Organic produtcs recovery from complex industrial wastewaterMicrobial features

Abstract

This thesis evaluates the valorisation of industrial wastewater with high organic matter concentration by the production of added-value compounds. Crude glycerol was used as substrate to produce triacylglycerides (TAG), which were intracellularly accumulated by yeasts, in a mixed microbial culture able to produce different biopolymers depending on the composition of the raw crude glycerol. Cooked mussel processing wastewater was demonstrated to be a suitable substrate for the production of two added-value products: volatile fatty acids (VFA) and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA). However, the presence of nitrogen limits the maximum PHA storage capacity. therefore, the nitrogen removal was evaluated and simultaneous partial nitritation and biopolymer production were achieved in a mixed microbial culture. Finally, the microbial populations involved in biopolymer production were identified in granular and suspended biomass fed with different substrates.