Abstract
The synergetic effect and underlying mechanism of potassium ferrate (PF) with tea saponin (TS, a biosurfactant) in producing short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) from anaerobic fermentation of waste activated sludge (WAS) were explored in this work. Experimental results showed that 0.2 g PF (g TSS)−1 (total suspended solid) combined with 0.02 g TS (g TSS)−1 could further improve SCFAs’ production, and the maximum SCFAs content reached 2008.7 mg COD L−1, which is 1.2 and 4.5 times higher than those with PF and TS individually added, respectively, and 5.3 times higher than that of blank WAS on Day 12. In the model substrates experiments, the degradation rates of bovine serum albumin and dextran with combination of PF and TS were 41.3%±0.1% and 48.5%±0.06%, respectively, on Day 3, which are lower than those in blank WAS (with degradation rates of 72.3%±0.5% and 90.3%±0.3%). It was revealed that the oxidative effect of PF and the solubilization of TS caused more organic matters to be dissolved out from WAS, providing a large number of biodegradable substances for subsequent SCFAs production. While WAS pretreated with the combination of PF and TS, the relative abundances of Firmicutes increased from 6.4% (blank) to 38.6%, and that of Proteobacteria decreased from 41.8% (blank) to 21.8%. The combination of PF and TS promoted the hydrolysis process of WAS by enriching Firmicutes, and then increased acetic acid production by inhibiting Proteobacteria that consumed SCFAs. Meanwhile, at the genus level, acidogenesis bacteria (e.g., Proteiniclasticum and Petrimonas) were enriched whereas SCFAs consuming bacteria (e.g., Dokdonella) were inhibited.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ambaye, T. G., Vaccari, M., Prasad, S., and Rtimi, S., 2021. Preparation, characterization and application of biosurfactant in various industries: A critical review on progress, challenges and perspectives. Environmental Technology & Innovation, 24: 102090, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eti.2021.102090.
Chen, Y. G., Liu, K., Su, Y. L., Zheng, X., and Wang, Q., 2013. Continuous bioproduction of short-chain fatty acids from sludge enhanced by the combined use of surfactant and alkaline pH. Bioresource Technology, 140: 97–102, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2013.04.075.
Chiavola, A., Salvati, C., Bongirolami, S., Di Marcantonio, C., and Boni, M. R., 2021. Techno-economic evaluation of ozone-oxidation for sludge reduction at the full-scale. Comparison between the application to the return activated sludge (RAS) and the sludge digestion unit. Journal of Water Process Engineering, 42: 102114, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jwpe.2021.102114.
Fan, C. L., Feng, L. J., Hao, D., Yao, S., Zhang, D. H., and Li, X. G., 2022. Effect of alkyl glycoside combined with hydrothermal pretreatment on acid production by sludge fermentation. Periodical of Ocean University of China, 52 (7): 88–96, (in Chinese with English abstract).
Gao, L. H., Cao, Y. J., Wang, L. Z., and Li, S. L., 2022. A review on sustainable reuse applications of Fenton sludge during wastewater treatment. Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering, 16 (6): 77, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-021-1511-6.
Guo, B., Hu, J. W., Zhang, J. S., Wu, Z. G., and Li, Z., 2021. Enhanced methane production from waste activated sludge by potassium ferrate combined with ultrasound pretreatment. Bioresource Technology, 341: 125841, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2021.125841.
He, Z. W., Liu, W. Z., Gao, Q., Tang, C. C., Wang, L., Guo, Z. C., et al., 2018. Potassium ferrate addition as an alternative pre-treatment to enhance shortchain fatty acids production from waste activated sludge. Bioresource Technology, 247: 174–181, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2017.09.073.
He, Z. W., Tang, C. C., Liu, W. Z., Ren, Y. X., Guo, Z. C., Zhou, A. J., et al., 2019. Enhanced short-chain fatty acids production from waste activated sludge with alkaline followed by potassium ferrate treatment. Bioresource Technology, 289: 121642, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2019.121642.
Hu, J., Li, Z., Wu, Z., and Tao, W., 2021. Potassium ferrate coupled with freezing method enhances methane production from sludge anaerobic digestion. Bioresource Technology, 332: 125112, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2021.125112.
