Alkaline-Potassium Ferrate Pretreatment Promoting Acid Production Through Co-Fermentation of Waste Activated Sludge and Corn Straw

Waste activated sludge (WAS) is a valuable waste resource rich in organic matter and nutrients, presenting significant potential for recycling. The recovery of carbon (C) and phosphorus (P) from WAS contributes to achieving carbon neutrality goals and helps alleviate the global shortage of phosphoru...

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Main Authors: Xintian YU, Wei ZENG
Format: Article
Language:zho
Published: Editorial Office of Energy Environmental Protection 2025-04-01
Series:能源环境保护
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.20078/j.eep.20240804
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author Xintian YU
Wei ZENG
author_facet Xintian YU
Wei ZENG
author_sort Xintian YU
collection DOAJ
description Waste activated sludge (WAS) is a valuable waste resource rich in organic matter and nutrients, presenting significant potential for recycling. The recovery of carbon (C) and phosphorus (P) from WAS contributes to achieving carbon neutrality goals and helps alleviate the global shortage of phosphorus resources, thereby promoting sustainable agriculture. This study aimed to assess the effect of potassium ferrate (PF) on the co-fermentation system of waste activated sludge (WAS) and corn straw (CS) under alkaline conditions. Laboratory-scale sequencing batch reactors were used to investigate the impact of various PF dosages (0, 0.05, 0.20, 0.50 g/g VSSWAS) on the enhanced solubilization, hydrolysis, and formation of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in the co-fermentation system. The results demonstrated that PF pretreatment effectively disrupted the structure of WAS flocs and CS, facilitating the release of organic matter from WAS cells and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), and promoting the release of polysaccharides from CS. This effect was more pronounced at higher PF dosages (≥0.20 g/g VSSWAS). After a 24-hour pretreatment, the levels of soluble chemical oxygen demand (SCOD), soluble polysaccharides, and proteins in the 0.50 g/g VSSWAS PF dosage group increased by 11.9, 9.41, and 4.75 times, respectively, compared to the non-dosage group. The maximum accumulation of SCFAs at various PF dosages (0, 0.05, 0.20, 0.50 g/g VSSWAS) increased by 1.47, 1.92, and 2.21 times, respectively, compared to the non-dosage group, and the proportion of acetic acid, which is easily utilized by microorganisms, also increased. Microbial community analysis revealed a reduction in the Shannon index, with a notable enrichment of fermentation-related functional bacteria, including Firmicutes and Bacteroidota. Additionally, PF addition significantly enhanced the bioavailability of CS. At the genus level, acid-producing fermentative bacteria such as Macellibacteroides, Bacteroides, and Clostridium, known for utilizing polysaccharides like cellulose and hemicellulose, dominated the system, further boosting SCFAs production. Clostridium, an iron-reducing bacterium, can be selectively enriched at high concentrations of Fe(Ⅲ), further enhancing its abundance. The fermentation supernatant from PF-treated sludge had a higher SCFAs content and lower phosphorus (P) content, making it a suitable carbon source supplement for wastewater treatment plants. Additionally, the formation of vivianite was observed in the experimental groups, facilitating P recovery. When PF was added at 0.20 g/g VSSWAS, the recovery potential of SCFAs and P was optimal, and the economic benefit was the highest, reaching 63.96 CNY/m3 WAS. Therefore, a PF dosage of 0.20 g/g VSSWAS is recommended, providing a valuable reference for the resource recovery and utilization of WAS and CS. This method demonstrates significant engineering application potential and economic benefits, offering a novel approach for waste resource utilization.
