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Enhanced PHA Production with Mixed Cultures Using a Robust and Simple Controller

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Abstract

Purpose

This work proposes the use of feedback control tools to enhance the production of bacterial polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) in an aerobic bioreactor fed with volatile fatty acids (VFA), by regulating the dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration at an optimal reference value and using the airflow signal behaviour to decide when to stop the reaction.

Methods

The proposed method uses a standard proportional-integral (PI) controller to regulate the DO at a reference value by modifying the airflow, and this latter signal as an indicator to stop the reaction. Experiments were carried out in a batch aerobic bioreactor inoculated with enriched PHA-producing biomass from another bioreactor to determine the optimal DO reference value for PHA production and to compare the proposed operational scheme with the usual strategy that uses a constant airflow.

Results

The proposed method allows operation at a DO set-point that is optimal for PHA production and is able to identify the total degradation of substrate by a simple algorithm. It can cope with high VFA influent concentrations and inhibition because of PHA accumulation, by adapting the reaction time on-line. The PHA productivity rate was enhanced and the air consumption was decreased when compared with the usual operation strategy for this type of system.

Conclusions

The method is able to identify the end of the reaction using the online measured airflow signal, enhances PHA production, improves the substrate rate and saves air consumption.

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Acknowledgements

The funding for this research was provided by project CONACYT 240674. G. Muñoz also thanks CONACYT for a Ph.D. scholarship. The technical support of Gloria Moreno, Jaime Pérez and Ángel Hernández is also gratefully acknowledged.

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  1. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Instituto de Ingeniería, Unidad Académica Juriquilla, Blvd. Juriquilla 3001, Querétaro, 76230, Mexico

    Gerardo Muñoz & Alejandro Vargas

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  1. Gerardo Muñoz
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  2. Alejandro Vargas
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Correspondence to Alejandro Vargas.

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Muñoz, G., Vargas, A. Enhanced PHA Production with Mixed Cultures Using a Robust and Simple Controller. Waste Biomass Valor 11, 277–290 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12649-018-0383-x

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