Novel Microbe Discovery Boosts Food Waste-to-Energy Conversion

Breakthrough in Bioenergy Production

Scientists have identified a previously unknown microorganism that plays a crucial role in converting food waste into renewable energy, according to research published in Nature Microbiology. The discovery emerged from studying microbial communities at Surrey’s biofuel facility in British Columbia, where 115,000 tons of food waste annually undergoes transformation into renewable natural gas (RNG).

Breakthrough in Bioenergy Production
The Microbial Powerhouse
Solving the Microbial Mystery
Ammonia Tolerance Provides Critical Advantage
Broader Applications and Future Research

The Microbial Powerhouse

When organic waste enters anaerobic digesters, sources indicate that billions of microbes work in coordinated stages to break down materials ranging from banana peels to pizza crusts. The process typically involves multiple microbial species first decomposing waste into simple compounds, then converting these into organic acids like acetic acid, before methane-producing organisms finally generate the gas that becomes RNG., according to according to reports

Researchers reportedly noticed something unusual during their investigation. “We were studying microbial energy production in the Surrey Biofuel Facility when we noticed something odd: the microbes that usually consume acetic acid had vanished, yet the methane kept flowing,” said Dr. Ryan Ziels, associate professor in UBC’s department of civil engineering who led the research.

Solving the Microbial Mystery

Traditional identification methods failed to reveal which organisms were maintaining methane production, the report states. To solve this mystery, analysts suggest the team employed an innovative molecular tagging approach, feeding microbes nutrients containing a heavier form of carbon and tracking how this carbon moved through proteins.

“Converting waste to methane is a cooperative process involving multiple interacting microbes,” explained Dr. Steven Hallam, a professor in UBC’s department of microbiology and immunology and co-author of the study. “This newly identified bacterium is one of the key players making it happen.”

Ammonia Tolerance Provides Critical Advantage

The newly discovered microbe, belonging to the Natronincolaceae family, demonstrates remarkable tolerance to ammonia, which typically inhibits methane production in waste processing systems. As protein-rich food waste breaks down, it naturally generates ammonia that can accumulate to levels that halt methane production and cause acetic acid buildup., according to related news

According to reports, this microbial discovery helps explain why some digesters continue operating efficiently under challenging conditions while others fail. “Municipal facilities owe a lot to these organisms,” said Dr. Ziels. “If acetic acid builds up, tanks have to be dumped and restarted — an expensive, messy process.”

Broader Applications and Future Research

The research team is now applying the same molecular tracking technique to study microbial communities that break down microplastics in ocean environments. This approach could potentially identify other elusive microorganisms with valuable environmental applications.

As cities worldwide grapple with waste management challenges and transition toward low-carbon energy systems, analysts suggest that microorganisms may hold solutions to significant environmental problems. The discovery of ammonia-tolerant bacteria could inform the design of more efficient waste processing facilities that maintain methane production under adverse conditions.

The research was conducted in collaboration with Fortis BC and Convertus, with additional contributions from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Joint Genome Institute and Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory.