Volatile fatty acids production from waste streams by anaerobic digestion: A critical review of the roles and application of enzymes

• Published in: Bioresource technology 2022-09, Vol.359, p.127420-127420, Article 127420
• Main Authors: Feng, Siran, Ngo, Huu Hao, Guo, Wenshan, Chang, Soon Woong, Nguyen, Dinh Duc, Liu, Yi, Zhang, Shicheng, Phong Vo, Hoang Nhat, Bui, Xuan Thanh, Ngoc Hoang, Bich
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anaerobic digestion; Enzyme; Volatile fatty acids; Wastewater
• ISSN: 0960-8524; 1873-2976
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2022.127420

[Display omitted] •Enzymatic processes are essential in bio-VFAs production.•Bio-VFAs enzymatic processes and related impact factors were reviewed.•VFAs competition and consumption pathways should be discouraged.•Enzymatic pre-treatment improves VFAs yields but needs further refinement.•Enzyme ability/activity and efficiency enhancements benefit VFAs production. Volatile fatty acids (VFAs) produced from organic-rich wastewater by anaerobic digestion attract attention due to the increasing volatile fatty acids market, sustainability and environmentally friendly characteristics. This review aims to give an overview of the roles and applications of enzymes, a biocatalyst which plays a significant role in anaerobic digestion, to enhance volatile fatty acids production. This paper systematically overviewed: (i) the enzymatic pathways of VFAs formation, competition, and consumption; (ii) the applications of enzymes in VFAs production; and (iii) feasible measures to boost the enzymatic processes. Furthermore, this review presents a critical evaluation on the major obstacles and feasible future research directions for the better applications of enzymatic processes to promote VFAs production from wastewater.