Bioplastics from Waste Activated Sludge-Batch Process

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Abstract
Activated sludge from a full-scale pulp-paper industry wastewater treatment plant was used as a source of microorganisms to produce biodegradable plastics (polyhydroxyalkanoates) (PHA) at 25°C , pH 7 and at different initial sludge suspended solids (SS) concentration (5, 10, 15, and 20 g∕L ) in computer controlled fermentors. Acetate was used as sole carbon source at varying concentrations (5–20 g∕L) . The fresh sampled sewage sludge was found to contain PHA and the amount varied with the sampling date. The PHA productivity and concentration varied with intial sludge SS and acetate concentrations. Maximum accumulation of PHA ( 39.6% w∕w of dry sludge SS) was observed at 15 g∕L SS and 10 g∕L acetate concentration. The sludge biomass increased during the process, however, the net amount of the sludge residual solids after extraction of PHA was decreased to varying degrees depending on sludge SS and acetate concentration (5.5–36.9% w∕w) . Acetate concentration above 10 g∕L was found to be inhibitory for PHA ...

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