Hydrogen production from vinasse from production of tequila

• Grant number: 11/21229-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: February 01, 2012
• End date: May 31, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Sanitary Engineering - Water Supply and Wastewater Treatment
• Principal Investigator: Marcelo Zaiat
• Grantee: Gabriel Sigolo Ruas Gonçalves
• Supervisor: Germán Buitrón Méndez
• Host Institution: Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos (EESC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Juriquilla (UNAM), Mexico
• Associated to the scholarship: 11/05624-7 - Influence of carbon/phosphorus (C/P) ratio on hydrogen production in fixed-bed anaerobic reactor, BP.IC

Abstract

This research project aims at the evaluation of hydrogen production from vinasse coming from the production of tequila in a fixed-bed anaerobic reactor in comparison with an anaerobic continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR). Low density polyethylene will be used for biomass immobilization in the fixed-bed reator. The hydraulic retention time will be set in 8 h and the temperature will be maintained at 25°C. In the case of CSTR, granular biomass will be used under hyperthermophilic condition (70°C). For both of the configurations, the volume of biogas will be measured by the liquid displacement method (Mariotte) and the pH will be among 4.5 to 5.0 by adding NaOH. The inoculum will be obtained from methanogenic reactor operated at 35°C. The inoculum will be acclimatized in batch reactors operated with pH between 4.5 and 5.0 and at 70°C in order to inhibit the growth of microorganisms that consumes hydrogen. The reactors will be evaluated by monitoring biogas production and composition, carbohydrate concentration, volatile acids, alcohols, chemical oxygen demand and volatile suspended solids. (AU)