Work plan > WP 1
Chemical/physical characterization of the cellulosic primary sludge (CPS) and evaluation of pre-treatment methods for CPS
This work package is essential for fulfilling Objective 1 (OB1).
While hydrolysis of cellulosic compounds is established in biotechnology, limited research has utilized cellulosic primary sludge (CPS) as raw material.
Understanding effective pre-treatments is crucial to enhance yields of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), optimizing the economic viability of the REFRAME process.
REFRAME aims to characterize CPS chemically and physically, exploring various pre-treatment methods to determine optimal hydrolysis constants and cellulose conversion yields.
CPS recovery involves sieving municipal wastewater, retaining total solids and cellulose for valorization.
WORK PACKAGE 1 PROGRESS - filtration: cellulosic primary sludge
The effectiveness of pre-treatment will be assessed by sampling and monitoring the rise in glucose concentration in the reactors. Quantification will be carried out using a specific Standard Method for the Determination of Carbohydrates by HPLC.
The optimal pre-treatment method, based on hydrolysis constants and cellulose conversion yields, will be chosen and integrated into the fermentation processes as part of Work Package 2.
WORK PACKAGE 1 PROGRESS - Hydrolysis: Cellulose analysis