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Organics: Anaerobic Digestion
Science
Anaerobically digesting organic carbon involves a plethora of naturally occurring bacteria. The many different species of bacteria break down complex organic molecules through a four-phased process: first hydrolysisHydrolysis The decomposition of organic compounds by interaction with water; [Greek, hydro= water + Lysis= breaking] Breaking the bond between two building blocks by adding a water molecule, reversing the dehydration-condensation reaction., then acidogenisisAcidogenesis The process by which simple monomers are converted into volatile fatty acids, followed by acetogenesisAcetogenesis The process by which volatile fatty acids are converted into acetic acid, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen., and lastly methanogensisMethanogenesis The process by which acetate is converted into methane and carbon dioxide, while hydrogen is consumed.. Definition of Fatty AcidsFatty acid a carboxylic acid often with a long, unbranched aliphatic tail (chain), which is either saturated or unsaturated
Bacteria break down of complex organic molecules