RT Journal Article SR Electronic(1) A1 Khan, A. W. A1 Trottier, T. M. A1 Patel, G. B. A1 Martin, S. M.YR 1979 T1 Nutrient Requirement for the Degradation of Cellulose to Methane by a Mixed Population of Anaerobes JF Microbiology, VO 112 IS 2 SP 365 OP 372 DO https://doi.org/10.1099/00221287-112-2-365 PB Microbiology Society, SN 1465-2080, AB SUMMARY: A synthetic medium containing inorganic sources of N, P, Fe, S, Ca2+ and Mg2+, trace minerals and essential vitamins was developed for anaerobic degradation of cellulose to CH4. A mixed culture obtained from sewage sludge and grown in batch culture in this medium degraded about 4 g cellulose l−1 week−1 and produced about 710 ml total gas per g cellulose degraded. The gas produced contained between 51 and 56% CH4, the remainder being CO2. For maximum degradation of cellulose to CH4 and CO2, the requirement for essential salts other than HCO3 −, Fe and S2- was comparable to that of other anaerobes. NH4 + or Na2CO3 at 20 to 24 mm and total Fe at 0·4 to 0·6 mm gave optimum conversion of cellulose to CH4, while the inclusion of additional S2- in the presence of 1·75 mm-SO4 2- was not required., UL https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/micro/10.1099/00221287-112-2-365