Volatile fatty acids production from sewage organic matter by combined bioflocculation and anaerobic fermentation

R. Khiewwijit*, K.J. Keesman, H.H.M. Rijnaarts, B.G. Temmink

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

16 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This work aims at exploring the feasibility of a combined process bioflocculation to concentrate sewage organic matter and anaerobic fermentation to produce volatile fatty acids (VFA). Bioflocculation, using a high-loaded aerobic membrane bioreactor (HL-MBR), was operated at an HRT of 1 h and an SRT of 1 day. The HL-MBR process removed on average 83% of sewage COD, while only 10% of nitrogen and phosphorus was removed. During anaerobic fermentation of HL-MBR concentrate at an SRT of 5 days and 35 °C, specific VFA production rate of 282 mg VFA-COD/g VSS could be reached and consisted of 50% acetate, 40% propionate and 10% butyrate. More than 75% of sewage COD was diverted to the concentrate, but only 15% sewage COD was recovered as VFA, due to incomplete VSS degradation at the short treatment time applied. This shows that combined process for the VFA production is technologically feasible and needs further optimization.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)150-155
JournalBioresource Technology
Volume193
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2015

Keywords

  • Anaerobic fermentation
  • Bioflocculation
  • Membrane bioreactor
  • Volatile fatty acids

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Volatile fatty acids production from sewage organic matter by combined bioflocculation and anaerobic fermentation'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this