Biofuel production from sugarcane molasses in thermophilic anaerobic structured-bed reactors

Author(s):Show less -

Vilela, R. S. ^[1] ; Fuess, L. T. ^{[1, 2]} ; Saia, F. T. ^[3] ; Silveira, C. R. M. ^[3] ; Oliveira, C. A. ^[1] ; Andrade, P. A. ^[4] ; Langenhoff, A. ^[5] ; van der Zaan, B. ^[6] ; Cop, F. ^[3] ; Gregoracci, G. B. ^[3] ; Damianovic, M. H. R. Z. ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Sao Carlos Sch Engn, Biol Proc Lab, Av Joao Dagnone 1100, BR-13563120 Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Polytech Sch, Dept Chem Engn, Av Prof Lineu Prestes 580, Bloco 18, BR-05508000 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[3] Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Inst Marine Sci, Av Dr Carvalho Mendonca 144, BR-11070102 Santos, SP - Brazil

^[4] Univ Sao, Luiz de Queiroz Coll Agr, Dept Soil Sci, Av Padua Dias 11, BR-13418900 Piracicaba, SP - Brazil

^[5] Wageningen Univ & Res, Dept Environm Technol, POB 17, NL-6700 EV Wageningen - Netherlands

^[6] Dept Subsurface & Groundwater Syst Deltares, POB 85467, NL-3508 AL Utrecht - Netherlands

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: RENEWABLE & SUSTAINABLE ENERGY REVIEWS; v. 144, JUL 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 2

Abstract

This work presents an alternative bioenergy-related management approach for sugarcane molasses through the application of anaerobic digestion (AD) in a two-stage continuous thermophilic (55 degrees C) system to produce biohydrogen (bioH(2)) and methane. The performance of the acidogenic stage (RH2) was assessed by maintaining a continuous and high organic loading rate (OLR; 120 kg COD m(-3) d(-1)), whilst the robustness of the methanogenic stage (RCH4) was investigated based on the increase of the OLR (1.0-25.2 kg COD m(-3) d(-1)). Molecular analyses and an energetic assessment were also conducted, to provide a holistic understanding of the two-stage AD system. Long-term bioH(2) production was achieved at low pH values (similar to 4.0) in RH2 by the co-fermentation of lactate and acetate, and a positive correlation between Clostridium and Leuconostoc genera was identified. Efficient methane production (323-350 NmL CH4 g(-1)COD) was only observed at low OLR (1.0-2.3 kg COD m(-3) d(-1)) in RCH4, although high COD removal levels (>70%) were observed at all operational conditions. Metabolite and molecular analyses indicated inefficient syntrophic and acetoclastic activities (accumulation of acetate, propionate and lactate), indicating that hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis was the prevailing methane-producing pathway in RCH4, specifically by the Methanothermobacter genus. Finally, the energetic potential (8560 kJ kg(-1)COD(applied)) of molasses outperformed the ones of vinasse by at least 25%, indicating that the high availability of biodegradable organic matter in molasses requires a low OLR to offer efficient bioenergy recovery levels. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 12/51496-3 - The environmental impact of biofuel production: functional bio-indicators for sustainable and optimal biofuel production
• Grantee: Flávia Talarico Saia
• Support Opportunities: Program for Research on Bioenergy (BIOEN) - Regular Program Grants