Computational methods for modelling and validating cheese whey fermentation process in anaerobic structured bed reactor

Author(s)

Thiago Ravanini do Nascimento

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: São Carlos.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos (EESC/SBD)
• Defense date: 2021-10-07

Examining board members

Rogers Ribeiro; Rafael Brito de Moura; Adriano Luiz Tonetti

• Advisor: Rogers Ribeiro

Abstract

Brazilian agroindustry has an expressive, but not exploited, source of energy in its wastewaters and byproducts. For instance, cheese whey provided from the dairy industry may be exploited in many ways, e.g. biological hydrogen and organic acids production by fermentative pathways. Besides, computational advances on modelling bioprocesses allow predicting efficiency, project critical points, simulating different events after changing operational parameters and/or bulk configurations. The current project aimed to depict the fermentation process of cheese whey conducted in batch reactors, and further inside anaerobic structured bed reactor (AnSTBR) by coupling the following computational methods, i.e. modified Anaerobic Digestion Model no. 1 (ADM1) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD). For modified ADM1 containing reverse β oxidation pathway, Monte Carlo Markov Chain simulations were performed for free parameters determination, and its further calibration by formerly batch kinetic data. Chain elongation model proposal presented good fit to experimental data, with some remarks concerning biomass simulations. Whilst, 3-D AnSTBR CFD model carried operational parameters and bulk configuration, calibrating the model with previous hydrodynamics data. The continuous computational representation of AnSTBR comprised both anaerobic digestion reactions and fluid dynamics simulations simultaneously. Although pH functions did not perform well, preventing the model to reach its best results, besides that, other metabolic pathways were stablished during AnSTBR experimental procedure reducing model prediction of concerned metabolites. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 19/19152-1 - Computational methods for modelling and validating cheese whey fermentation process in anaerobic structured bed reactor
• Grantee: Thiago Ravanini do Nascimento
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master