Proceedings

Organic carbon recovery as biopolymers from residual and wastewater treatment: steps from technology development to demonstration

Morgan-Sagastume, F.1, Bengtsson, S.1, Arcos-Hernández, M.V.1, Alexandersson, T.1, Anterrieu, S.1, Hjort, M.1, Johansson, P.1, Karabegovic, L.1, Karlsson, A.1, Magnusson, P.1, Quadri, L.1, Tietema, M.2, de Vegt, O.2 and Werker, A.1,1AnoxKaldnes AB, Sweden, 2KNN, The Netherlands.

(free)

Valorization of the organic carbon from wastes/wastewater can be achieved in waste bio-refineries, which can transform raw organic and inorganic residuals into renewable products. Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are biodegradable polyesters that can be produced as a novel adjunct to biological wastewater treatment in mixed-microbial activated-sludge systems. Process technologies have been developed and investigated for the production of: (i) volatile fatty acids (VFAs) by acidogenic fermentation, (ii) functional biomass with PHA-storage capacity from biological wastewater treatment, and (iii) PHAs from the further biological treatment of different waste and residual organic streams. Experience over 30 years from laboratory-scale and more recent pilotscale studies has demonstrated the feasibility of treating different wastewaters while producing PHAs. Overall PHA yields of 10-20% (g PHA/g chemical oxygen demand removed) and biomass PHA contents of 40-60% (g PHA/g volatile suspended solids) have been consistently achieved. Steps are underway to establish business models of viable value-added chains for commercial demonstration of mixed-culture PHA production as an integral part of residuals management, as a spin-off from the company-stakeholdernetwork project BioTRIP. Environmental performance assessments of mixed-culture PHA process technologies are being critically considered. Establishing a stakeholder network in which residual carbon and microbial biomass sourcing is combined with essential services of pollution control while facilitating PHA-product-market combinations is identified as the next pivotal step for achieving the first viable examples of PHA production within a framework of residuals management in a bio-based economy.

Keywords: BioTRIP, demonstration, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), PHA production, residuals, wastewater, waste treatment

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