Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Study of syntrophic anaerobic digestion of volatile fatty acids using enriched cultures at mesophilic conditions

  • Published:
International Journal of Environmental Science & Technology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Volatile fatty acids are the most important intermediates in anaerobic digestion, and their degradations are extremely complicated thermodynamically. In this research, syntrophic anaerobic digestion of volatile fatty acids using enriched acetogenic and methanogenic cultures in a batch reactor at mesophilic conditions was investigated. Interactive effects of key microbiological and operating variables (propionic, butyric and acetic acids, retention time and methanogen to acetogen populations ratio) on the anaerobic degradation of volatile fatty acids were analyzed. Acetogenic and methanogenic anaerobes in the granular sludge from an up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor were enriched at mesophilic conditions within a period of four weeks, separately. Enriched cultures were mixed with known proportions and then used in the bioreactor. Experiments were carried out based on central composite design and analyzed using response surface methodology. Four parameters (final concentrations of propionic, butyric and acetic acids and biogas production) were directly measured as response. Also, the optimum conditions for volatile fatty acid degradation were found to be 937.5 mg/L, 3275.5 mg/L, 2319.5 mg/L, 45 h and 2.2 proportions for propionic acid, butyric acid, acetic acid, retention time and methanogen to acetogen populations ratio, respectively (corresponding to maximum volatile fatty acid removal efficiencies and biogas production). The results of the verification experiment and the predicted values from the fitted correlations at the optimum conditions were in close agreement at a 95% confidence interval. The present study provides valuable information about the interrelations of quality and process parameters at different values of microbiological and operating variables.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aktap, N.; Boyacy, Y.H.; Mutlu, M.; Tanyolaç, A., (2006). Optimization of lactose utilization in deproteinated whey by Kluyveromyces marxianus using response surface methodology (RSM). Bioresource. Tech., 97, 2252–2259 (8 pages).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Altaf, M.D.; Naveena, B. J.; Venkatshvar, M.; Kumar, E.V.; Reddy, G., (2006). Single step fermentation of starch to lactic acid by lactobacillus amylophilus CV6 in SSF using inexpensive nitrogen sources to replace peptone and yeast extract-optimization by (RSM). Proc. Biochem., 41, 465–472 (8 pages).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Anderson, M. J.; Whitcomb, P. J., (2000). DOE simplified: Practical tools for effective experimentation. Productivity, Inc. Portland, Oregon.

    Google Scholar 

  • APHA., (1992). Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater, 18th Ed. Washington, DC: Am. Public Health Assoc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Babel, S.; Opiso E. M.; Removal of Cr from synthetic wastewater by sorption into volcanic ash soil. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Tech., 4 (1), 99–108 (10 pages).

  • Bitton, G., (2005). Wastewater microbiology, A John Wiley & Sons Inc. Publication, 3rd Ed., Hoboken, New Jersey Chap., 13, 345–369 (25 pages).

  • de Bok, F. A. M.; Plugge, C.; Stams, A. J. M., (2004). Interspecies electron transfer in methanogenic propionate degrading consortia. Water Res., 38, 1368–1375 (8 pages).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • de Bok, F. A. M.; Harmsen, J. M.; Plugge, C. M.; de Vries, M. C.; Akkermans, A. D. L.; de Vos, W.M.; Stams, A. J. M., (2005). The first true obligatory syntrophic propionate-oxidizing bacterium, Pelotomaculum schinkii sp. nov.; cocultured with Methanospirillum hungatei, and emended description of the genus Pelotomaculum. Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol., 55, 1697–1703 (7 pages).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gallert, C.; Winter, J., (2008). Propionic acid accumulation and degradation during restart of a full-scale anaerobic biowaste digester. Bioresource. Tech., 99, 170–178 (9 pages).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gerardi, M. H., (2003). Wastewater microbiology series: The microbiology of anaerobic digesters. John Wiley and Sons Inc., New York.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Ghorbani, F.; Younesi, H.; Ghasempour, S. M.; zinatizadeh, A. A.; Amini. M.; Daneshi, A., (2008). Application of response surface methodology for optimization of cadmium biosorption in an aqueous solution by Saccharomyces cervisiae. Chem. Eng. J., 145, 267–275 (9 pages).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Han, S.K.; Kim, S.H.; Shin, H.S., (2005). UASB treatment of wastewater with VFA and alcohol generated during hydrogen fermentation of food waste. Proc. Biochem., 40, 2897–2905 (9 pages).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hooshyari, B.; Azimi, A.; Mehrdadi, N., (2009). Kinetic analysis of enhanced biological phosphorus removal in a hybrid integrated fixed film activated sludge process. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Tech. 6(1), 149–158 (10 Pages).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hwang, M. H.; Jang, N. J.; Hyum, S. H.; Kim, I.S., (2004). Anaerobic bio-hydrogen production from ethanol fermentation: The role of pH. J. Biotech., 111, 297–309 (13 pages).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kida, K.; Morimura, S.; Sonoda, Y., (1993). Accumulation of propionic acid during anaerobic treatment of distillery wastewater from barley-shochu making. J. Ferment. Bioeng., 75, 213–216 (4 pages).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kim, I. S.; Hwang, M.H.; Jang, N.J.; Hyun, S.H.; Lee, S.T., (2004). Effect of low pH on the activity of hydrogen utilizing methanogen in bio-hydrogen process. Int. J. Hydrogen. Energ., 29, 1133–1140 (8 pages).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kosaka, T.; Uchiyama, T.; Ishii, S.; Enoki, M.; Imachi, H.; Kamagata, Y.; Ohashi, A.; Harada, H.; Ikenaga, H.; Watanabe, K., (2006). Reconstruction and regulation of the central catabolic pathway in the thermophilic propionate-oxidizing syntroph Pelotomaculum thermopropionicum. J. Bacteriol., 188, 202–210 (9 pages).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu, R. R.; Tian, Q.; Yang, B.; Chen, J. H.; Hybrid anaerobic baffled reactor for treatment of desizing wastewater. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Tech., 7 (1), 111–118 (8 pages).

