title: Continuous fermentation of food waste leachate for the production of volatile fatty acids and potential as a denitrification carbon source.
abstract: This study investigated the simultaneous effects of hydraulic retention time (HRT) and pH on the continuous production of VFAs from food waste leachate using response surface analysis. The response surface approximations (R(2)=0.895, p<0.05) revealed that pH has a dominant effect on the specific VFA production (PTVFA) within the explored space (1-4-day HRT, pH 4.5-6.5). The estimated maximum PTVFA was 0.26g total VFAs/g CODf at 2.14-day HRT and pH 6.44, and the approximation was experimentally validated by running triplicate reactors under the estimated optimum conditions. The mixture of the filtrates recovered from these reactors was tested as a denitrification carbon source and demonstrated superior performance in terms of reaction rate and lag length relative to other chemicals, including acetate and methanol. The overall results provide helpful information for better design and control of continuous fermentation for producing waste-derived VFAs, an alternative carbon source for denitrification.
authors.affiliation: School of Urban and Environmental Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), 50 UNIST-gil, Eonyang-eup, Ulju-gun, Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hakchan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: School of Urban and Environmental Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), 50 UNIST-gil, Eonyang-eup, Ulju-gun, Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jaai
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental Science and Engineering, POSTECH, 77 Cheongam-ro, Nam-gu, Pohang, Gyungbuk 73673, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seung Gu
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental Science and Engineering, POSTECH, 77 Cheongam-ro, Nam-gu, Pohang, Gyungbuk 73673, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seokhwan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.affiliation: School of Urban and Environmental Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), 50 UNIST-gil, Eonyang-eup, Ulju-gun, Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: cslee@unist.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Changsoo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000085:Acetates; D019149:Bioreactors; D002244:Carbon / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D058440:Denitrification; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005285:Fermentation; D005502:Food; D018505:Waste Management / Q000379:methods; D014866:Waste Products
chemical_list: D000085:Acetates; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile; D014866:Waste Products; D002244:Carbon
keywords: Acidogenic fermentation; Denitrification carbon source; Food waste leachate; Response surface analysis; Volatile fatty acids