Authors: Claudia Chao-Reyes, Rudolphus Antonius Timmers, Ahmed Mahdy, Silvia Greses, Cristina González-Fernández

This study investigates how short hydraulic retention times and high organic loading rates influence microbial community dynamics and volatile fatty acid (VFA) production. Operating at an HRT of 11 days and an organic loading rate of 4.4 g COD/L/d resulted in a VFA bioconversion efficiency of ~45% and an acidification efficiency of 64%. Shorter HRTs enhanced hydrolysis efficiency and promoted greater microbial diversity, supporting robust hydrolytic activity and stable VFA production dominated by acetic and butyric acids.

Read the full article: https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/31/1/132