Electrooxidation as the anaerobic pre-treatment of fats: oleate conversion using RuO2 and IrO2 based anodes

Bioresour Technol. 2008 Nov;99(17):8207-11. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2008.03.022. Epub 2008 Apr 29.

Abstract

Electrochemical treatment of oleate using RuO2 and IrO2 type dimensionally stable anodes in alkaline medium was performed to develop a feasible anaerobic pre-treatment of fatty effluents. The results showed that the pre-treated solutions over RuO2 were faster degraded by anaerobic consortium than the raw oleate solutions or the electrolysed solutions using IrO2. In batch experiments carried out with pre-treated solutions over RuO2 (100-500mg/L), no lag phases were observed before the methane production onset. On the other hand, raw oleate and pre-treated oleate over IrO2 had originated lag phases of 0-140 and 0-210h, respectively. This study demonstrated that it is advantageous to apply the electrochemical treatment carried out on the RuO2 type DSA in order to achieve a faster biodegradation of lipid-containing effluent and consequently to obtain a faster methane production.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anaerobiosis
  • Bacteria / drug effects
  • Biodegradation, Environmental
  • Electrochemistry
  • Electrodes
  • Fats / metabolism*
  • Ferric Compounds / chemistry*
  • Ferric Compounds / toxicity
  • Methane / metabolism
  • Oleic Acid / metabolism*
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Ruthenium Compounds / chemistry*
  • Ruthenium Compounds / toxicity
  • Toxicity Tests

Substances

  • Fats
  • Ferric Compounds
  • Ruthenium Compounds
  • ruthenium dioxide
  • ferric oxide
  • Oleic Acid
  • Methane