The transformation of heavy metal speciation during rapid high-temperature aerobic fermentation of food waste and their potential mechanisms

Shujia Liu; JinJu Hou; Shudong Zhang; Xiaotong Zhang; Qiuzhuo Zhang

doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.119030

The transformation of heavy metal speciation during rapid high-temperature aerobic fermentation of food waste and their potential mechanisms

J Environ Manage. 2023 Nov 15:346:119030. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.119030. Epub 2023 Sep 21.

Authors

Shujia Liu¹, JinJu Hou², Shudong Zhang³, Xiaotong Zhang³, Qiuzhuo Zhang⁴

Affiliations

¹ Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Biotransformation of Organic Solid Waste, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, 200241, Shanghai, China; Shanghai SUS Environment Co, LTD., Shanghai, 201703, China.
² School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Shanghai Institute of Technology, Shanghai, 201418, China. Electronic address: hjj@sit.edu.cn.
³ Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Biotransformation of Organic Solid Waste, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, 200241, Shanghai, China.
⁴ Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Biotransformation of Organic Solid Waste, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, 200241, Shanghai, China; Institute of Eco-Chongming (IEC), 3663 N. Zhongshan Rd., Shanghai, 200062, China; Technology Innovation Center for Land Spatial Eco-restoration in Metropolitan Area, Ministry of Natural Resources, 3663 N. Zhongshan Road, Shanghai, 200062, China. Electronic address: qzhzhang@des.ecnu.edu.cn.

PMID: 37741195
DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.119030

Abstract

In this study, the content changes of multiple trace heavy metals (HMs) in food waste using a new rapid high-temperature aerobic fermentation (RTAF) technology and their relationships with different physicochemical factors were researched. The results indicated that the content of HMs in the decomposed products met the industry standards for organic fertilizers (NY/T525-2021, China). Physicochemical factors played an important role in controlling the changes in HM content. The component evolution of dissolved organic matter was studied, and its influences on the transformation of HM speciation showed that the RTAF process converted proteins into humus-like substances. Redundancy analysis revealed that the main factors driving the speciation transformation of HMs were tyrosine-like substances or microbial-derived humus (C3), molecular weight of dissolved organic matter (SUVA₂₅₄) and humification degree (E250/E365). The increase in humification degree contributed to passivating HMs. The correlation network analysis results showed that the exchangeable HMs (Exc-HMs) were related to Lactobacillus and Pediococcu. Additionally, the cytoskeleton, coenzyme transport and metabolic function of microorganisms affected the Exc-HM content. These research results can provide a scientific basis for the prevention and control of HM pollution during the treatment of food waste.

Keywords: Aerobic fermentation; Dissolved organic matter; Food waste; Heavy metals; Microbial community.