic and metabolomic approaches, this research provides a comprehensive understanding of the microbial and metabolic factors that shape the anaerobic digestion process, contributing to the development of sustainable waste management practices. IMPORTANCE This study employs a metagenomic approach to elucidate the intricate microbial communities and metabolic processes involved in the anaerobic digestion of food waste. It highlights microbial interactions that influence biogas production, offering insights for optimizing waste-to-energy conversion. Understanding these dynamics is key to improving digestion efficiency, reducing environmental impacts, and advancing sustainable waste management and circular economy strategies. The findings provide a valuable foundation for future innovations addressing global waste and energy challenges.