Electrooxidation as the anaerobic pre-treatment of fats: Oleate conversion using RuO2and IrO2based anodes

M. Gonçalves, M.M. Alves, J.P. Correia, I.P. Marques, M. Gonçalves, M.M. Alves, J.P. Correia, I.P. Marques

Index: Bioresour. Technol. 99(17) , 8207-11, (2008)

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Abstract

Electrochemical treatment of oleate using RuO 2 and IrO 2 type dimensionally stable anodes in alkaline medium was performed to develop a feasible anaerobic pre-treatment of fatty effluents. The results showed that the pre-treated solutions over RuO 2 were faster degraded by anaerobic consortium than the raw oleate solutions or the electrolysed solutions using IrO 2. In batch experiments carried out with pre-treated solutions over RuO 2 (100–500 mg/L), no lag phases were observed before the methane production onset. On the other hand, raw oleate and pre-treated oleate over IrO 2 had originated lag phases of 0–140 and 0–210 h, respectively. This study demonstrated that it is advantageous to apply the electrochemical treatment carried out on the RuO 2 type DSA in order to achieve a faster biodegradation of lipid-containing effluent and consequently to obtain a faster methane production.