Hu, J. W., Li, Z., Zhang, A., Mao, S., Jenkinson, I. R., and Tao, W. Q., 2020. Using a strong chemical oxidant, potassium ferrate (K2FeO4), in waste activated sludge treatment: A review. Environmental Research, 188: 109764, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2020.109764.
Hu, J. W., Zhang, J. S., Li, Z., and Tao, W. Q., 2022. Enhanced methane yield through sludge two-phase anaerobic digestion process with the addition of calcium hypochlorite. Bioresource Technology, 347: 126693, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2022.126693.
Huang, L., Chen, Z. Q., **ong, D. D., Wen, Q. X., and Ji, Y., 2018. Oriented acidification of wasted activated sludge (WAS) focused on odd-carbon volatile fatty acid (VFA): Regulation strategy and microbial community dynamics. Water Research, 142: 256–266, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2018.05.062.
Huang, X. F., Shen, C. M., Liu, J., and Lu, L. J., 2015. Improved volatile fatty acid production during waste activated sludge anaerobic fermentation by different bio-surfactants. Chemical Engineering Journal, 264: 280–290, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2014.11.078.
Jiang, S., Chen, Y., and Zhou, Q., 2007. Effect of sodium dodecyl sulfate on waste activated sludge hydrolysis and acidification. Chemical Engineering Journal, 132 (1): 311–317, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2007.01.017.
Koupaie, H., Lakeh, A. A. B., Azizi, A., Hafez, H., and Elbeshbishy, E., 2022. Integrated two-phase acidogenic-methanogenic treatment of municipal sludge with thermal hydrolysis. Waste Management, 144: 173–181, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2022.03.021.
Lee, W. S., Chua, A. S. M., Yeoh, H. K., and Ngoh, G. C., 2014. A review of the production and applications of waste-derived volatile fatty acids. Chemical Engineering Journal, 235: 83–99, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2013.09.002.
Li, J. Q., Liu, W. Z., Ren, R. Y., Xu, D. C., Liu, C. Y., Wang, B., et al., 2019a. Weakened adhesion force between extracellular polymeric substances of waste activated sludge caused by rhamnolipid leading to more efficient carbon release. Science of the Total Environment, 692: 892–902, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.07.348.
Li, L., He, J. G., Wang, M. F., **n, X. D., Xu, J., and Zhang, J., 2018a. Efficient volatile fatty acids production from waste activated sludge after ferrate pretreatment with alkaline environment and the responding microbial community shift. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 6 (12): 16819–16827, https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.8b04115.
Li, L., He, J. G., **n, X. D., Wang, M. F., Xu, J., and Zhang, J., 2018b. Enhanced bioproduction of short-chain fatty acids from waste activated sludge by potassium ferrate pretreatment. Chemical Engineering Journal, 332: 456–463, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2017.09.103.
Li, X. M., Kuang, Z., Zhang, J. M., Liu, X. R., Hu, J. W., Xu, Q. X., et al., 2020. Performance and mechanism of potassium ferrate (VI) enhancing dark fermentative hydrogen accumulation from waste activated sludge. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 8 (23): 8681–8691, https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.0c01889.
Li, X. M., Liu, Y., Xu, Q. X., Liu, X. R., Huang, X. D., Yang, J. N., et al., 2019b. Enhanced methane production from waste activated sludge by combining calcium peroxide with ultrasonic: Performance, mechanism, and implication. Bioresource Technology, 279: 108–116, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2019.01.115.
Li, Y. M., Wang, J., Zhang, A., and Wang, L., 2015. Enhancing the quantity and quality of short-chain fatty acids production from waste activated sludge using CaO2 as an additive. Water Research, 83: 84–93, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2015.06.021.
Lim, S. J., and Fox, P., 2013. Biochemical methane potential (BMP) test for thickened sludge using anaerobic granular sludge at different inoculum/substrate ratios. Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering, 18 (2): 306–312, https://doi.org/10.1007/s12257-012-0465-8.
Liu, Y., Zhao, J. W., Li, X. M., Wang, D. B., Yang, Q., and Zeng, G. M., 2018. Synergistic effect of free nitrite acid integrated with biosurfactant alkyl polyglucose on sludge anaerobic fermentation. Waste Management, 78: 310–317, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2018.05.053.
