This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service to our customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript. The manuscript will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proof before it is published in its final form. Please note that during the production process errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain. Stirring of the culture was not conducive for successful start-up as it resulted specifically in propionate accumulation.

Suwannoppadol, S., Ho, G. and Cord-Ruwisch, R. (2012)Overcoming sodium toxicity by utilizing grass leaves as cosubstrate during the start-up of batch thermophilic anaerobic digestion. This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service to our customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript. The manuscript will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proof before it is published in its final form. Please note that during the production process errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain. AbstractSodium toxicity is a common problem causing inhibition of anaerobic digestion, and digesters treating highly concentrated wastes, such as food and municipal solid waste, and concentrated animal manure, are likely to suffer from partial or complete inhibition of methane -producing consortia, including methanogens. When grass clippings were added at the onset of anaerobic digestion of acetate containing a sodium concentration of 7.8 g Na + /L, a total methane production about 8 L/L was obtained, whereas no methane was produced in the absence of grass leaves. In an attempt to narrow down which components of grass leaves caused decrease of sodium toxicity, different hypotheses were tested. Results revealed that betaine could be a significant compound in grass leaves causing reduction to sodium inhibition.

This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service to our customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript. The manuscript will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proof before it is published in its final form. Please note that during the production process errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain. AbstractThis study aims to investigate thermophilic methanogens in turf used as an inoculum.Results showed that Methanoculleus sp. regarded as hydrogenotrophic and Methanosarcina sp. regarded as acetoclastic methanogens were present in turf tested.However, active acetoclastic methanogens were present in turf soil only. The current study showed that thermophilic methanogens were present in various turf grass species:Stenotaphrum secundatum, Cynodon dactylon, and Zoysia japonica. Severe treatments of grass leaves under oxic conditions, including blending, drying and pulverizing did not affect the thermophilic hydrogenotrophic methanogenic activity of the grass. A dried and pulverized grass extract could be generated that can serve as a readily storable methanogenic inoculum for thermophilic anaerobic digestion. The methanogens could also be physically extracted into an aqueous suspension, suitable as an inoculum. The possible contribution of the presence of methanogens on grass plants to global greenhouse emissions is briefly discussed.