title: Acidogenic fermentation of food waste for volatile fatty acid production with co-generation of biohydrogen.
abstract: Fermentation experiments were designed to elucidate the functional role of the redox microenvironment on volatile fatty acid (VFA, short chain carboxylic acid) production and co-generation of biohydrogen (H2). Higher VFA productivity was observed at pH 10 operation (6.3g/l) followed by pH 9, pH 6, pH 5, pH 7, pH 8 and pH 11 (3.5 g/l). High degree of acidification, good system buffering capacity along with co-generation of higher H2 production from food waste was also noticed at alkaline condition. Experiments illustrated the role of initial pH on carboxylic acids synthesis. Alkaline redox conditions assist solubilization of carbohydrates, protein and fats and also suppress the growth of methanogens. Among the carboxylic acids, acetate fraction was higher at alkaline condition than corresponding neutral or acidic operations. Integrated process of VFA production from waste with co-generation of H2 can be considered as a green and sustainable platform for value-addition.
authors: Bioengineering and Environmental Sciences (BEES), CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (CSIR-IICT), Hyderabad 500 007, India.
authors: Shikha
authors: S
authors: Dahiya
authors: Bioengineering and Environmental Sciences (BEES), CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (CSIR-IICT), Hyderabad 500 007, India.
authors: Omprakash
authors: O
authors: Sarkar
authors: Bioengineering and Environmental Sciences (BEES), CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (CSIR-IICT), Hyderabad 500 007, India.
authors: Y V
authors: YV
authors: Swamy
authors: Bioengineering and Environmental Sciences (BEES), CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (CSIR-IICT), Hyderabad 500 007, India. Electronic address: vmohan_s@yahoo.com.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Venkata Mohan
mesh_terms: D000693:Anaerobiosis; D056804:Biofuels; D002264:Carboxylic Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile / Q000378:metabolism*; D005285:Fermentation; D005502:Food; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D018505:Waste Management / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels; D002264:Carboxylic Acids; D005227:Fatty Acids; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile; D006859:Hydrogen
keywords: Buffering capacity; Degree of acidification; Short chain carboxylic acids; Volatile fatty acids (VFA) platform; pH