Luo, J. Y., Huang, W. X., Zhang, Q., Guo, W., Wu, Y., Feng, Q., et al., 2020. Effects of different hypochlorite types on the waste activated sludge fermentation from the perspectives of volatile fatty acids production, microbial community and activity, and characteristics of fermented sludge. Bioresource Technology, 307: 123227, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2020.123227.
Luo, K., Yang, Q., Li, X. M., Chen, H. B., Liu, X., Yang, G. J., et al., 2013. Novel insights into enzymatic-enhanced anaerobic digestion of waste activated sludge by three-dimensional excitation and emission matrix fluorescence spectroscopy. Chemosphere, 91 (5): 579–585, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2012.12.002.
Mehari, B. B., and Chang, S., 2022. Enhancing temperature-phased biological hydrolysis for methane generation by the optimization of biological hydrolysis time, inoculum, and sludge bypass. Biochemical Engineering Journal, 180: 108363, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bej.2022.108363.
Mishra, S., Lin, Z. Q., Pang, S. M., Zhang, Y. M., Bhatt, P., and Chen, S. H., 2021. Biosurfactant is a powerful tool for the bioremediation of heavy metals from contaminated soils. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 418: 126253, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.126253.
Nguyen, V. K., Chaudhary, D. K., Dahal, R. H., Trinh, N. H., Kim, J., Chang, S. W., et al., 2021. Review on pretreatment techniques to improve anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge. Fuel, 285: 119105, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2020.119105.
Pan, X. F., Sun, J., Zhang, Y. C., and Zhu, G. F., 2020. Effect of sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS) on the performance of anaerobic co-digestion with sewage sludge, food waste, and green waste. Chemical Engineering Communications, 207 (2): 242–252, https://doi.org/10.1080/00986445.2019.1581615.
**, Q., Zhang, J. Y., Tang, R. J., Liao, S. T., Zhang, Z. P., and Li, Y. M., 2022. Effect of surfactants on phosphorus release and acidogenic fermentation of waste activated sludge containing different aluminium phosphate forms. Chemosphere, 287: 132213, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.132213.
Qiao, Z. H., Xu, S. Y., Zhang, W. Q., Shi, S. Y., Zhang, W., and Liu, H. B., 2022. Potassium ferrate pretreatment promotes short chain fatty acids yield and antibiotics reduction in acidogenic fermentation of sewage sludge. Journal of Environmental Sciences, 120: 41–52, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jes.2022.01.001.
Sun, C., Guo, L., Zheng, Y. K., Yu, D., **, C. J., Zhao, Y. G., et al., 2021. The hydrolysis and reduction of mixing primary sludge and secondary sludge with thermophilic bacteria pretreatment. Process Safety and Environmental Protection, 156: 288–294, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psep.2021.10.026.
Sun, J., Guo, L., Li, Q. Q., Zhao, Y. G., Gao, M. C., She, Z. L., et al., 2016. Three-dimensional fluorescence excitation-emission matrix (EEM) spectroscopy with regional integration analysis for assessing waste sludge hydrolysis at different pretreated temperatures. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 23: 24061–24067, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-7610-4.
Tang, J., He, J. G., Qiu, Z. P., and **n, X. D., 2019. Metal removal effectiveness, fractions, and binding intensity in the sludge during the multiple washing steps using the combined rhamnolipid and saponin. Journal of Soils and Sediments, 19 (3): 1286–1296, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-018-2106-0.
Uysal, A., and Celik, E., 2019. Removal of metals and recovery of released nutrients from municipal and industrial sludge using different biosurfactants. Desalination and Water Treatment, 172: 37–45, https://doi.org/10.5004/dwt.2019.24917.
Varjani, S. J., and Upasani, V. N., 2017. Critical review on biosurfactant analysis, purification and characterization using rhamnolipid as a model biosurfactant. Bioresource Technology, 232: 389–397, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2017.02.047.
