A novel approach of synchronously recovering phosphorus as vivianite and volatile fatty acids during waste activated sludge and food waste co-fermentation: Performance and mechanisms

Yang Wu; Jiashun Cao; Teng Zhang; Jianan Zhao; Runze Xu; Qin Zhang; Fang Fang; Jingyang Luo

doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2020.123078

A novel approach of synchronously recovering phosphorus as vivianite and volatile fatty acids during waste activated sludge and food waste co-fermentation: Performance and mechanisms

Bioresour Technol. 2020 Jun:305:123078. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2020.123078. Epub 2020 Feb 26.

Authors

Yang Wu¹, Jiashun Cao², Teng Zhang¹, Jianan Zhao¹, Runze Xu¹, Qin Zhang¹, Fang Fang², Jingyang Luo³

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China; College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China.
² Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China; College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China; Guohe Environmental Research Institute (Nanjing) Co., Ltd, Nanjing 211599, China.
³ Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China; College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China; Guohe Environmental Research Institute (Nanjing) Co., Ltd, Nanjing 211599, China. Electronic address: luojy2016@hhu.edu.cn.

PMID: 32135351
DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2020.123078

Abstract

This research proposed an innovative approach to synchronously enhance the recovery of phosphorus (P) as vivianite and volatile fatty acids (VFAs) during waste activated sludge (WAS) and food waste (FW) co-fermentation. A high performance was achieved under 30% FW addition and pH uncontrolled, which gained 83.09% of TP recovery as high-purity vivianite (93.90%), together with efficient VFAs production (7671 mg COD/L). The FW supplement could enhance VFAs production and subsequently lower pH to contribute to the release of Fe²⁺ and PO₄^3-. Also, it could dampen disrupting effects of strong acidic pH on microbial cells (lowering LDH release). Moreover, the flexible pH variation caused by biological acidification could maintain relatively higher microbial activities (increasing enzymes' activities), which was advantageous to the biological effects involved in Fe²⁺ and PO₄³ release and VFAs generation. Therefore, this research provide a promising and economic alternative to dispose of WAS and FW simultaneously for valuable resource recovery.

Keywords: Biological acidification; Food waste (FW); Phosphorus (P) recovery; Vivianite; Volatile fatty acids (VFAs); Waste activated sludge (WAS).