Effect of pH on types of acidogenic fermentation of fruit and vegetable wastes

The effect of pH (4.0, 5.0, and 6.0) on acidification and fermentation of fruit and vegetable wastes was investigated using batch and semi-continuous experiments under mesophilic condition. Results showed that fermentation types change with pH variation. The pH of acidification system containing fruit and vegetable wastes could automatically decrease to 3.0 ~ 4.0. At this pH range, a stable ethanol production was observed, at which ethanol-type fermentation was obtained. Based on the results, the fermentation types were classified into ethanol-type, mixed acid-type, propionic acid-type, and butyric acid-type fermentations, which occurred at pH 4.0 ~ 4.5, 4.5 ~ 5.0, 5.0 ~ 5.5, and 5.5 ~ 6.5, respectively.