Ultrasonic-pretreated waste activated sludge hydrolysis and volatile fatty acid accumulation under alkaline conditions: Effect of temperature

The effect of temperature on the hydrolysis and acidification of ultrasonic-pretreated waste activated sludge (WAS) under alkaline conditions was investigated in this study. The experiment temperatures were set at 10, 20, 37, and 55 °C. Experimental results showed that the hydrolysis of ultrasonic-pretreated WAS under alkaline conditions increased significantly with temperature from 10 to 55 °C, while the volatile fatty acid (VFA) accumulation was not augmented as temperature increased. Among the four temperatures tested, 37 °C was the point with the highest VFA accumulation after 72 h fermentation. VFA accumulation decreased markedly at 55 °C compared to 37 °C. Mechanism investigation revealed that among all the temperatures tested, 37 °C was the temperature at which consumptions of WAS protein and carbohydrate, activities of key enzymes related to VFA formation and ratio of Bacteria to Archaea all reached the maximum. Due to activities of related microorganisms inhibited by higher temperature (55 °C), VFA accumulation decreased at 55 °C.

► Ultrasonic-pretreated WAS hydrolysis increased with temperature from 10 to 55 °C. ► VFA accumulation decreased markedly at 55 °C compared to 37 °C. ► The maximum consumptions of protein and carbohydrate were achieved at 37 °C. ► The highest activities of acid-forming enzymes were obtained at 37 °C. ► The highest ratio of Bacteria to Archaea in fermentation system exhibited at 37 °C.