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6128488 
Journal Article 
Volatile fatty acid (VFA) yield from sludge anaerobic fermentation through a biotechnological approach 
In, JF; de Barros, O, Jr; Dias, APF; Lin, C; Xu, R; Yao, C; Wang, X; Worwag, M; Kwarciak-Kozlowska, A 
2019 
Butterworth-Heinemann 
Industrial and Municipal Sludge 
681-703 
WOS:000484830500031 
Volatile fatty acids (VFAs) are compounds that are widely found in the environment. Rarely, they occur in a free state, and usually take the form of esters, salts, or amides. VFAs can be obtained from both natural and anthropogenic sources. In large quantities, they occur in sewage sludge, sewage generated during pig farming, or food industry effluent. Organic waste and leachates generated during their depositing on landfills or composting are other sources. VFAs are formed in the acid fermentation phase and constitute easily degradable chemical oxygen demand (COD) fractions (Ss). The effectiveness of elimination of biogenic compounds is largely related to the presence of easily absorbed organic compounds and, in particular, VFAs. In the production of VFAs during methane (CH4) fermentation, the operating conditions of the process, such as pH, temperature, or retention time, are crucial. Increasing disintegration of substrates before methane fermentation results in an intensification of the hydrolysis process, resulting in an increase in the concentration and rate of increase of volatile fatty acids, which are an intermediate product in the methane fermentation process. 
Sludge; Anaerobic fermentation; Volatile fatty acid (VFA) yield 
de Campos Favas, Paulo Jorge