Raw material resource for biodegradable plastic production from cafeteria wastes

Abstract

This study presents treatment performance of cafeteria waste and polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) production in two stage process through an up-flow anaerobic sludge bed (UASB) and sequencing batch reactor (SBR). COD removal efficiency was found as follows: SBR, 93; and UASB - SBR, 95.4%. In addition, 30% ammoniacal nitrogen (AN) was noted at high aerobic condition and phosphate (PO4) removal efficiency increased at high anoxic conditions. Volatile fatty acid (VFA) intermediates such as acetic acid increased from 505 up to 4315 mg.l^-1 in effluent of UASB reactor and successfully consumed in SBR for PHA production. Acetic acid concentration was reduced significantly in SBR from 4315 to 50 mg.l^-1. During this period, PHA production was increased to 68% over cell dried weight, confirming effectiveness of sequential UASB-SBR system in producing bioplastic from cafeteria waste.