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spelling doaj-art-e13144ec2f164c2c8a0a66dec74b427b2025-08-20T02:20:18ZzhoEditorial Office of Energy Environmental Protection能源环境保护2097-41832025-04-0139210911910.20078/j.eep.202408042024-06-29-0001Alkaline-Potassium Ferrate Pretreatment Promoting Acid Production Through Co-Fermentation of Waste Activated Sludge and Corn StrawXintian YU0Wei ZENG1National Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Technology, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, ChinaNational Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Technology, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, ChinaWaste activated sludge (WAS) is a valuable waste resource rich in organic matter and nutrients, presenting significant potential for recycling. The recovery of carbon (C) and phosphorus (P) from WAS contributes to achieving carbon neutrality goals and helps alleviate the global shortage of phosphorus resources, thereby promoting sustainable agriculture. This study aimed to assess the effect of potassium ferrate (PF) on the co-fermentation system of waste activated sludge (WAS) and corn straw (CS) under alkaline conditions. Laboratory-scale sequencing batch reactors were used to investigate the impact of various PF dosages (0, 0.05, 0.20, 0.50 g/g VSSWAS) on the enhanced solubilization, hydrolysis, and formation of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in the co-fermentation system. The results demonstrated that PF pretreatment effectively disrupted the structure of WAS flocs and CS, facilitating the release of organic matter from WAS cells and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), and promoting the release of polysaccharides from CS. This effect was more pronounced at higher PF dosages (≥0.20 g/g VSSWAS). After a 24-hour pretreatment, the levels of soluble chemical oxygen demand (SCOD), soluble polysaccharides, and proteins in the 0.50 g/g VSSWAS PF dosage group increased by 11.9, 9.41, and 4.75 times, respectively, compared to the non-dosage group. The maximum accumulation of SCFAs at various PF dosages (0, 0.05, 0.20, 0.50 g/g VSSWAS) increased by 1.47, 1.92, and 2.21 times, respectively, compared to the non-dosage group, and the proportion of acetic acid, which is easily utilized by microorganisms, also increased. Microbial community analysis revealed a reduction in the Shannon index, with a notable enrichment of fermentation-related functional bacteria, including Firmicutes and Bacteroidota. Additionally, PF addition significantly enhanced the bioavailability of CS. At the genus level, acid-producing fermentative bacteria such as Macellibacteroides, Bacteroides, and Clostridium, known for utilizing polysaccharides like cellulose and hemicellulose, dominated the system, further boosting SCFAs production. Clostridium, an iron-reducing bacterium, can be selectively enriched at high concentrations of Fe(Ⅲ), further enhancing its abundance. The fermentation supernatant from PF-treated sludge had a higher SCFAs content and lower phosphorus (P) content, making it a suitable carbon source supplement for wastewater treatment plants. Additionally, the formation of vivianite was observed in the experimental groups, facilitating P recovery. When PF was added at 0.20 g/g VSSWAS, the recovery potential of SCFAs and P was optimal, and the economic benefit was the highest, reaching 63.96 CNY/m3 WAS. Therefore, a PF dosage of 0.20 g/g VSSWAS is recommended, providing a valuable reference for the resource recovery and utilization of WAS and CS. This method demonstrates significant engineering application potential and economic benefits, offering a novel approach for waste resource utilization.https://doi.org/10.20078/j.eep.20240804waste activated sludgecorn strawanaerobic digestionshort-chain fatty acidspotassium ferratephosphorus recovery
spellingShingle Xintian YU
Wei ZENG
Alkaline-Potassium Ferrate Pretreatment Promoting Acid Production Through Co-Fermentation of Waste Activated Sludge and Corn Straw
能源环境保护
waste activated sludge
corn straw
anaerobic digestion
short-chain fatty acids
potassium ferrate
phosphorus recovery
title Alkaline-Potassium Ferrate Pretreatment Promoting Acid Production Through Co-Fermentation of Waste Activated Sludge and Corn Straw
title_full Alkaline-Potassium Ferrate Pretreatment Promoting Acid Production Through Co-Fermentation of Waste Activated Sludge and Corn Straw
title_fullStr Alkaline-Potassium Ferrate Pretreatment Promoting Acid Production Through Co-Fermentation of Waste Activated Sludge and Corn Straw
title_full_unstemmed Alkaline-Potassium Ferrate Pretreatment Promoting Acid Production Through Co-Fermentation of Waste Activated Sludge and Corn Straw
title_short Alkaline-Potassium Ferrate Pretreatment Promoting Acid Production Through Co-Fermentation of Waste Activated Sludge and Corn Straw
title_sort alkaline potassium ferrate pretreatment promoting acid production through co fermentation of waste activated sludge and corn straw
topic waste activated sludge
corn straw
anaerobic digestion
short-chain fatty acids
potassium ferrate
phosphorus recovery
url https://doi.org/10.20078/j.eep.20240804
work_keys_str_mv AT xintianyu alkalinepotassiumferratepretreatmentpromotingacidproductionthroughcofermentationofwasteactivatedsludgeandcornstraw
AT weizeng alkalinepotassiumferratepretreatmentpromotingacidproductionthroughcofermentationofwasteactivatedsludgeandcornstraw