Line 87: | Line 87: | ||
<p><b>HPLC</b> is another method commonly employed in laboratory setting for the VFA concentration determination. The advantage of the method is the fact that it provides the breakdown: the concentration of different volatile fatty acids in the solution. <p> | <p><b>HPLC</b> is another method commonly employed in laboratory setting for the VFA concentration determination. The advantage of the method is the fact that it provides the breakdown: the concentration of different volatile fatty acids in the solution. <p> | ||
− | <h3> | + | <h3>Process results</h3> |
+ | <b>VFA fermentation results</b> | ||
+ | <p></p> | ||
+ | <b>Liquid-solid separation results </b> | ||
+ | <p></p> | ||
+ | <b>PHB Extraction results</b> | ||
+ | <p></p> | ||
+ | <h3>PHB characterization</h3> | ||
+ | |||
+ | <b>HPLC</b> | ||
+ | <p></p> | ||
+ | |||
+ | <b>Nile red staining</b> | ||
+ | <p></p> | ||
</html> | </html> |
Revision as of 06:01, 31 October 2017
Results
Process Development Results
Methods for VFA quantification and characterization
As mentioned in our journal, determination of the total VFA concentration in the solution was an important step in the process – knowing how to quantify total VFAs in the solution helped to prove that the fermentation of human feces with naturally occurring bacteria increases the VFA concentration, as well as it helped to prove VFA presence in both - fermented and unfermented synthetic feces.
Titration is commonly employed by the wastewater treatment plants to give a rapid estimate of the VFA concentration in the solutions. We were able to successfully perform “Simple titration” experiments. The results (summarized below) indicate that the method tends to give a slight overestimate of the total concentration – yet it can be used for quick estimations, as well as for determination of VFA concentration increase/decrease.
Trial 1 | Trial 2 | Trial 3 | |
Actual VFA Conentration (mg/L) | 60 | 60 | 60 |
Sample volume (mL) | 40 | 40 | 40 |
Acid normality | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 |
Original pH | 6.61 | 6.6 | 6.61 |
Volume of acid added to titrate to pH 5 (mL) | 0.53 | 0.53 | 0.536 |
Volume of acid added to titrate to pH 4.3 (mL) | 0.745 | 0.75 | 0.785 |
Volume of acid added to titrate to pH 4 (mL) | 0.825 | 0.830 | 0.858 |
Calculated VFA concentration (mg/L) | 66.1 | 67.7 | 74.9 |
HPLC is another method commonly employed in laboratory setting for the VFA concentration determination. The advantage of the method is the fact that it provides the breakdown: the concentration of different volatile fatty acids in the solution.
Process results
VFA fermentation results Liquid-solid separation results PHB Extraction resultsPHB characterization
HPLC Nile red staining