Hydrogen Production from Paper in Lysimeter by Cellulolytic Fermentation

• Grant number: 13/04200-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: October 01, 2013
• End date: March 31, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Sanitary Engineering - Environmental Sanitation
• Principal Investigator: Maria Bernadete Amâncio Varesche
• Grantee: Lívia Silva Botta
• Host Institution: Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos (EESC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 09/15984-0 - Bioenergy production from wastewaters and environmental fitting of liquid and solid wastes generated, AP.TEM

Abstract

The motivation of this study that will use a lisymeter to degrade cellulosic solid waste with energy recovery as hydrogen gas is due to the possibility, as already described in the literature, to recover biogas from anaerobic degradation of municipal solid waste. Waste paper containing high content of cellulose is a possible organic substrate to produce hydrogen gas of second generation. The possibility of using paper or paper sludge to produce hydrogen has been previously evaluated successfully with the use of a mixed bacterial consortium, substrate pre-treatment and batch fermentation. The use of larger-scale bioreactor for the fermentation of cellulosic solid waste with energy recovery is interesting for the purpose of obtaining higher yields of hydrogen. The aim of this work is to obtain a purified cellulolytic and fermentative bacterial consortium from rumen fluid in mesophilic condition for inoculation of the bioreactor fed with clean paper, testing two variables: moisture content and substrate concentration. After defining the adequate operational conditions for hydrogen production in this bioreactor, it will be operated with real waste papers. During the period of operation of the bioreactors periodic analysis of hydrogen gas, organic acids, alcohols and acetone will be carried out. Total volatile solids, pH, sulfate, chemical oxygen demand and consumption of substrate will be also monitored periodically. Microscopy (light microscopy and Gram staining) will be performed for microbial characterization and pyrosequencing (GS-FLX platform 454 Life Sciences, Roche) for the Domain Bacteria will be carried out for phylogenetic characterization.

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)

BOTTA, LIVIA SILVA; DELFORNO, TIAGO PALLADINO; SILVA RABELO, CAMILA ABREU B.; SILVA, EDSON LUIZ; AMANCIO VARESCHE, MARIA BERNADETE. Microbial community analyses by high-throughput sequencing of rumen microorganisms fermenting office paper in mesophilic and thermophilic lysimeters. PROCESS SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, v. 136, p. 182-193, APR 2020. (13/04200-4, 18/26470-7)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

BOTTA, Lívia Silva. Hydrolysis and fermentation of office paper in lysimeter for recovery of compounds of biotechnological interest. 2016. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos (EESC/SBD) São Carlos.