Effectiveness of layered inoculation in solid-state anaerobic co-digestion of pig manure and corn straw: Focus on macro-, micro-, and genetic-levels

Layered inoculation can achieve rapid start-up and promote methanation performance of anaerobic digesters. Daily specific methane yield (SMY) rapidly increased to 2.93 mL/g VS/d during 0-13 days, and cumulative SMY reached 212 mL/g VS in the solid-state anaerobic co-digestion (SS-AcoD) of pig manure and corn straw. Data were collected at macro-, micro-, and genetic-levels of each substrate layer. The results showed that layered inoculation could improve volatile fatty acids utilization and prevent adverse effects of high total ammonium nitrogen concentrations. Layered inoculation accelerated hydrolysis, acidification, and methanogenesis of substrates, as evidenced by the efficient inoculation of Bacteroidetes, Anaerolineales, Methanosphaerula, and Methanothrix, which were primarily from inocula. The various stages of SS-AcoD were synergistically initiated during the first 13 days, and acetoclastic pathway was boosted. These results further explain why layered inoculation is an efficient method for improving methanation performance of SS-AcoD and achieving efficient utilization of organic solid waste.