Skip to main navigation Skip to search Skip to main content

Influence of substrate load on polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) accumulation by unenriched mixed cultures from excess sludge fermentation liquid

  • Mengmeng Cai*
  • , Fuyi Cui
  • , Qingliang Zhao
  • , Hong Chua
  • *Corresponding author for this work
  • Harbin Institute of Technology
  • Hong Kong Polytechnic University

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

Abstract

To reduce the production cost of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) and disposal amount of excess sludge simultaneously, volatile fatty acids (VFAs) from alkaline excess sludge fermentation was used as carbon sources to synthesize PHA by unenriched mixed cultures. Released phosphorus and residual ammonium in the fermentative VFAs was controlled by adding magnesium to form struvite precipitation. Four VFAs liquids obtained was used to test the influence of initial carbon load and carbon to nitrogen ratio (C:N ratio) on the VFAs uptake rate, PHA storage rate and biomass growth rate. Results show that higher initial carbon substrate load results in relatively higher VFAs uptake rate and higher PHA storage rate, while higher initial C:N ratio results in relatively lower biomass growth rate from VFAs. VFAs generated from thermophilic alkaline sludge fermentation were a suitable carbon source for PHA production by mixed cultures.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationFuture Material Research and Industry Application, FMRIA 2011
Pages856-861
Number of pages6
DOIs
StatePublished - 2012
Event2011 SSITE International Conference on Future Material Research and Industry Application, FMRIA 2011 - Macau, China
Duration: 1 Dec 20112 Dec 2011

Publication series

NameAdvanced Materials Research
Volume455-456
ISSN (Print)1022-6680

Conference

Conference2011 SSITE International Conference on Future Material Research and Industry Application, FMRIA 2011
Country/TerritoryChina
CityMacau
Period1/12/112/12/11

Keywords

  • Aerobic dynamic feeding
  • Carbon to ammonium ratio
  • Excess sludge fermentation
  • Mixed cultures
  • Polyhydroxyalkanoates
  • Substrate load

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Influence of substrate load on polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) accumulation by unenriched mixed cultures from excess sludge fermentation liquid'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this