Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 9, 2025
08:43
Transformation of Organic Household Leftovers into a Peat Substitute
Published on: July 9, 2019
8.3K
Efficient conversion from food waste to composite carbon source through rapid fermentation and ceramic membrane
Yongzhi Xiao1, Luxin Yang1, Caiping Sun1
1Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
Chemosphere
|October 23, 2024
Summary
Food waste fermentation produces a nutrient-rich broth ideal for wastewater denitrification. This study optimized fermentation and filtration, showing comparable performance to commercial carbon sources for nitrogen removal.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Biotechnology
- Water Treatment Engineering
Background:
- Food waste (FW) anaerobic fermentation yields organic-rich broth.
- This broth shows potential as a carbon source for wastewater denitrification.
Purpose of the Study:
- Optimize FW fermentation for a denitrification carbon source.
- Evaluate ceramic membrane filtration of the fermentation broth.
- Compare the performance of the filtrate against commercial carbon sources.
Main Methods:
- Fermentation optimization at varying hydraulic residence times (HRT).
- Ceramic membrane filtration for broth refinement.
- Denitrification performance testing using fermentation filtrate and commercial sources.
Main Results:
- A 3-day HRT achieved 88% polysaccharide degradation.
- Acetic acid, ethanol, propanol, lactic acid, and propionic acid dominated the broth.
- Filtration recovered >70% dissolved organic matter and removed 99% SS, 41% TN, 62% TP.
- Denitrification rates reached 6.68–10.39 mg NOx-N/(g VSS·h), matching commercial sources.
Conclusions:
- Short-term FW fermentation and membrane filtration create an effective wastewater treatment system.
- This integrated approach offers a viable method for FW utilization in wastewater treatment.
