A Holistic Metabolic Pathway of Anaerobic Digestion Integrating Substrate Degradation, Electron Transfer, Energy Conservation, and Information Flow

Main stages of anaerobic digestion include the sequential breakdown of organic matter through hydrolysis, acidogenesis, acetogenesis, and methanogenesis. Substrate degradation, electron transfer, energy conservation, and information flow in these stages determine the performance, stability, and resilience of anaerobic digestion. Direct interspecies electron transfer and quorum sensing are novel mechanisms potentially governing microbial interactions yet need deeper exploration. A comprehensive understanding of these mechanisms is crucial for developing new anaerobic digestion technologies.