Anaerobic digestion of vinasse for biogas production and mitigation of greenhouse gas emission

• Grant number: 13/03578-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• Start date: August 01, 2013
• End date: January 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Sanitary Engineering - Water Supply and Wastewater Treatment
• Principal Investigator: Marcelo Zaiat
• Grantee: Bruna de Souza Moraes
• Supervisor: Sven Gjedde Sommer
• Host Institution: Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais (CNPEM). Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação (Brasil). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: University of Southern Denmark (SDU), Denmark
• Associated to the scholarship: 12/00414-7 - Anaerobic digestion of vinasse and pentoses liquor in integrated biorefineries of 1st and 2nd generation, BP.PD

Abstract

The need for improving the sustainability of bioethanol from sugarcane in Brazil has boosted the search for process energy optimization coupled to the environmental suitability of generated coproducts and wastes. In this scenario, anaerobic digestion of vinasse (the most abundant effluent in a biorefinery) arises as an interesting alternative, since in addition of promoting stabilization of organic matter, it also enables energy generation from biogas. However, such energy is generally lost by the application of vinasse on soil with no treatment, practice very common in Brazil called fertirrigation. In addition, such practice may also be a source of greenhouse gas emission, although there are gaps on literature in this area. In this plan is proposed the research internship at University of Southern Denmark, aiming to provide the knowledge and techniques of that research center in the area of gas emission and biogas production from waste, for posterior application in the sugarcane vinasse in Brazil. The feasibility of anaerobic digestion of vinasse for mitigating gas emission will be evaluated, as well as the potential of biogas production from this liquid waste. For this purpose, the comparison between application on soil of biodigested and "in natura" vinasse regarding greenhouse gas emissions will be assessed. Gas emission from vinasse during storage will also be evaluated. Batch experiments for biogas production from anaerobic digestion of vinasse will be performed in order to evaluate its potential energy generation. The results should provide further information regarding anaerobic digestion of vinasse as a way to become the bioethanol production sector more sustainable and optimized. (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)

MORAES, BRUNA S.; PETERSEN, SOREN O.; ZAIAT, MARCELO; SOMMER, SVEN G.; TRIOLO, JIN MI. Reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from vinasse through anaerobic digestion. APPLIED ENERGY, v. 189, p. 21-30, MAR 1 2017. (12/00414-7, 13/03578-3)

MORAES, B. S.; TRIOLO, J. M.; LECONA, V. P.; ZAIAT, M.; SOMMER, S. G.. Biogas production within the bioethanol production chain: Use of co-substrates for anaerobic digestion of sugar beet vinasse. Bioresource Technology, v. 190, p. 227-234, AUG 2015. (13/03578-3)