Effects of household detergent on anaerobic fermentation of kitchen wastewater from food waste disposer

• Published in: Journal of hazardous materials 2013-01, Vol.244-245, p.39-45
• Main Authors: Lee, K.H., Park, K.Y., Khanal, S.K., Lee, J.W.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anaerobic methane fermentation; Anaerobic toxicity assay (ATA); Anaerobiosis; Detergent; Detergents - toxicity; Family Characteristics; Fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs); Fatty Acids - metabolism; Fermentation; Food; Food waste disposer (FWD); Membrane Lipids - metabolism; Methane - metabolism; Sewage - microbiology; Waste Water
• ISSN: 0304-3894; 1873-3336
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2012.10.073

► Methane fermentation of kitchen wastewater was inhibited by household detergent. ► IC50 of detergent was 603mg/L based on the methane production rate. ► Predominant fatty acids (C16 & C18:2n6) decreased at higher detergent concentration. ► Structure of microbial membrane lipids was highly affected by the detergent. This study examines the effects of household detergent on anaerobic methane fermentation of wastewater from food waste disposers (FWDs). Anaerobic toxicity assay (ATA) demonstrated that methane production substantially decreased at a higher detergent concentration. The Gompertz three-parameter model fitted well with the ATA results, and both the extent of methane production (M) and methane production rate (Rm) obtained from the model were strongly affected by the concentration of the detergent. The 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of the detergent was 603mg/L based on Rm. Results from fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) analysis of microbial culture revealed that deterioration of methane fermentation was attributed to impaired structure of anaerobic microbial membrane due to detergent. This study suggests that wastewater from FWD could be used for methane production, but it is necessary to reduce the concentration of detergent prior to anaerobic fermentation.