Anaerobic digestion involves multiple steps, each facilitated by different microbial communities:
Hydrolysis: The breakdown of complex organic molecules such as carbohydrates, proteins, and fats into simpler sugars, amino acids, and fatty acids. Acidogenesis: The conversion of these simpler compounds into volatile fatty acids, alcohols, hydrogen, and carbon dioxide. Acetogenesis: The transformation of volatile fatty acids and alcohols into acetic acid, hydrogen, and carbon dioxide. Methanogenesis: The final step where methanogenic archaea convert acetic acid, hydrogen, and carbon dioxide into methane and water.