Vazquez-Fernandez, A., Suarez-Ojeda, M. E., and Carrera, J., 2022. Review about bioproduction of volatile fatty acids from wastes and wastewaters: Influence of operating conditions and organic composition of the substrate. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 10 (3): 107917, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2022.107917.
Wang, Y. F., Liu, X. R., Liu, Y. W., Wang, D. B., Xu, Q. X., Li, X. M., et al., 2020. Enhancement of short-chain fatty acids production from microalgae by potassium ferrate addition: Feasibility, mechanisms and implications. Bioresource Technology, 318: 124266, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2020.124266.
Wen, Q. X., Liu, B. Z., and Chen, Z. Q., 2022. Simultaneous recovery of vivianite and produce short-chain fatty acids from waste activated sludge using potassium ferrate as pre-oxidation treatment. Environmental Research, 208: 112661, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2021.112661.
Wu, C., **, L. Y., Zhang, P. Y., and Zhang, G. M., 2015. Effects of potassium ferrate oxidation on sludge disintegration, dewaterability and anaerobic biodegradation. International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation, 102: 137–142, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ibiod.2015.01.002.
Xu, Q. X., Liu, X. R., Wang, D. B., Liu, Y. W., Wang, Q. L., Ni, B. J., et al., 2019. Enhanced short-chain fatty acids production from waste activated sludge by sophorolipid: Performance, mechanism, and implication. Bioresource Technology, 284: 456–465, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2019.03.121.
Xu, Q. X., Liu, X. R., Zhao, J. W., Wang, D. B., Wang, Q. L., Li, X. M., et al., 2018. Feasibility of enhancing short-chain fatty acids production from sludge anaerobic fermentation at free nitrous acid pretreatment: Role and significance of tea saponin. Bioresource Technology, 254: 194–202, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2018.01.084.
Yang, W. J., He, Z. W., Ren, Y. X., **, H. Y., Wang, R., Tang, C. C., et al., 2022. Low temperature assisting potassium ferrate treatment to enhance short-chain fatty acids production from waste activated sludge. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 10 (3): 107821, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2022.107821.
Young, J. C., Clesceri, L. S., and Kamhawy, S. M., 2005. Changes in the biochemical oxygen demand procedure in the 21st edition of standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater. Water Environment Research, 77 (4): 404–410, https://doi.org/10.2175/106143005X51987.
Zan, F. X., Huang, H., Guo, G., and Chen, G. H., 2021. Sulfite pretreatment enhances the biodegradability of primary sludge and waste activated sludge towards cost-effective and carbonneutral sludge treatment. Science of the Total Environment, 780: 146634, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146634.
Zhang, J. M., Sui, K. X., Wang, D. B., Liu, X. R., Li, L. F., Li, X. M., et al., 2021. Free ammonia pretreatment assists potassium ferrate to enhance the production of short-chain fatty acids from waste activated sludge: Performance, mechanisms and applications. Journal of Cleaner Production, 328: 129620, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.129620.
Zhang, W. J., Cao, B. D., Wang, D. S., Ma, T., and Yu, D. H., 2016. Variations in distribution and composition of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) of biological sludge under potassium ferrate conditioning: Effects of pH and ferrate dosage. Biochemical Engineering Journal, 106: 37–47, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bej.2015.11.004.
Zhang, Y. P., Hu, R. Q., Li, F., and Li, Y. B., 2019. Effect and mechanism of waste-activated sludge disintegration treated by composite ferrate solution. Environmental Engineering Science, 36 (5): 530–540, https://doi.org/10.1089/ees.2018.0402.
Zhou, Z. W., Fang, S. P., Chen, H. Q., Ji, J., and Wu, J., 2017. Trials of treating decentralized domestic sewage from a residential area by potassium ferrate (VI). Water Air and Soil Pollution, 228 (8): 316, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-017-3457-7.
Acknowledgements
This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 41276067), and the Air Liquide (China) R&D Co., Ltd. (No. 20200216).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Chen, Y., Yao, S., Zhang, D. et al. Synergetic Bioproduction of Short-Chain Fatty Acids from Waste Activated Sludge Intensified by the Combined Use of Potassium Ferrate and Biosurfactants. J. Ocean Univ. China 23, 695–709 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11802-024-5587-z
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11802-024-5587-z