Wastewater Treatment for Bioenergy Purposes Using a Metaproteomic Approach

Abstract Wastewater from livestock and agriculture activities can be used to produce bioenergy. This requires appropriate treatments to reduce levels of environmental contaminants. Biological systems, microbial communities, and interactions among microorganisms are essential for the removal of these residues. Enzymatic products are essential for successful production of stable high-efficiency energy. In this context, the metaproteomics of energy production in reactors becomes an important tool for predicting and controlling biological processes, particularly for bacteria and fungi as well as for analyses of methanogenic and fermentative microorganisms. Metaproteomic analysis also provides information about the mechanisms of microbial adaptation during the production of inhibitory compounds, thereby helping to identify indicators of process failure in anaerobic digestion and fermentation. This chapter addresses communities and microbial interactions (positive dynamics and inhibition) in wastewater treatment systems, particularly enzymatic complexes and metaproteomic approaches to maximizing bioenergetic yields in the biogas, biohydrogen, and bioethanol chains.