Biohydrogen production in an AnSBBR treating effluent from biodiesel production: effects of organic loading rate and fill time

Author(s)

Giovanna Lovato

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: São Carlos.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos (EESC/SBD)
• Defense date: 2014-03-14

Examining board members

José Alberto Domingues Rodrigues; Luiz Olinto Monteggia; Suzana Maria Ratusznei

• Advisor: José Alberto Domingues Rodrigues

Abstract

This study investigated the feasibility of an AnSBBR with recirculation of the liquid phase treating glycerin-based wastewater (effluent from biodiesel production process) on biohydrogen production; the performance of the bioreactor was evaluated according the combined influence of fill time, cycle period and influent concentration. The bioreactor had 1.5L of feeding volume per cycle, 2.0 L of residual medium, 2.1 L of inert support and biomass and it was kept at 30°C. This study was divided into three phases. Phase I was conducted to determine the best operational parameters for the reactor (type of inoculum, type of glycerin, type of support for biomass, NaHCO3 concentration and upflow velocity), so Phase II would use these parameters to study only the influence of affluent concentration, cycle time and filling time. The parameters used in Phase II were: sludge from poultry slaughterhouse pretreated by HST (Heat Shock Treatment 90°C for 10 minutes) as inoculum, pure glycerin so there would be no interferences from possible residues, LDPE (low density polyethylene) support, 100 mg.L-1 of NaHCO3 and 10.6 m.h-1 of upflow velocity. Phase II was operated under six conditions with different AOLRS ranging from 7.7 to 17.1 gCOD.L-1.d-1, obtained by the combination of different influent concentrations (3000, 4000 and 5000 mgCOD.L-1) and cycle periods (4 and 3 h), the filling time was equal to half of the cycle lenght. The results showed low COD removal (maximum of 38% for filtrated samples) and high concentrations of acetic acid and butyric acid in all conditions. Increasing the affluent concentration and decreasing the cycle length improved the molar productivy and hydrogen yield in the XVII investigated conditions. The condition with better results was the one operated with 17.1 gCOD.L-1.d-1 of AVOL, it reached 100.8 molH2.m-3.d-1 and 20.0 molH2.kgCOD-1, with 68% of H2 and only 3% of CH4 in its biogas. Phase III determined whether there is a real influence on the pretreatment of the sludge and the feasibility of this system treating industrial glycerin, the results show that the pretreatment of the sludge by HST slightly improves the productivity and the process yield and the wastewater made from industrial glycerin substantially decreased the quantity and the quality of the biogas generated. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 12/04829-7 - Effect of feed strategy and organic load on biohydrogen production and performance of an AnSBBRR treating effluent from biodiesel production
• Grantee: Giovanna Lovato
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master