Exploring the valorization of fats into volatile fatty acids by anaerobic mixed culture fermentation

Abstract

The production of VFAs from organic wastes and residues by anaerobic fermentation is a promising technology and the use of microbial mixed culture fermentation is encouraged due to its various operational and economic advantages. The main limitation that prevents its industrial applicability is a lack of precise understanding of how different organic fractions are biotransformed into different VFAs. Lipids are one of the fractions constituting organic wastes and its conversion during fermentation is a knowledge-deficient area. Although, it is commonly admitted that beta-oxidation is the main mechanism in LCFAs transformation, many questions on selectivity, conversion and the role of the fatty acid chemical structure remain open. Thus the present project focuses on answering key questions related to the conversion of fats into VFAs so this knowledge can be finally applied in the valorization of a real residual stream. (AU)