Anaerobic Digestion of MSW Spiked with BPA

This study aims to investigate the effects of bisphenol A (BPA) on the MSW (municipal solid waste) biodegradation in anaerobic bioreactors. BPA 10 and 100 mg L-1 daily fed bioreactors were found to stimulate the biogas production rate after about 126 days’ operation while that of BPA 500 mg L-1 daily fed ones was inhibited gradually from the beginning. Enhancement or inhibition of MSW biodegradation was thought to be the resulting exposed BPA soluble levels of ~10 - ~13, ~11 - ~30 and ~30 - ~102 mg L-1for 10, 100 and 500 mg L-1 daily fed bioreactors compared to control (~4 - ~10 mg L-1). PCR (polymerase chain reaction) and DGGE (denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis) analysis also showed that Methanosarcina sp., Methanosarcina barkeri and Methanomicrobiales archaeon methane producing bacteria could adapt BPA levels (~10 - ~30 mg L-1) at BPA 10 and 100 mg L-1 daily fed bioreactors resulting in the improvement of MSW anaerobic digestion and the enhancement of biogas production rates for about ~1 - ~3.5 times that of control between 126 and 305 days’ operation.