Bioenergy recovery from cattle wastewater in an UASB-AF hybrid reactor

Author(s)

de Mendonca, Henrique Vieira ^[1] ; Henry Balbaud Ometto, Jean Pierre ^{[1, 2]} ; Otenio, Marcelo Henrique ^[3] ; Delgado dos Reis, Alberto Jose ^[4] ; Ramos Marques, Isabel Paula ^[4]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Fed Juiz de Fora, Inst Biol Sci, Post Grad Program Ecol, Campus Sao Pedro, BR-36036900 Juiz De Fora, MG - Brazil

^[2] Natl Inst Space Res, Earth Syst Sci Ctr, Ave Astronautas, 1758, BR-12227010 Sao Jose Dos Campos, SP - Brazil

^[3] Embrapa Dairy Cattle, Res Ctr, BR-36038330 Juiz De Fora, MG - Brazil

^[4] Natl Lab Energy & Geol IP LNEG, Bioenergy Unit, Campus Lumiar, P-1649038 Lisbon - Portugal

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: WATER SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY; v. 76, n. 9, p. 2268-2279, NOV 2017.
• Web of Science Citations: 2

Abstract

New data on biogas production and treatment of cattle wastewater were registered using an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket-anaerobic filter (UASB-AF) hybrid reactor under mesophilic temperature conditions (37 degrees C). The reactor was operated in semi-continuous mode with hydraulic retention times of 6, 5, 3 and 2 days and organic loading rates of 3.8, 4.6, 7.0 and 10.8 kg CODt m(-3) d(-1). Biogas volumes of 0.6-0.8 m(3) m(-3) d(-1) (3.8-4.6 kg CODt m(-3) d(-1)) and 1.2-1.4 m(3) m(-3) d(-1) (7.0-10.8 kg CODt m(-3) d(-1)), with methane concentrations between 69 and 75%, were attained. The removal of organic matter with values of 60-81% (CODt) and 51-75% (CODs) allowed methane yields of 0.155-0.183 m(3) CH4 kg(-1) CODt and 0.401-0.513 m(3) CH4 kg(-1) CODs to be obtained. Volatile solids were removed in 34 to 69%, with corresponding methane yields of 0.27 to 0.42 m(3) CH4 kg(-1) VSremoved. The good performance of the novel hybrid reactor was demonstrated by biogas outputs higher than reported previously in the literature, along with the quality of the gas obtained in the various experimental phases. The hybrid reactor investigated in this study presents comparative advantages, particularly in relation to conventional complete mixture units, considering economic factors such as energy consumption, reactor volume and installation area. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 14/50627-2 - Feedback loop interactions between land use change and food security dynamics - DEVIL
• Grantee: Jean Pierre Henry Balbaud Ometto
• Support Opportunities: Research Program on Global Climate Change - Thematic Grants