Effect of surfactant assisted ultrasonic pretreatment on production of volatile fatty acids from mixed food waste

• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2022.128340
• Publication Date: 2022-11-16T06:43:32Z
• Authors: Yukesh Kannah Ravi; Weilan Zhang; Yanna Liang
• Keywords: Surface-Active Agents; Octoxynol; Food; 11. Sustainability; 0211 other engineering and technologies; Ultrasonics; 02 engineering and technology; Fatty Acids, Volatile; 6. Clean water; Refuse Disposal; 12. Responsible consumption

In this study, the potential effect of surfactant assisted ultrasonic pretreatment on mixed food waste was investigated. Surfactants, such as Rhamnolipid, Sodium dodecyl sulfate; Glucopon and Triton X 100 were evaluated in this work. Among them, the maximum solubilization of chemical oxygen demand of 45.5 % and the highest release of soluble COD of 31 g/L were observed for ultrasonication assisted by Triton X 100 at a dose of 0.01 g/g TS in 30 min. The presence of a surfactant also reduced 27.5 % of energy demand when compared to ultrasonic pretreatment alone. Compared to the non-pretreated samples after anaerobic digestion, ultrasonication assisted by Triton X 100 led to 95 % increase of volatile fatty acid titers and 83 % increase of carbon conversion efficiency. Thus, sonication with the addition of Triton X 100 was proven to be highly effective toward increasing digestibility of and yield of volatile fatty acid from mixed food waste.