Volatile fatty acids (VFAs) and methane from food waste and cow slurry: Comparison of biogas and VFA fermentation processes

Volatile fatty acids (VFAs) and methane from food waste and cow slurry: Comparison of biogas and VFA fermentation processes

The potential of various biomasses for the production of green chemicals is currently one of the key topics in the field of the circular economy. Volatile fatty acids (VFAs) are intermediates in the methane formation pathway of anaerobic digestion and they can be produced in similar reactors as biog...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Global change biology. Bioenergy Vol. 11; no. 1; pp. 72 - 84
Main Authors: Tampio, Elina A., Blasco, Lucia, Vainio, Markku M., Kahala, Minna M., Rasi, Saija E.
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Oxford John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01-01-2019
Subjects:
Acid production
Anaerobic digestion
Anaerobic treatment
Biogas
Bioreactors
Butyric acid
Cattle manure
Chemicals
cow slurry
Fatty acids
Fermentation
Food
Food production
Food waste
Inoculum
Intermediates
Methane
Microbial activity
microbial diversity
Microorganisms
Organic chemistry
Slurries
Substrates
volatile fatty acid
volatile fatty acid fermentation
Volatile fatty acids
Waste management
Waste materials
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Summary:The potential of various biomasses for the production of green chemicals is currently one of the key topics in the field of the circular economy. Volatile fatty acids (VFAs) are intermediates in the methane formation pathway of anaerobic digestion and they can be produced in similar reactors as biogas to increase the productivity of a digestion plant, as VFAs have more varying end uses compared to biogas and methane. In this study, the aim was to assess the biogas and VFA production of food waste (FW) and cow slurry (CS) using the anaerobic biogas plant inoculum treating the corresponding substrates. The biogas and VFA production of both biomasses were studied in identical batch scale laboratory conditions while the process performance was assessed with chemical and microbial analyses. As a result, FW and CS were shown to have different chemical performances and microbial dynamics in both VFA and biogas processes. FW as a substrate showed higher yields in both processes (435 ml CH4/g VSfed and 434 mg VFA/g VSfed) due to its characteristics (pH, organic composition, microbial communities), and thus, the vast volume of CS makes it also a relevant substrate for VFA and biogas production. In this study, VFA profiles were highly dependent on the substrate and inoculum characteristics, while orders Clostridiales and Lactobacillales were connected with high VFA and butyric acid production with FW as a substrate. In conclusion, anaerobic digestion supports the implementation of the waste management hierarchy as it enables the production of renewable green chemicals from both urban and rural waste materials. The aim of this study was to assess the biogas and volatile fatty acid (VFA) production potential of food waste (FW) and cow slurry along with their corresponding anaerobic biogas plant inocula. Both substrates were shown to have different chemical performances and microbial dynamics in both VFA and biogas production processes. FW as a substrate showed higher yields in both processes.
ISSN:1757-1693
1757-1707
1757-1707
DOI:10.1111/gcbb.12556