Two phase fermentative for hydrogen and methane production from domestic wastewater combined with industrial wastewaters

Author(s)

Guilherme Peixoto

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: São Carlos.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos (EESC/SBD)
• Defense date: 2011-11-29

Examining board members

Marcelo Zaiat; Márcia Helena Rissato Zamariolli Damianovic; Luiz Olinto Monteggia; Marlei Barboza Passotto; Edson Luiz Silva

• Advisor: Marcelo Zaiat

Abstract

The possibility of producing hydrogen from sewage with the subsequent generation of methane with the effluent of the acidogenic process was evaluated in batch and continuous anaerobic reactors. In batch reactors, with acidogenic biomass, there was no production of hydrogen from sewage, which led to the evaluation of other substrates. Hydrogen was produced from parboiled rice wastewater (23,9 mL \'H IND.2\'/g COD) and vinasse (20,8 mL \'H IND.2\'/g COD), while in reactors with methanogenic biomass, methane was produced by sewage (46,3 mL \'CH IND.4\'/g COD), glycerol (180,1 mL \'CH IND.4\'/g COD) parboiled rice wastewater (115,5 mL \'CH IND.4\'/g COD) and vinasse (255,4 mL \'CH IND.4\'/g COD). In addition, in batch reactors, it was determined that vinasse dilution in sewage more suitable for hydrogen production should result in a mixture with approximately 4 g COD/L without decrease on hydrogen yield. The hydrogen production from sewage in continuous reactors could not be sustained without the addition of external carbohydrates source. It was demonstrated that the minimum concentration of carbohydrates, in terms of sucrose, would be 0,9 g/L. In the upflow ceramic structured bed reactor fed with 50% sewage and 50% vinasse at the 8h HRT, it was achieved the longest H2 production period and the largest fraction of hydrogen in biogas, which corresponded to 56 days and 7,1% respectively. The UASB reactor using the effluent of the acidogenic reactor as substrate, produced methane with stability at the OLR of 0,91 g COD/L d, but it collapsed with the OLR of 2,94 g COD/L d. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 08/01253-1 - Two-phase Fermentative System for Hydrogen and Methane Production from Domestic Sewage
• Grantee: Guilherme Peixoto
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate