Microwave enhanced advanced oxidation treatment of fat, oil and grease (FOG) with organic co-substrates

ABSTRACT

Mixtures of fats, oils and grease (FOG) either with dairy manure or with thickened waste secondary sludge (TWSS) were treated using microwave enhanced advanced oxidation process (MW-AOP). For both dairy manure and TWSS mixtures, the maximum increase in soluble COD (SCOD) resulted from the 1:1 mixture by total solids (TS) weight. In the TWSS mixtures, production of volatile fatty acid (VFA) increased with greater FOG content, while there was a decreasing production trend in VFA in dairy manure mixtures. Nutrients and metals were also released for all sets. The degradation followed peroxidation mechanism to produce lower molecular weight substrates such as short-chain fatty acids which would be less inhibitory to microbes. Nutrients and metals in the treated solution would sustain microbial growth in a biological system. FOG content for the mixtures in the MW-AOP treatment should be less than 75% by TS weight to prevent oxidation to CO₂.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• MW-AOP treatment
• dairy manure
• sewage sludge
• fats
• oils and grease

Acknowledgements

Funding for this project has been provided by the BC Ministry of Agriculture, and Governments of Canada and British Columbia through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative. The programme is delivered by the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC. Opinions expressed in this document are those of the author and not necessarily those of the Governments of Canada and British Columbia or the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC. The Governments of Canada and British Columbia, and the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC, and their directors, agents, employees, or contractors will not be liable for any claims, damages, or losses of any kind whatsoever arising out of the use of, or reliance upon, this information.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Correction Statement

This article has been corrected with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Funding

Funding for this project has been provided by the BC Ministry of Agriculture, and Governments of Canada and British Columbia through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative. The programme is delivered by the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC; British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture and Lands.