Impact of undissociated volatile fatty acids on acidogenesis in a two-phase anaerobic system

Keke Xiao, Yan Zhou, Chenghong Guo*, Yogananda Maspolim, Wun Jern Ng

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

20 Scopus citations

Abstract

This study investigated the degradation and production of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) in the acidogenic phase reactor of a two-phase anaerobic system. 20 mmol/L bromoethanesulfonic acid (BESA) was used to inhibit acidogenic methanogens (which were present in the acidogenic phase reactor) from degrading VFAs. The impact of undissociated volatile fatty acids (unVFAs) on "net" VFAs production in the acidogenic phase reactor was then evaluated, with the exclusion of concurrent VFAs degradation. "Net" VFAs production from glucose degradation was partially inhibited at high unVFAs concentrations, with 59%, 37% and 60% reduction in production rates at 2190 mg chemical oxygen demand (COD)/L undissociated acetic acid (unHAc), 2130 mg COD/L undissociated propionic acid (unHPr) and 2280 mg COD/L undissociated n-butyric acid (unHBu), respectively. The profile of VFAs produced further indicated that while an unVFA can primarily affect its own formation, there were also unVFAs that affected the formation of other VFAs.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)196-201
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Environmental Sciences (China)
Volume42
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Apr 2016
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Acidogenesis
  • Anaerobic process
  • Substrate inhibition
  • Undissociated volatile fatty acids
  • Waste treatment

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Impact of undissociated volatile fatty acids on acidogenesis in a two-phase anaerobic system'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this