Performance and mechanisms of medium-chain fatty acid production by anaerobic fermentation of food waste without external electron donors

Yanyan Zhang; Jiazhe Bai; Jiane Zuo

doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2023.128735

Performance and mechanisms of medium-chain fatty acid production by anaerobic fermentation of food waste without external electron donors

Bioresour Technol. 2023 Apr:374:128735. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2023.128735. Epub 2023 Feb 11.

Authors

Yanyan Zhang¹, Jiazhe Bai², Jiane Zuo³

Affiliations

¹ State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
² Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Shenzhen 518055, China.
³ State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Shenzhen 518055, China. Electronic address: jiane.zuo@tsinghua.edu.cn.

PMID: 36781145
DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2023.128735

Abstract

This study performed a long-term operation to achieve efficient medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) production by anaerobic fermentation of food waste without external electron donors. The results show that total MCFAs reached the highest concentration of 29,886.10 mg COD/L, and n-caproate was the primary product, reaching the current maximum concentration of 28,191.66 mg COD/L. Microbial composition analysis demonstrated Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Sporanaerobacter, and Caproiciproducens constituted the core community throughout the process. Metagenomic analysis suggested that two pathways, reverse β-oxidization (RBO) and fatty acid biosynthesis (FAB), were observed, and the FAB pathway was the main CE pathway. Unclassified_f_Ruminococcaceae and Limosilactobacillus were the main participants in the FAB pathway. This study is expected to provide new insights into MCFAs production from organic waste.

Keywords: Chain elongation; Fatty acid biosynthesis; Medium-chain fatty acid; Metagenomic analysis; Reverse β-oxidization.

MeSH terms

Anaerobiosis
Electrons
Fatty Acids
Fermentation
Food*
Humans
Refuse Disposal*

Substances

Fatty Acids