Insights into enhanced polyhydroxyalkanoate production by the synergistic use of waste wood hydrolysate and volatile fatty acids by mixed microbial cultures

• Published in: Bioresource technology 2021-10, Vol.337, p.125488-125488, Article 125488
• Main Authors: Li, Dongna, Ma, Xiaojun, Li, Jianing, Sun, Binqing
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Activated sludge; Co-substrate; Microbial community; Polyhydroxyalkanoate; Volatile fatty acids; Waste wood hydrolysate
• ISSN: 0960-8524; 1873-2976
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2021.125488

[Display omitted] •Producing PHA from co-substrate was a sustainable and economical approach.•N-limitation and slight alkaline condition were more conducive to produce PHA.•High PHA production of 3088 mg COD/L and HV proportion of 51% were obtained.•Microbial community was composed of 65 bacterial genera with higher diversity.•Co-substrate shortened the cycle of PHA reaching the maximum production. The feasibility of producing polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) from pretreated waste wood hydrolysate and volatile fatty acids (VFAs) from sewage fermented products as co-substrate feedstock through mixed microbial cultures (MMCs) process was explored. The results showed that the addition of co-substrate shortened the cycle of PHA reaching the maximum and increased the proportion of 3-hydroxyvalerate (3HV) monomer. Compared with N-excess supply, almost 1.6 times increased PHA accumulation was realized under N-limitation, and simultaneously the highest proportion of 3HV monomer with 51% was also obtained. Additionally, PHA production in S1400 reactor reached a maximum value of about 3088 mg COD/L with culture time to 36 h. The microbial community also displayed a high diversity, which was composed of 65 bacterial genera. It is a novel attempt to accumulate PHA from pretreated waste wood hydrolysate and VFAs co-substrate through MMCs, providing an effective green approach to reduce its expensive cost and achieve mass production.