Premium
Synthesis of Polyhydroxyalkanoates in Municipal Wastewater Treatment
Author(s) -
Coats Erik R.,
Loge Frank J.,
Wolcott Michael P.,
Englund Karl,
McDonald Armando G.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
water environment research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.356
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1554-7531
pISSN - 1061-4303
DOI - 10.2175/106143007x183907
Subject(s) - polyhydroxyalkanoates , pulp and paper industry , waste management , bioreactor , industrial fermentation , biomass (ecology) , wastewater , biodegradation , sewage treatment , biorefinery , activated sludge , chemistry , environmental science , microbiology and biotechnology , fermentation , food science , biofuel , biology , bacteria , organic chemistry , engineering , agronomy , genetics
Biologically derived polyesters known as polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) represent a potentially “sustainable” replacement to fossil‐fuel‐based thermoplastics. However, current commercial practices that produce PHA with pure microbial cultures grown on renewable, but refined, feedstocks (i.e., glucose) under sterile conditions do not represent a sustainable commodity. Here, we report on PHA production with a mixed microbial consortium indigenous to an activated sludge process on carbon present in municipal wastewaters. Reactors operated under anaerobic/aerobic and aerobic‐only mode and fed primary solids fermenter liquor maintained a mixed microbial consortium capable of synthesizing PHA at 10 to 25% (w/w), while reducing soluble COD by approximately 62 to 71%. More critically, an aerobic batch reactor seeded from the anaerobic/aerobic reactor and fed fermenter liquor achieved approximately 53% PHA (w/w). Results presented suggest that environmentally benign production of biodegradable polymers is feasible. We further used PHA‐rich biomass to produce a natural fiber‐reinforced thermoplastic composite that can be used to offset advanced wastewater treatment costs.