Poster Presentation 1B-21

 

Synthesis of Poly-hydroxyalkanoates from Activated Sludge under Various Oxidation-reduction Potential Values by using Glucose as Sole Carbon Source

 

 

W.F. Hu1*, S.N. Sin2, H. Chua2, S.Y. Chan2 P.H.F. Yu3 and W. Lo3

 

 

1* College of Food Science, South China Agricultural University

Guangzhou 510642, P.R. China

Fax: 86-20-85280270

E-Mail:  wfhu@scau.edu.cn

 

2Department of Civil and Structural Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong, P.R. China

 

 3Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong, P.R. China

 

 

 

Production of poly-hydroxyalkanoates (PHA) from activated sludge under various oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) was investigated.  Glucose was used as the sole carbon source in the activated sludge microbial culture.  PHA accumulation rate, cell growth, glucose consumption efficiency and 3-hydroxybutyrate (3HB) unit fraction to 3-hydroxyvalerate (3HV) unit fraction (HB/HV) mole ratios were found to be increasing with ORP values.  These results revealed that ORP may be used as a controlled parameter to optimize the waste-to-PHA conversion process in the modified activated sludge wastewater treatment plant.