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Enhanced lipid and biodiesel production from glucose‐fed activated sludge: Kinetics and microbial community analysis
Author(s) -
Mondala Andro H.,
Hernandez Rafael,
French Todd,
McFarland Linda,
Santo Domingo Jorge W.,
Meckes Mark,
Ryu Hodon,
Iker Brandon
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
aiche journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.958
H-Index - 167
eISSN - 1547-5905
pISSN - 0001-1541
DOI - 10.1002/aic.12655
Subject(s) - biodiesel , chemistry , activated sludge , biofuel , biodiesel production , sewage sludge , bioreactor , raw material , fatty acid , food science , fatty acid methyl ester , oleic acid , wastewater , pulp and paper industry , sewage treatment , biochemistry , waste management , organic chemistry , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , catalysis , engineering
An innovative approach to increase biofuel feedstock lipid yields from municipal sewage sludge via manipulation of carbon‐to‐nitrogen (C:N) ratio and glucose loading in activated sludge bioreactors was investigated. Sludge lipid and fatty acid methyl ester (biodiesel) yields (% cell dry weight, CDW) were enhanced via cultivation in activated sludge bioreactors operated at high initial C:N ratio (≥40:1) and glucose loading (≥40 g L −1 ). Under C:N 70, 60 g L −1 glucose loading, a maximum of 17.5 ± 3.9 and 10.2 ± 2.0% CDW lipid and biodiesel yields, respectively, were achieved after 7 d of cultivation. The cultured sludge lipids contained mostly C 16 C 18 fatty acids, with oleic acid consistently accounting for 40–50% of the total fatty acids. Microbial composition in activated sludge exposed to C:N 70 shifted toward specific gammaproteobacteria, suggesting their relevance in lipid production in wastewater microbiota and potential value in biofuel synthesis applications. © 2011 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2012