Effect of Mixed Culture and Organic Loading Rate over Butanol Production from Biodiesel Waste in an Upflow Packed-Bed Reactor

In this study, an upflow anaerobic packed-bed reactor (UAPB) produced biobutanol from the main byproduct of biodiesel plants, commonly known as glycerol. Currently, butanol production is mostly limited to pure cultures and sterilized feedstocks. Using glycerol wastes from biodiesel production demand...

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Main Authors: Cristina Aglaia Alves Tottoli e Silva, Maria Ângela Tallarico Adorno, Filipe Vasconcelos Ferreira, Guilherme Peixoto
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Fermentation
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5637/10/11/586
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author Cristina Aglaia Alves Tottoli e Silva
Maria Ângela Tallarico Adorno
Filipe Vasconcelos Ferreira
Guilherme Peixoto
author_facet Cristina Aglaia Alves Tottoli e Silva
Maria Ângela Tallarico Adorno
Filipe Vasconcelos Ferreira
Guilherme Peixoto
author_sort Cristina Aglaia Alves Tottoli e Silva
collection DOAJ
description In this study, an upflow anaerobic packed-bed reactor (UAPB) produced biobutanol from the main byproduct of biodiesel plants, commonly known as glycerol. Currently, butanol production is mostly limited to pure cultures and sterilized feedstocks. Using glycerol wastes from biodiesel production demands a new paradigm because sterilization is not economically feasible for the elevated amount of glycerol generated by the biodiesel industry. Different microbial consortia were evaluated as inoculum sources to convert glycerol to butanol. In the first stage, operations were carried out with an average organic loading rate (OLR) of 13 g COD L<sup>−1</sup> d<sup>−1</sup>. Kefir grains, sucrose auto-fermentation consortium, and heat-treated anaerobic sludge produced 16.7, 48.5, and 12.8 mg of butanol per gram of chemical oxygen demand (COD), respectively. Besides butanol production, a significant amount of ethanol (241.5 mg g<sup>−1</sup> COD), acetate (30.3 mg g<sup>−1</sup> COD), and butyrate (183.4 mg g<sup>−1</sup> COD) were generated with glycerol processed by sucrose auto-fermentation consortium. In the second stage, the organic loading rates of 6.5, 13.0, and 26.0 g COD L<sup>−1</sup> d<sup>−1</sup> were applied to the UAPB reactor inoculated with sucrose auto-fermentation consortium. The OLR of 13.0 g COD L<sup>−1</sup> d<sup>−1</sup> yielded the highest production of butanol (41.5 mg g<sup>−1</sup> COD) and generated other valuable co-products such as butyrate (246.1 mg g<sup>−1</sup> COD), acetate (37.3 mg g<sup>−1</sup> COD), and propionate (19.6 mg g<sup>−1</sup> COD).
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spelling doaj-art-7506079c19ff47349e131765deb926612025-08-20T02:28:10ZengMDPI AGFermentation2311-56372024-11-01101158610.3390/fermentation10110586Effect of Mixed Culture and Organic Loading Rate over Butanol Production from Biodiesel Waste in an Upflow Packed-Bed ReactorCristina Aglaia Alves Tottoli e Silva0Maria Ângela Tallarico Adorno1Filipe Vasconcelos Ferreira2Guilherme Peixoto3Department of Bioprocesses and Biotechnology Engineering, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), Araraquara—Jaú Road, Km 1, Araraquara 14800-903, BrazilLaboratory of Biological Processes, Center for Research, Development and Innovation in Environmental Engineering, Sao Carlos School of Engineering, University of Sao Paulo, 1100, João Dagnone Ave., Santa Angelina, São Carlos 13563-120, BrazilLaboratory of Biological Processes, Center for Research, Development and Innovation in Environmental Engineering, Sao Carlos School of Engineering, University of Sao Paulo, 1100, João Dagnone Ave., Santa Angelina, São Carlos 13563-120, BrazilDepartment of Bioprocesses and Biotechnology Engineering, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), Araraquara—Jaú Road, Km 1, Araraquara 14800-903, BrazilIn this study, an upflow anaerobic packed-bed reactor (UAPB) produced biobutanol from the main byproduct of biodiesel plants, commonly known as glycerol. Currently, butanol production is mostly limited to pure cultures and sterilized feedstocks. Using glycerol wastes from biodiesel production demands a new paradigm because sterilization is not economically feasible for the elevated amount of glycerol generated by the biodiesel industry. Different microbial consortia were evaluated as inoculum sources to convert glycerol to butanol. In the first stage, operations were carried out with an average organic loading rate (OLR) of 13 g COD L<sup>−1</sup> d<sup>−1</sup>. Kefir grains, sucrose auto-fermentation consortium, and heat-treated anaerobic sludge produced 16.7, 48.5, and 12.8 mg of butanol per gram of chemical oxygen demand (COD), respectively. Besides butanol production, a significant amount of ethanol (241.5 mg g<sup>−1</sup> COD), acetate (30.3 mg g<sup>−1</sup> COD), and butyrate (183.4 mg g<sup>−1</sup> COD) were generated with glycerol processed by sucrose auto-fermentation consortium. In the second stage, the organic loading rates of 6.5, 13.0, and 26.0 g COD L<sup>−1</sup> d<sup>−1</sup> were applied to the UAPB reactor inoculated with sucrose auto-fermentation consortium. The OLR of 13.0 g COD L<sup>−1</sup> d<sup>−1</sup> yielded the highest production of butanol (41.5 mg g<sup>−1</sup> COD) and generated other valuable co-products such as butyrate (246.1 mg g<sup>−1</sup> COD), acetate (37.3 mg g<sup>−1</sup> COD), and propionate (19.6 mg g<sup>−1</sup> COD).https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5637/10/11/586biobutanolinoculumbiodieselglycerolanaerobic digestionpacked-bed reactor
spellingShingle Cristina Aglaia Alves Tottoli e Silva
Maria Ângela Tallarico Adorno
Filipe Vasconcelos Ferreira
Guilherme Peixoto
Effect of Mixed Culture and Organic Loading Rate over Butanol Production from Biodiesel Waste in an Upflow Packed-Bed Reactor
Fermentation
biobutanol
inoculum
biodiesel
glycerol
anaerobic digestion
packed-bed reactor
title Effect of Mixed Culture and Organic Loading Rate over Butanol Production from Biodiesel Waste in an Upflow Packed-Bed Reactor
title_full Effect of Mixed Culture and Organic Loading Rate over Butanol Production from Biodiesel Waste in an Upflow Packed-Bed Reactor
title_fullStr Effect of Mixed Culture and Organic Loading Rate over Butanol Production from Biodiesel Waste in an Upflow Packed-Bed Reactor
title_full_unstemmed Effect of Mixed Culture and Organic Loading Rate over Butanol Production from Biodiesel Waste in an Upflow Packed-Bed Reactor
title_short Effect of Mixed Culture and Organic Loading Rate over Butanol Production from Biodiesel Waste in an Upflow Packed-Bed Reactor
title_sort effect of mixed culture and organic loading rate over butanol production from biodiesel waste in an upflow packed bed reactor
topic biobutanol
inoculum
biodiesel
glycerol
anaerobic digestion
packed-bed reactor
url https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5637/10/11/586
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