Influence of biomass density and food to microorganisms ratio on the mixed culture type I methanotrophs enriched from activated sludge

Methanotrophic based process can be the remedy to offset the wastewater treatment facilities increasing energy requirements due to methanotroph＇s unique ability to integrate methane assimilation with multiple biotechnological applications like biological nitrogen removal and methanol production. Regardless of the methanotrophic process end product, the challenge to maintain stable microbial growth in the methanotrophs cultivation bioreactor at higher cell densities is one of the major obstacles facing the process upscaling. Therefore, a series of consecutive batch tests were performed to attentively investigate the biomass density influence on type I methanotrophs bacterial growth. In addition, food to microorganisms（F/M）, carbon to nitrogen（C/N） and nitrogen to microorganisms（N/M） ratio effect on the microbial activity was studied for the first time. It was clarified that the F/M ratio is the most influencing factor on the microbial growth at higher biomass densities rather than the biomass density increase, whereas C/N and N/M ratio change, while using nitrate as the nitrogen source,does not influence methanotrophs microbial growth. These study results would facilitate the scaling up of methanotrophic based biotechnology by identifying that F/M ratio as the key parameter that influences methanotrophs cultivation at high biomass densities.

Impact on Acidification Characteristics of Anaerobic Digestion of Kitchen Waste by F/M

The effect of F/M on acidification characteristics during anaerobic digestion of kitchen waste was investigated. Under different F/M,p H,alkalinity,ethyl alcohol,volatile fatty acids(VFAs),and biogas production status of acidification effluent in 96 h were observed. The study results showed that the content of propionic acid + acetic acid reached 56%-80% when F/M≤1. 0,which was mainly known as propionic acid type of fermentation and was accompanied by methane. The value of alkalinity was only 3 000-4 000 mg/L,which indicated that the stability was weak in the system. When 1. 0 < F/M≤2. 5,the concentration of butyric acid + acetic acid was in the range of 77%-85%,and acid production rate per unit load was more than 250 mg VFAs/g VS,which was known as butyric acid type of fermentation. The fermentation type was stable and could provide more available VFAs for subsequent methanation processes because the value of alkalinity reached 5 650 mg/L. When F/M≥2. 5,the content of ethanol + acetic acid was 80%-92%,which was known as ethanol type of fermentation. And p H of 96 h was only 5. 0( F/M = 3. 0) and 4. 3(F/M =4.0),and acidification was serious and the stability was weak in the system,which would hinder the subsequent methanation process.Therefore,F/M influenced fermentation type,and it can provide a target product for subsequent methanation process by controlling F/M in a reasonable range.