effect of spent bleaching earth ageing process on its physicochemical and microbial composition and its potential use as a source of fatty acids and triterpenes

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international 2014-09, Vol.21 (18), p.10765-10774
• Main Authors: Krzyśko-Łupicka, Teresa, Cybulska, Krystyna, Wieczorek, Andrzej, Możdżer, Ewa, Nowak, Maciej J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: aeration; Aging; Aquatic Pollution; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Bioconversion; Biodegradation; Biodegradation, Environmental; Biotechnology; biotransformation; Bleaching; Canola Oil; Carbohydrates; Chemical compounds; Cholesterol; Chromium; color; Copper; Councils; Earth; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Environmental protection; Esters; Fatty acids; Fatty Acids - analysis; Fatty Acids - chemistry; Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated; Hazardous materials; Heavy metals; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; iron; lipid content; manganese; Metals; Metals, Heavy - analysis; Methods; Microbial Consortia; Microorganisms; nickel; odors; Parliaments; Physicochemical properties; Plant Oils - chemistry; Poland; Pollutants; Refuse Disposal - methods; Research Article; saturated fatty acids; Soil Microbiology; Soil Pollutants - analysis; Soil Pollutants - chemistry; Sulfur; Temperature; Time Factors; Triterpenes; Triterpenes - analysis; Triterpenes - chemistry; triterpenoids; viscosity; Waste analysis; Waste management; Waste materials; Waste Products; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control; zinc
• ISSN: 0944-1344; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-014-3021-6

This study was aimed at investigating the physicochemical and microbiological changes that took place during the ageing process of spent bleaching earth in the presence of autochthonous microorganisms. Research material included fresh spent bleaching earth (SBE₀) and the same material after 3 years of storage at the constant temperature of 20 °C, without aeration and moistening (SBE₃). Changes in the chemical composition of analysed waste material were observed during its ageing process point to a spontaneous bioconversion of fat substance towards formation and/or release of free saturated fatty acids C16:0 and C18:0 (14.3 g 100 g⁻¹ D.M.), triterpenes (8.48 g 100 g⁻¹ D.M.), cholesterol (3.29 g 100 g⁻¹ D.M.), small quantities of carbohydrates and esters (0.80 g 100 g⁻¹ D.M.). This process was accompanied by other changes in physicochemical parameters of the waste material, such as colour, odour and viscosity, decrease in fat content from 28.27 to 24.6 % and that of soluble forms of metals (Mo, Cu, Fe, Zn, Ni, Cr and Mn), ranging from 25 to 75 %, and an increase in pH, from 3.85 to 4.2. At the same time, changes in the microbial consortium were observed.