title: Continuous high rate anaerobic treatment of oleic acid based wastewater is possible after a step feeding start-up.
abstract: Mineralization of a synthetic effluent containing 50% COD as oleic acid was achieved in a continuous anaerobic reactor at organic loading rates up to 21 kg COD m(-3) day(-1), HRT of 9 h, attaining 99% of COD removal efficiency and a methane yield higher than 70%. A maximum specific methane production rate of 1170 +/- 170 mg COD-CH4 g VS(-1) day(-1) was measured during the reactor's operation. A start-up strategy combining feeding phases and batch degradation phases was applied to promote the development of an anaerobic community efficient for long chain fatty acids (LCFA) mineralization. Through the start-up period, the methane yield increased gradually from 67% to 91%, and LCFA accumulated onto the sludge only during the first 60 days of operation. For the first time, it is demonstrated that a step feeding start-up is required to produce a specialized and efficient anaerobic community for continuous high rate anaerobic treatment of LCFA-rich wastewater.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Centre of Biological Engineering, University ofMinho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal.
authors.forename: Ana J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Cavaleiro
authors.forename: Andreia F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Salvador
authors.forename: Joana I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.forename: Madalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alves
mesh_terms: D000693:Anaerobiosis; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D008697:Methane / Q000378:metabolism; D019301:Oleic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014873:Water Pollutants; D019301:Oleic Acid; D008697:Methane