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Influence of pH on the biodegradation efficiency of fats, oils, and grease by biosurfactant-producing bacterial consortia

Summary

Grease buildup in kitchen pipes and sewers causes blockages and infrastructure damage. This research found that a combination of two bacteria can effectively break down fats and oils much better at acidic pH levels, particularly at pH 4. The bacteria produce natural surfactants that help dissolve the grease and special enzymes that degrade it into smaller molecules. This discovery suggests that making wastewater slightly more acidic could significantly improve grease removal in treatment systems.

Background

Fats, oils, and grease (FOG) accumulation in wastewater systems presents significant environmental and infrastructural challenges. Biosurfactant-producing bacteria offer promising bioremediation potential for FOG degradation, but their efficacy is highly pH-dependent, affecting microbial metabolism, biosurfactant stability, and enzymatic activity.

Objective

This study evaluates the impact of pH on FOG biodegradation efficiency by locally isolated biosurfactant-producing bacterial consortia to identify optimal pH conditions for enhanced bioremediation of wastewater systems.

Results

After 30 days of biodegradation, pH 4 achieved the highest FOG degradation rate with 92.5% peak area reduction, followed by pH 5 (89.2%), while pH 6 showed only 54.1% reduction despite extensive floc formation. Long-chain FOG components (tetrapentacontane, dotriacontane) were nearly completely degraded at pH 4, with most intermediate products not detectable, suggesting complete metabolic utilization through β-oxidation pathways.

Conclusion

The bacterial consortium demonstrated optimal FOG biodegradation efficiency at acidic pH 4, an unexpected optimum where biosurfactants exhibited enhanced stability and lipase activity was maximized. This finding reveals that acidic conditions promote more metabolically active flocs and sustained enzymatic breakdown, offering a novel strategy for improving grease waste treatment in wastewater systems.
  • Published in:Biodegradation,
  • Study Type:Experimental Laboratory Study,
  • Source: PMID: 40522484
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