  • Mason, R. I.; Gunst, R. F.; Hess, J. L., (2003). Statistical design and analysis of experiments, with applications to engineering and science. 2nd Ed. John Wiley & Sons, New York.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Metcalf and Eddy Inc. (2004). Wastewater engineering: treatment and reuse., McGraw-Hill International Editions. 4th Ed., New York, Chap. 10, 983–1035 (53 pages).

  • Montgomery, D.C., (1991). Design and analysis of experiments., John Wiley & Sons, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Myers, R.H.; Montgomery, D.C., (2002). Response surface methodology., 3rd Ed., John Wiley & Sons, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nwuche, C. O.; Ugoji E. O., (2008). Effects of heavy metal pollution on the soil microbial activity. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Tech., 5(3), 409–414 (6 pages).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nwuche, C. O.; Ugoji E. O., (2010). Effect of co-existing plant specie on soil microbial activity under heavy metal stress. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Tech., 7(4), 697–704 (8 pages).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Plugge, C.; Balk, M.; Stams, A. J. M., (2002). Desulfotomaculum thermobenzoicum subsp. Thermosyntrphicum subsp. nov., a thermophilic, syntrophic, propionate-oxidizing, spore-forming bacterium. Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol., 52, 391–399 (9 pages).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pullammanappallil, P.C.; Chynoweth, D.P.; Lyberatos, G.; Svoronos, S.A., (2001). Stable performance of anaerobic digestion in the presence of a high concentration of propionic acid. Bioresource. Tech., 78, 165–169 (5 pages).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schink, B.; Stams, A.J.M., (2005). Syntrophism among prokaryotes. In: Dworkin M. (Ed.), The prokaryotes: an evolving electronic resource for the microbiological community, 3rd Ed. Springer, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt, J. E.; Ahring, B. K., (1995). Interspecies electron transfer during propionate and butyrate degradation in mesophilic, granular sludge. Appl. Environ. Microbiol., 61(7), 2765–2767 (3 pages).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shah, B. A.; Shah, A. V.; Singh, R. R. (2009). Sorption isotherms and kinetics of chromium uptake from wastewater using natural sorbent material. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Tech., 6(1), 77–90 (14 Pages).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Siegert, I.; Banks, C., (2005). The effect of volatile fatty acid addition on the anaerobic digestion of cellulose and glucose in batch reactors. Process. Biochem., 40, 3412–3418 (7 pages).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Söteman, S. W.; Ristow, N. E.; Wentzel, M. C.; Ehama, G. A., (2005). A steady state model for anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge. Water South Africa, 31(4), 511–527 (17 pages).

    Google Scholar 

  • Tatara, M.; Makiuchi, T.; Ueno, Y; Goto, M.; Sode, K., (2008). Methanogenesis from acetate and propionate by thermophilic down-flow anaerobic packed-bed reactor. Bioresource Tech., 99, 4786–4795 (10 pages).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Turovskiy, I. S.; Mathai, P.K., (2006). Wastewater sludge processing. New York: Wiley.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Uneo, Y.; Tatara, M., (2008). Microbial population in a thermophilic packed-bed reactor for methanogenesis from volatile fatty acids. Enzyme Microbiol. Tech., 43, 302–308 (7 pages).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, G; Mu, Y.; Yu, H.Q., (2005). Response surface analysis to evaluate the influence of pH, temperature and substrate concentration on the acidogenesis of sucrose-rich wastewater. Biochem. Eng. J., 23, 175–184 (10 pages).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wong, B. T.; Show, K. Y.; Lee, D.J.; Lai, J. Y., (2009). Carbon balance of anaerobic process: Carbon credit. Bioresource. Tech., 100, 1734–1739 (6 pages).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zinatizadeh, A. A. L.; Mohamed, A. R.; Abdullah, A. Z.; Mashitah, M.D.; Hasnain Isa, M.; Najafpour, G. D., (2006). Process modeling and analysis of palm oil mill effluent treatment in an up-flow anaerobic sludge fixed film bioreactor using response surface methodology (RSM). Water Res., 40, 3193–3208 (16 pages).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biotechnology Group, Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tarbiat Modarres University, Tehran, Iran

    T. Amani Ph.D. (scholar), M. Nosrati Ph.D. (Assistant Professor) & S. M. Mousavi Ph.D. (Assistant Professor)

  2. Department of Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran

    R. K. Kermanshahi Ph.D. (Full Professor)

Authors
  1. T. Amani Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. Nosrati Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. S. M. Mousavi Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. R. K. Kermanshahi Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. Nosrati Ph.D..

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Amani, T., Nosrati, M., Mousavi, S.M. et al. Study of syntrophic anaerobic digestion of volatile fatty acids using enriched cultures at mesophilic conditions. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 8, 83–96 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03326198

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03326198

Keywords

Search

Navigation