Influence of organic loading rate and fill time on biohydrogen production in an AnSBBR with agitation treating synthetic wastewater

Author(s)

Rafael Katsunori Inoue

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: São Carlos.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos (EESC/SBD)
• Defense date: 2013-03-28

Examining board members

José Alberto Domingues Rodrigues; Simone Damasceno Gomes; Marcelo Zaiat

• Advisor: José Alberto Domingues Rodrigues

Abstract

This study investigated the feasibility of an anaerobic sequencing batch biofilm reactor (AnSBBR) with agitation on biohydrogen production treating synthetic wastewater from sucrose, the performance of the bioreactor was evaluated according the combined influence of fill time, cycle period, influent concentration and applied organic loading rate (COAVS) . The bioreactor, with working volume of 5,6L, was divided in 3 parts: 1,5L of fed volume per cycle, 2,0L of residual medium and 2,1L of inert support and biomass. The reactor was operated under six operating conditions with different COAVS ranging from 9,0 to 27,0 gCOD.L-1.d-1, obtained by the combination of different influent concentrations (3500 e 5400 mgCOD.L-1), cycle periods (4, 3 e 2h) and fill time corresponding to 50% of cycle period. The results showed that increasing COAVS resulted in lesser sucrose removal from 99% to 86% and improved yield per removed loading rate (RMCRC,n) of 1,02 molH2.molSUC-1 in COAVS of 9,0 gCOD.L-1.d-1 to maximum value of 1,48 molH2.molSUC-1 in COAVS of 18,0 gCOD.L-1.d-1 decreasing after that. Increasing COAVS improved molar productivity (PrM) from 24,5 to 81,2 molH2.m-3.d-1. The higher specific molar productivity (PrME) obtained was 8,71 molH2.kgTVS-1.d-1 in COAVS of 18,0 gCOD.L-1.d-1. Decreasing cycle period resulted in less sucrose consumption and increased PrM. It was observed that decreasing cycle period of 4h to 3h improved PrME. Increasing influent concentration resulted in less sucrose degradation only on range of 2h, in an increase of RMCRC,n and in an increase of PrM in all ranges of tC, and increased PrME on ranges of 4h and 3h. In all operational conditions, the main intermediate metabolic was acetic acid followed by ethanol, butyric and propionic acids. The feeding strategy had a great effective on hydrogen production, longer fill times resulted in better sucrose removal, PrM, PrME and RMCRC,n for all COAVS investigated. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 11/13750-2 - Influence of organic load and fill time on the biohidrogen production in an AnSBBR with agitation treating synthetic wastewater
• Grantee: Rafael Katsunori Inoue
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master