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Fundamental aspects of waste sewage sludge treatment: Microbial solids biodegradation in an aerobic thermophilic semi-continuous system

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Abstract

The solubilization and biodegradation of whole microbial cells by an aerobic thermophilic microbial population was investigated over a 72 h period. Various parameters were followed including total suspended solids reduction, changes in the dissolved organic carbon, protein and carbohydrate concentrations, and carboxylic acid production and utilisation. From the rates of removal of the various fractions a simple model for the biodegradation processes is proposed and verified with respect to acetic acid production and utilization, and total suspended solids removal. The process is initiated by enzymic degradation of the substrate microbe cell walls followed by growth on the released soluble substrates at low dissolved oxygen concentration with concommitant carboxylic acid production. Subsequent utilization of the unbranched, lower molecular weight carboxylic acids allows additional energy supply following exhaustion of the easily utilisable soluble substrate from microbial cell hydrolysis.

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Abbreviations

Y Xp/Xs kg/kg:

yield process microbes on substrate yeast cells

Y Xp/Ac kg/kg:

yield process microbes on acetate

Y Ac/Ss kg/kg:

yield acetate produced by process microbes growing on substrate yeast cells

Y Ss/Xs kg/kg:

yield soluble substrate from lysis of yeast cells

Y Ss/Xp kg/kg:

yield soluble substrate from lysis of process microbes

Y P/Xs kg/kg:

yield particulates from lysis of yeast cells

Y P/Xp kg/kg:

yield particulates from lysis of process microbes

μ max (Ss) h−1 :

maximum specific growth rate constant for growth of process microbes on soluble substrate

μ max (Ac) h−1 :

maximum specific growth rate constant for growth of process microbes on acetate

Ks Ss kg/m3 :

saturation coefficient for growth of process microbes on soluble substrate

Ks Ac kg/m3 :

saturation coefficient for growth of process microbes on acetate

K d h−1 :

death/lysis rate constant for process microbes

K i kg/m3 :

inhibition constant for growth of process microbes on acetate

K L h−1 :

lysis rate constant for whole yeast cells

K h h−1 :

hydrolysis rate constant for particulate biomass

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Aquatic Sciences Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zürich, Ueberlandstrasse 133, CH-8600, Dübendorf, Switzerland

    G. Hamer & C. A. Mason

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  1. G. Hamer
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  2. C. A. Mason
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Hamer, G., Mason, C.A. Fundamental aspects of waste sewage sludge treatment: Microbial solids biodegradation in an aerobic thermophilic semi-continuous system. Bioprocess Engineering 2, 69–77 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00369526

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