Methane production in thermophilic AnSBBR by soybean molasses treatment

• Grant number: 21/13797-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: March 01, 2022
• End date: February 28, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Sanitary Engineering - Water Supply and Wastewater Treatment
• Principal Investigator: Suzana Maria Ratusznei
• Grantee: Fernanda Furtunato Guerieri
• Host Institution: Escola de Engenharia Mauá (EEM). Instituto Mauá de Tecnologia. São Caetano do Sul , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 15/06246-7 - Biorefinery concept applied to biological wastewater treatment plants: environmental pollution control coupled with material and energy recovery, AP.TEM

Abstract

Research on anaerobic sequencing fed-batch reactors, regarding performance improvement and application feasibility, has been dealt with since 1998 by the research groups of São Carlos School of Engineering of the University of São Paulo (EESC / USP) and Mauá School of Engineering of Mauá Institute of Technology (EEM / IMT), with the support of FAPESP. Currently, the research projects are focused on the production of bioenergy, both hydrogen and methane, as well as the environmental compliance of the treated effluent. These projects are linked to the Thematic Project entitled "Application of the Biorefinery Concept to Biological Wastewater Treatment Stations: Environmental Pollution Control Allied to the Recovery of Matter and Energy" (FAPESP Process 2015/06246-7). In this context, the bench scale application of the anaerobic reactor operated in batch and/or sequencing fed batch containing immobilized biomass (AnSBBR) to produce biogas (hydrogen and/or methane) on treating various wastewaters has shown positive results with different types of mixture (mechanical stirring and recirculation of the liquid phase), different immobilization support materials, fill time (batch and/or fed-batch feeding strategy), different cycle times and temperatures. Within the scope of bioenergy production studies, this project will assess the AnSBBR reactor applied to methane production by treating soybean molasses in thermophilic conditions, as to stability, productivity, yield and methane composition. (AU)