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Mechanistic insights into fermentative pathway control during solid-state food waste acidogenesis under autogenic pressure

Liwen Luo (UGent) , Jonathan W.C. Wong, Binghua Yan, Suyun Xu and Korneel Rabaey (UGent)
(2026) WATER RESEARCH. 288(part B).
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Abstract
The efficiency of two-phase anaerobic digestion hinges on the acidogenic phase, where acidogenic off-gas generates autogenic pressure that alters the physicochemical environment and may affect microbial activity, pathways, and intermediates. However, its mechanistic role under solid-state conditions remains unclear. To address this knowledge gaps, we investigated the effects of autogenic pressure on solid-state food waste acidogenesis, focusing on soluble microbial product (SMP) formation and the associated metabolic responses at the molecular level. Autogenic pressure enhanced acidogenic decomposition, increasing SMP yields from 365.3 +/- 10.5 g COD/kg VSadded to 407.1 +/- 7.3 g COD/kg VSadded. It initially promoted lactate production, followed by enhanced conversion of lactate to butyrate and acetate functioning by Megasphaera. Metagenomic and metabolite analyses revealed that autogenic pressure increased the abundance of functional genes associated with homoacetogenesis and butyrate synthesis. Incubation experiments further confirmed that acetate, stimulated by autogenic pressure, played a key role in driving the reverse (1-oxidation pathway while suppressing the acrylate pathway during lactate conversion. As a result, butyrate production increased by 25 %, while propionate decreased by 43 %. These findings provide new insights into how SMP-producing microbial communities respond to autogenic pressure and demonstrate the potential of self-regulation to enhance product yield and process controllability. This strategy advances sustainable solid waste management and promotes the development of circular bioeconomy.
Keywords
Leach bed, Lactate conversion, Butyrate, Acrylate pathway, Reverse beta-oxidation pathway, VOLATILE FATTY-ACIDS, ANAEROBIC-DIGESTION, HYDROGEN-PRODUCTION, CARBON-DIOXIDE, REACTOR, HEADSPACE, CULTURE, GAS, PH, ENHANCEMENT

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Citation

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MLA
Luo, Liwen, et al. “Mechanistic Insights into Fermentative Pathway Control during Solid-State Food Waste Acidogenesis under Autogenic Pressure.” WATER RESEARCH, vol. 288, no. part B, 2026, doi:10.1016/j.watres.2025.124679.
APA
Luo, L., Wong, J. W. C., Yan, B., Xu, S., & Rabaey, K. (2026). Mechanistic insights into fermentative pathway control during solid-state food waste acidogenesis under autogenic pressure. WATER RESEARCH, 288(part B). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2025.124679
Chicago author-date
Luo, Liwen, Jonathan W.C. Wong, Binghua Yan, Suyun Xu, and Korneel Rabaey. 2026. “Mechanistic Insights into Fermentative Pathway Control during Solid-State Food Waste Acidogenesis under Autogenic Pressure.” WATER RESEARCH 288 (part B). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2025.124679.
Chicago author-date (all authors)
Luo, Liwen, Jonathan W.C. Wong, Binghua Yan, Suyun Xu, and Korneel Rabaey. 2026. “Mechanistic Insights into Fermentative Pathway Control during Solid-State Food Waste Acidogenesis under Autogenic Pressure.” WATER RESEARCH 288 (part B). doi:10.1016/j.watres.2025.124679.
Vancouver
1.
Luo L, Wong JWC, Yan B, Xu S, Rabaey K. Mechanistic insights into fermentative pathway control during solid-state food waste acidogenesis under autogenic pressure. WATER RESEARCH. 2026;288(part B).
IEEE
[1]
L. Luo, J. W. C. Wong, B. Yan, S. Xu, and K. Rabaey, “Mechanistic insights into fermentative pathway control during solid-state food waste acidogenesis under autogenic pressure,” WATER RESEARCH, vol. 288, no. part B, 2026.
@article{01K6A1FV1C3WXGSGGSETSPSWXA,
  abstract     = {{The efficiency of two-phase anaerobic digestion hinges on the acidogenic phase, where acidogenic off-gas generates autogenic pressure that alters the physicochemical environment and may affect microbial activity, pathways, and intermediates. However, its mechanistic role under solid-state conditions remains unclear. To address this knowledge gaps, we investigated the effects of autogenic pressure on solid-state food waste acidogenesis, focusing on soluble microbial product (SMP) formation and the associated metabolic responses at the molecular level. Autogenic pressure enhanced acidogenic decomposition, increasing SMP yields from 365.3 +/- 10.5 g COD/kg VSadded to 407.1 +/- 7.3 g COD/kg VSadded. It initially promoted lactate production, followed by enhanced conversion of lactate to butyrate and acetate functioning by Megasphaera. Metagenomic and metabolite analyses revealed that autogenic pressure increased the abundance of functional genes associated with homoacetogenesis and butyrate synthesis. Incubation experiments further confirmed that acetate, stimulated by autogenic pressure, played a key role in driving the reverse (1-oxidation pathway while suppressing the acrylate pathway during lactate conversion. As a result, butyrate production increased by 25 %, while propionate decreased by 43 %. These findings provide new insights into how SMP-producing microbial communities respond to autogenic pressure and demonstrate the potential of self-regulation to enhance product yield and process controllability. This strategy advances sustainable solid waste management and promotes the development of circular bioeconomy.}},
  articleno    = {{124679}},
  author       = {{Luo, Liwen and Wong, Jonathan W.C. and Yan, Binghua and Xu, Suyun and Rabaey, Korneel}},
  issn         = {{0043-1354}},
  journal      = {{WATER RESEARCH}},
  keywords     = {{Leach bed,Lactate conversion,Butyrate,Acrylate pathway,Reverse beta-oxidation pathway,VOLATILE FATTY-ACIDS,ANAEROBIC-DIGESTION,HYDROGEN-PRODUCTION,CARBON-DIOXIDE,REACTOR,HEADSPACE,CULTURE,GAS,PH,ENHANCEMENT}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{part B}},
  pages        = {{14}},
  title        = {{Mechanistic insights into fermentative pathway control during solid-state food waste acidogenesis under autogenic pressure}},
  url          = {{http://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2025.124679}},
  volume       = {{288}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}
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