Effect of decoupling hydraulic and solid retention times on carbohydrate-rich residue valorization into carboxylic acids

Abstract This research assessed the effect of decoupling hydraulic retention time (HRT) and solid retention time (SRT) on the production of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) via anaerobic fermentation of beet molasses. The performance of a continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR, STR = HTR = 30 days) and tw...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Adrián Lago, Silvia Greses, Kaoutar Aboudi, Inés Moreno, Cristina González-Fernández
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2023-11-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-48097-2
_version_ 1797453245973528576
author Adrián Lago
Silvia Greses
Kaoutar Aboudi
Inés Moreno
Cristina González-Fernández
author_facet Adrián Lago
Silvia Greses
Kaoutar Aboudi
Inés Moreno
Cristina González-Fernández
author_sort Adrián Lago
collection DOAJ
description Abstract This research assessed the effect of decoupling hydraulic retention time (HRT) and solid retention time (SRT) on the production of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) via anaerobic fermentation of beet molasses. The performance of a continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR, STR = HTR = 30 days) and two anaerobic sequencing batch reactors (AnSBR) with decoupled STR (30 days) and HRT (20 and 10 days) was compared. Previously, a temperature study in batch reactors (25, 35, and 55 °C) revealed 25 °C as the optimal temperature to maximize the VFAs yield and the long-chain VFAs (> C4) production, being selected for the continuous reactors operation. An HRT of 20 days in AnSBR led to an enhancement in bioconversion efficiency into VFAs (55.5% chemical oxygen demand basis) compared to the CSTR (34.9%). In contrast, the CSTR allowed the production of valuable caproic acid (25.4% vs 4.1% w/w of total VFAs in AnSBR). Decreasing further the HRT to 10 days in AnSBR was detrimental in terms of bioconversion efficiency (21.7%) due to primary intermediates (lactate) accumulation. By decoupling HRT and SRT, VFAs were maximized, revealing HRT as an effective tool to drive specific conversion routes (butyrate- or lactate-fermentation).
first_indexed 2024-03-09T15:20:02Z
format Article
id doaj.art-e7d3a490f6e7440b8741a622fd6eab21
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2045-2322
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-09T15:20:02Z
publishDate 2023-11-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series Scientific Reports
spelling doaj.art-e7d3a490f6e7440b8741a622fd6eab212023-11-26T12:54:44ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222023-11-011311910.1038/s41598-023-48097-2Effect of decoupling hydraulic and solid retention times on carbohydrate-rich residue valorization into carboxylic acidsAdrián Lago0Silvia Greses1Kaoutar Aboudi2Inés Moreno3Cristina González-Fernández4Biotechnological Processes Unit, IMDEA EnergyBiotechnological Processes Unit, IMDEA EnergyBiotechnological Processes Unit, IMDEA EnergyThermochemical Processes Unit, IMDEA EnergyBiotechnological Processes Unit, IMDEA EnergyAbstract This research assessed the effect of decoupling hydraulic retention time (HRT) and solid retention time (SRT) on the production of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) via anaerobic fermentation of beet molasses. The performance of a continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR, STR = HTR = 30 days) and two anaerobic sequencing batch reactors (AnSBR) with decoupled STR (30 days) and HRT (20 and 10 days) was compared. Previously, a temperature study in batch reactors (25, 35, and 55 °C) revealed 25 °C as the optimal temperature to maximize the VFAs yield and the long-chain VFAs (> C4) production, being selected for the continuous reactors operation. An HRT of 20 days in AnSBR led to an enhancement in bioconversion efficiency into VFAs (55.5% chemical oxygen demand basis) compared to the CSTR (34.9%). In contrast, the CSTR allowed the production of valuable caproic acid (25.4% vs 4.1% w/w of total VFAs in AnSBR). Decreasing further the HRT to 10 days in AnSBR was detrimental in terms of bioconversion efficiency (21.7%) due to primary intermediates (lactate) accumulation. By decoupling HRT and SRT, VFAs were maximized, revealing HRT as an effective tool to drive specific conversion routes (butyrate- or lactate-fermentation).https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-48097-2
spellingShingle Adrián Lago
Silvia Greses
Kaoutar Aboudi
Inés Moreno
Cristina González-Fernández
Effect of decoupling hydraulic and solid retention times on carbohydrate-rich residue valorization into carboxylic acids
Scientific Reports
title Effect of decoupling hydraulic and solid retention times on carbohydrate-rich residue valorization into carboxylic acids
title_full Effect of decoupling hydraulic and solid retention times on carbohydrate-rich residue valorization into carboxylic acids
title_fullStr Effect of decoupling hydraulic and solid retention times on carbohydrate-rich residue valorization into carboxylic acids
title_full_unstemmed Effect of decoupling hydraulic and solid retention times on carbohydrate-rich residue valorization into carboxylic acids
title_short Effect of decoupling hydraulic and solid retention times on carbohydrate-rich residue valorization into carboxylic acids
title_sort effect of decoupling hydraulic and solid retention times on carbohydrate rich residue valorization into carboxylic acids
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-48097-2
work_keys_str_mv AT adrianlago effectofdecouplinghydraulicandsolidretentiontimesoncarbohydraterichresiduevalorizationintocarboxylicacids
AT silviagreses effectofdecouplinghydraulicandsolidretentiontimesoncarbohydraterichresiduevalorizationintocarboxylicacids
AT kaoutaraboudi effectofdecouplinghydraulicandsolidretentiontimesoncarbohydraterichresiduevalorizationintocarboxylicacids
AT inesmoreno effectofdecouplinghydraulicandsolidretentiontimesoncarbohydraterichresiduevalorizationintocarboxylicacids
AT cristinagonzalezfernandez effectofdecouplinghydraulicandsolidretentiontimesoncarbohydraterichresiduevalorizationintocarboxylicacids