The difference between anaerobic and aerobic bacteria

[Haya]

What is the difference between anaerobic bacteria and aerobic bacteria whence the ability of decomposition of organic matters? Can anaerobic bacteria decompose something like straw?

[CharonY]

Yes and no. For the most part anaerobic bacteria as a whole are able to degrade most compounds that are degradable under oxic conditions. However, the pathways are different, as they e.g. cannot use oxygenases. As a consequence anaerobic degradation tends to be much slower. Also it often requires the action of larger communities as a single species may not completely decompose the substrate.

 

Even in cases where oxygen itself is not involved in the degradation process, anaerobes are often somewhat more energy limited than aerobes, which to a large part is the inherent inefficient of anaerobic respiration but also due to the fact that many anoxic habitats can have other unfavorable aspects (such as nutrient limitation, for example).

Edited November 25, 2016 by CharonY

[Haya]

Yes and no. For the most part anaerobic bacteria as a whole are able to degrade most compounds that are degradable under oxic conditions. However, the pathways are different, as they e.g. cannot use oxygenases. As a consequence anaerobic degradation tends to be much slower. Also it often requires the action of larger communities as a single species may not completely decompose the substrate.

 

Even in cases where oxygen itself is not involved in the degradation process, anaerobes are often somewhat more energy limited than aerobes, which to a large part is the inherent inefficient of anaerobic respiration but also due to the fact that many anoxic habitats can have other unfavorable aspects (such as nutrient limitation, for example).

Thanks!

I am working on anaerobic digestion, could you explain me this equation because i can't understand it, please?

(BODL stabilized – BODL for cell production)

And what is the difference between dispersed-growth digesters and attached-growth digesters?

Edited November 28, 2016 by Haya

[CharonY]

These are specific terms typically used in engineering. It would help if you could elaborate on the abbreviations and add what you think they could mean.

[Haya]

These are specific terms typically used in engineering. It would help if you could elaborate on the abbreviations and add what you think they could mean.

Thanks! I will try to know.