Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology

, Volume 34, Issue 3, pp 408–413 | Cite as

The use of polyurethane foam for microbial retention in methanogenic fermentation of propionate

  • Satoshi Fukuzaki
  • Naomichi Nishio
  • Shiro Nagai
Environmental Microbiology
Received:
Accepted:

Summary

The use of polyurethane foam (PUF) as a microbial support carrier was evaluated with a mesophilic propionate-acclimatized sludge. The acclimatized sludge could be immobilized rapidly and stably in PUF of smaller pore size under shaking conditions. The sludge retained in PUF could maintain a high propionate metabolic activity for a long period. High conversion rates of propionate to methane of 23–65 g chemical oxygen demand (COD)·1−1 · day−1 could be achieved in reactors packed with PUF-retained sludge. A dense sludge of 0.08–0.25 g mixed-liquor volatile suspended solids (MLVSS)·cm−3 was retained in PUF. Microscopic analysis suggested that filamentous microorganisms, e.g., Methanothrix spp. could play an important role in the efficient retention of acclimatized sludge in PUF.

Keywords

Fermentation Foam Sludge Propionate Chemical Oxygen Demand 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
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Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag 1990

Authors and Affiliations

  • Satoshi Fukuzaki
    • 1
  • Naomichi Nishio
    • 1
  • Shiro Nagai
    • 1
  1. 1.Department of Fermentation Technology, Faculty of EngineeringHiroshima UniversityHigashi-HiroshimaJapan

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