Tohoku University · Environmental Science
Professor Chika Tada's research lab specializes in microbial biotechnology and anaerobic digestion, focusing on the enzymatic degradation of recalcitrant lignocellulosic biomass and the enhancement of methane production. The lab investigates key hydrolytic enzymes such as endoglucanases and xylanases in rumen microbial systems to improve biomass conversion efficiency. It also explores the surface engineering of microbial carriers to optimize adhesion and activity of methanogenic archaea, particularly *Methanothermobacter thermautotrophicus*, for efficient anaerobic wastewater treatment and bioenergy recovery. The overarching goal is to develop sustainable bioprocesses for renewable energy production from organic waste.
Figures are computed from collected data and may differ slightly.
Treatment with rumen microorganisms improves the methane fermentation of undegradable lignocellulosic biomass; however, the role of endoglucanase in lignocellulose digestion remains unclear. This study was conducted to investigate endoglucanases contributing to cellulose degradation during treatment with rumen microorganisms, using carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) as a substrate. The rate of CMC degradation increased for the first 24 h of treatment. Zymogram analysis revealed that endoglucanases of
Treatment with rumen fluid improves methane production from non-degradable lignocellulosic biomass during subsequent methane fermentation; however, the kinetics of xylanases during treatment with rumen fluid remain unclear. This study aimed to identify key xylanases contributing to xylan degradation and their individual activities during xylan treatment with bovine rumen microorganisms. Xylan was treated with bovine rumen fluid at 37°C for 48 h under anaerobic conditions. Total solids were degra
Various support carriers are used for high-density retention of methanogenic archaea in anaerobic wastewater treatment systems. Although the physicochemical properties of carrier materials and microorganisms influence the adhesion of methanogenic archaea, details about the underlying mechanism remain poorly characterized. We applied seven types of chemical surface modifications to carbon felts to clarify the adhesion properties of <i>Methanothermobacter thermautotrophicus</i>, a representative t
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