Effect of Inoculum Pretreatment and Substrate/Inoculum Ratio on Acidogenic Fermentation of Chemically Enhanced Primary Treatment Sludge

Lu Tian, Lei Pan and Lin Wang ()
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Lu Tian: College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
Lei Pan: College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
Lin Wang: College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 8, 1-21

Abstract: Inoculum pretreatment and substrate/inoculum ratio (SIR) are essential factors affecting the acidogenic fermentation of chemically enhanced primary treatment (CEPT) sludge. To determine the optimal inoculum conditions, the influence of inoculum pretreatment and SIR on the production of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) was investigated via two phases of batch experiments. Heat, acid, and alkali pretreatment methods demonstrated the enhanced production of VFAs, with the heat pretreatment being the optimal inoculum pretreatment method due to its highest VFA accumulation and favorable VFA composition for denitrification. The substrate/inoculum ratio of 4:1 (SIR 4) presented the optimal efficiency for both hydrolysis and acidogenesis processes (24.6 ± 0.1% and 22.7 ± 0.4%), with acetic acid, butyric acid, and propionic acid dominating the VFA profile. Combining VFA production and microbial community, the heat-pretreated inoculum with the SIR 4 condition was the most suitable for the VFA production of CEPT sludge acidogenic fermentation. This study contributes to sustainability in wastewater management by demonstrating an efficient approach for the recovery of carbon resources from CEPT sludge. The optimized conditions for acidogenic fermentation not only enhance VFA production but also support the circular economy by transforming waste into valuable resources.

Keywords: carbon resource recovery; acidogenic fermentation; inoculum pretreatment; substrate/inoculum ratio; chemically enhanced primary treatment sludge (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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