STUDIES OF THE REFUSE METHANOGENIC FERMENTATION BY USE OF LABORATORY SYSTEMS

Simple closed-culture models and single-stage refuse column studies were used to demonstrate, respectively, responses of the intact association, and the effects of leachate movement on the refuse fermentation. Differential inhibitory effects on each physiological group could not, however, be directly demonstrated. To achieve this requires the spatial isolation of each group in individual vessels of multi-stage models. These were used to investigate the kinetic properties of an association exposed to the electron acceptors NO3, SO4 and CO2, and the differential inhibitory effects of phenol on sulphate-reducing bacteria and methanogens.