The four phases of anaerobic digestion: hydrolysis, acidogenesis, acetogenesis, methanogenesis
Anaerobic digestion is not a single step, but a chain of four linked biochemical phases: hydrolysis (breakdown of macromolecules), acidogenesis (production of VFAs), acetogenesis (production of acetate and hydrogen) and methanogenesis (production of methane). Each phase is carried out by a different microbial group and at very different speeds: acidogenesis is the fastest; hydrolysis limits […]