Circular Economy Approach for Bioplastic and Lipids Production from Paper-sludge Using Microbial Communities

Maria Lorena Falco, Niels Nouse, Truus de Vrije, Cristiana Cravo-Laureau, Robert Duran, Ana M. López-Contreras

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference paperAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

The main objective of this work is to find a sustainable way to produce biodegradable and biocompatible polymers: the polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), and fatty acids (FAs) from waste using microbial communities (MC) in a circular economy approach. The MC sampled from a local hydrocarbon contaminated environment and the paper sludge from a recycling paper company were the raw materials. The paper sludge (PS) is rich in cellulose; therefore, it can be used as carbon source for the microbial communities. Two different approaches were proposed in this work: the production of the PHAs combining anaerobic and aerobic culture conditions for the MC. The production of FAs was done in aerobic conditions. The results showed that the studied MC were able to grow in anaerobic conditions with paper sludge as carbon source, and produce volatile fatty acids (VFAs), used as carbon source for the aerobic cultures of the MC to produce PHA in yields of 20 and 30 percent. The MC that were cultivated in aerobic conditions with PS as carbon source, produced fatty acids of commercial interest such myristate and stearate.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationPapers of the 31st European Biomass Conference
EditorsI. De Bari, N. Scarlat, A. Grassi
Place of PublicationBologna
PublisherETA-Florence Renewable Energies
Pages190-192
Number of pages3
ISBN (Electronic)9788889407233
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2023
Event31st European Biomass Conference and Exhibition, EUBCE 2023 - Bologna, Italy
Duration: 5 Jun 20238 Jun 2023

Publication series

NameEuropean Biomass Conference and Exhibition Proceedings
PublisherETA-Florence Renewable Energies
ISSN (Print)2282-5819

Conference/symposium

Conference/symposium31st European Biomass Conference and Exhibition, EUBCE 2023
Country/TerritoryItaly
CityBologna
Period5/06/238/06/23

Keywords

  • bioplastic
  • lignocellulose
  • sludge

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Circular Economy Approach for Bioplastic and Lipids Production from Paper-sludge Using Microbial Communities'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this