• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.15-26
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• 2023

Methane production by anaerobic digestion occurs through interspecies electron transfer (DIET), a synthetic metabolism between acetic and methanate bacteria through hydrolysis and acid production steps. In this study, to improve methane yield, the effect of addition of magnetite (Fe₃O₄), a conductor promoting DIET on methane production in food wastewater was investigated, and the effect on methane yield was assessed by methane potential (B_u) and maximum methane production rate [R_m(t₀)] by the operation of batch type anaerobic reactor adding Fe₃O₄. The B_u and R_m(t₀) of food wastewater without Fe₃O₄ were 0.496 Nm³/kg-VSadded and 38.24 mL/day, respectively. The t0 which reached to R_m appeared at 21.06 days during the operation of the anaerobic reactor. The B_u of food wastewater with Fe₃O₄ was 0.502, 0.498, 0.512, 0.510, 0.518, 0.523, 0.524, 0.540, and 0.549 Nm³/kg-VSadded in the treatment of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 70, and 100mM-Fe₃O₄, respectively, and the B_u significantly increased to 36.95% with the addition of magnetite in the addition of 15mM-Fe₃O₄. And, the addition of Fe₃O₄ shortened the duration to reach R_m from 21.06 days to the maximum of 14.67 days by the addition of Fe₃O₄. Therefore, the methane yield and production rate of food wastewater significantly improved with the addition of Fe₃O₄.