Vinasse Treatment by Anaerobic Digestion: The Impact of Dilution with Sewage Contaminated by Micropollutants.

• Grant number: 25/02805-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: May 01, 2025
• End date: April 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Sanitary Engineering - Water Supply and Wastewater Treatment
• Principal Investigator: Suzana Maria Ratusznei
• Grantee: Amanda Miyuki Ichi
• Host Institution: Escola de Engenharia Mauá (EEM). Instituto Mauá de Tecnologia. São Caetano do Sul , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 22/10615-1 - Consolidation of the biorefinery concept applied to the biological treatment of wastewater and solid wastes, AP.TEM

Abstract

Vinasse, a byproduct of ethanol production, is rich in organic compounds and has a high chemical oxygen demand, making it an excellent raw material for biotechnological processes. In Brazil, fertirrigation is the most common disposal method, but it can harm the soil and contaminate groundwater. Anaerobic digestion of vinasse presents an alternative for energy recovery, with potential for methane production. However, the application of this technology in sugarcane processing units still faces challenges, such as managing large volumes and the chemical characteristics of this waste. An alternative to minimize the challenges in vinasse treatment is its biodigestion with sanitary sewage, promoting an integrated treatment of these wastes to reduce both costs and environmental impacts related to their management. The integrated treatment of vinasse with sanitary sewage through anaerobic processes is advantageous, as the energy demand is lower and it presents lower costs compared to other processes, such as aerobic ones. Anaerobic sequencing batch reactors with immobilized biomass (AnSBBR) are suitable for anaerobic digestion of effluents and constitute an alternative discontinuous operation technology, as they allow for better control of effluent quality and flexibility in feeding strategies. In this context, this project aims to evaluate the biodigestion of vinasse for biogas production in AnSBBR, as well as the co-processing of vinasse with synthetic sanitary sewage containing micropollutants (diclofenac, ibuprofen, cyclamate, sucralose, and caffeine) with different applied organic volumetric loads. The performance, operational stability, and process efficiency will be evaluated in terms of substrate removal, methane productivity, and the yield of methane produced per substrate consumed.