Paper and cellulose industry residues: technological development for biogas and biofertilizer production

• Grant number: 18/02884-7
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Innovative Research in Small Business - PIPE
• Start date: November 01, 2018
• End date: April 30, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Applied Microbiology
• Agreement: FINEP - PIPE/PAPPE Grant
• Principal Investigator: Daiene Souza Santos
• Grantee: Daiene Souza Santos
• Company: Dsma Desenvolvimento Sustentável e Monitoramento Ambiental Ltda. - EPP
• CNAE: Atividades profissionais, científicas e técnicas não especificadas anteriormente
• City: Mogi das Cruzes
• Associated researchers: Welington Luiz de Araújo
• Associated research grant: 15/15989-3 - Methanogenic potential evalutation of the waste derived from paper and cellulose industry, AP.PIPE
• Associated scholarship(s): 20/14702-0 - Paper and cellulose industry residues: technological development for biogas and biofertilizer production, BP.TT; 20/07810-1 - Paper and cellulose industry residues: technological development for biogas and biofertilizer production, BP.TT; 19/04079-7 - Paper and cellulose industry residues: technological development for biogas and biofertilizer production, BP.TT; 19/00871-8 - Paper and cellulose industry residues: technological development for biogas and biofertilizer production, BP.TT; 18/23733-7 - Paper and cellulose industry residues: technological development for biogas and biofertilizer production, BP.PIPE

Abstract

During the Phase 1 of this project, a laboratory scale anaerobic digestion and biogas production were observed applying a pulp and paper industry residue named "Finos de Papel e Celulose" (FPC), composed of degraded cellulose fibers. This waste, from Cia Suzano de Papel e Celulose, is currently treated aerobically in tanks along with the company's sewage and then drained off. For the laboratory scale experiments, the pre- and post-discharge FPC were used in different proportions to evaluate the effect of this mixture on the biogas quantity and quality. It was possible to observe that an optimal condition for anaerobic biogas production and COD removal from the pulp and paper industry waste includes the addition of chicken litter, as a nitrogen and probably other microorganisms source, resulting in a significant increase on the biogas production from FPC compared to other tested treatments. In addition, it was possible to evaluate the microbial community associated to different phases of biogas production, being Methanosarcina and Methanobacterium as the dominant genera in the samples. Therefore, considering that the substrate used has a semi-solid state, it is rich in solid particles from pulp and papermaking processes, the project current phase proposes a way to reuse this material for renewable energy (biogas) production, on a pilot scale. For that, the biogas production and quantification depend on the development of a biodigester, which will allow the produced biogas in the lower phase to be drawn and collected. It is also expected that the results of this present project efficiently demonstrate the COD reduction and a carbon/nitrogen ratio improvement of such biodigested residue, thus allowing it to be used as a biofertilizer during eucalyptus culture. For that, it is expected that the soil application of the residue promotes the seedlings growth in a greenhouse scale and eucalyptus plants under field conditions. Thus, making the waste become a high value-added product, in addition to reducing the environment harmful effects. (AU)