Improving volatile fatty acid yield from sludge anaerobic fermentation through self-forming dynamic membrane...

Area of Science:

• Environmental Engineering
• Biotechnology
• Waste Management

Background:

• Conventional sludge fermentation often faces limitations in volatile fatty acid (VFA) production efficiency.
• Improving substrate retention and microbial community structure is crucial for enhanced fermentation outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the application of self-forming dynamic membrane (SFDM) separation in sludge fermentation.
• To evaluate the impact of SFDM on volatile fatty acid (VFA) yields and sludge conversion.
• To assess the operational stability and microbial community dynamics under SFDM conditions.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of SFDM separation within a conventional sludge fermentation system.
• Monitoring of key parameters including suspended solids, soluble COD, proteins, polysaccharides, VFAs, and ammonia.
• Analysis of microbial community structure and hydrolytic enzyme activities (protease, β-glucosidase).

Main Results:

• SFDM achieved high retention ratios for suspended solids (99%), soluble COD (30%), proteins (70%), and polysaccharides (40%).
• Over 90% of VFAs and ammonia were efficiently transferred, with protease and β-glucosidase activities significantly increasing.
• VFA yield and sludge conversion ratio saw substantial increases of 233.3% and 227.9%, respectively, demonstrating SFDM's effectiveness and operational stability.

Conclusions:

• SFDM separation is a highly effective technology for improving VFA yields from sludge fermentation.
• The method enhances microbial community function, enzyme activity, and substrate conversion efficiency.
• SFDM offers a stable, efficient, and promising approach for valorizing sludge through enhanced VFA production.