Biofuels production in mesophilic and thermophilic anaerobic conditions by soybean molasses treatment

• Grant number: 21/13810-7
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: March 01, 2022
• End date: February 29, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Sanitary Engineering - Water Supply and Wastewater Treatment
• Principal Investigator: Giovanna Lovato
• Grantee: Giovanna Lovato
• Host Institution: Escola de Engenharia Mauá (EEM). Instituto Mauá de Tecnologia. São Caetano do Sul , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: José Alberto Domingues Rodrigues ; Roberta Albanez Toreta ; Suzana Maria Ratusznei

Abstract

Research projects focused on the study of anaerobic fixed-bed bioreactors, with the purpose of improving performance through the treatment of effluents for biogas production, environmental adequacy and the feasibility of its application, have been addressed by the research group in Biological Wastewater Treatment (EEM/IMT) since 1998 with the support of FAPESP. At the moment, the group has been focusing its projects on applying the concept of a biorefinery, with the recovery of high added value products, biofuels and energy, in addition to mitigating environmental impacts. An example of a suitable biomass for a biorefinery, which uses all the components of the crop, is soy. Soy has a global reach due to its high relevance in the food and biofuels industry, and its production has increased in recent years. Thus, there is an increase in the generation of by-products that, if disposed irregularly, can cause environmental impacts. A strategy to avoid this scenario would be the application of anaerobic digestion for the treatment of these by-products, aiming at biogas production (hydrogen and/or methane). Anaerobic reactors operated in batch and/or sequential fed batch containing immobilized biomass (AnSBBR) show promising results on a laboratory scale regarding biogas production. In this context, this project aims at evaluating the application of this bioreactor (AnSBBR) in the production of hydrogen and methane by treating soybean molasses under mesophilic and thermophilic conditions, in relation to stability, productivity and composition of biogas, in addition to the study of co-processing of soy molasses and okara. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

PAULINETTI, ANA PAULA; BATISTA, LIA PAULA POLONI; LAZARO, CAROLINA ZAMPOL; ALBANEZ, ROBERTA; RATUSZNEI, SUZANA MARIA; LOVATO, GIOVANNA; RODRIGUES, JOSE ALBERT DOMINGUES. Treatment of soybean processing residues for energy recovery and environmental compliance: Technical and economic feasibility. ENERGY, v. 279, p. 10-pg., 2023-06-14. (19/26477-4, 21/13810-7, 15/06246-7)