Application of C-nuclear magnetic resonance to the observation of metabolic interactions in anaerobic digestors

The utilization and conversion of glucose to volatile acids were monitored in anaerobic digestors by C-nuclear magnetic resonance. Glucose was converted to lactate and acetate. Lactate was subsequently converted to propionate. The distribution of the labeled carbons in propionate suggested that minor amounts were produced via the randomizing pathway and that the major portion of propionate was derived from lactate.