Biomethane production from vinasse in upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactors inoculated with granular sludge

ABSTRACT The main objective of this study was to evaluate the anaerobic conversion of vinasse into biomethane with gradual increase in organic loading rate (OLR) in two upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactors, R1 and R2, with volumes of 40.5 and 21.5 L in the mesophilic temperature range. The UASB reactors were operated for 230 days with a hydraulic detection time (HDT) of 2.8 d (R1) and 2.8-1.8 d (R2). The OLR values applied in the reactors were 0.2-7.5 g totalCOD (L d)−1 in R1 and 0.2-11.5 g totalCOD (L d)−1 in R2. The average total chemical oxygen demand (totalCOD) removal efficiencies ranged from 49% to 82% and the average conversion efficiencies of the removed totalCOD into methane were 48-58% in R1 and 39-65% in R2. The effluent recirculation was used for an OLR above 6 g totalCOD (L d)−1 in R1 and 8 gtotalCOD (L d)−1 in R2 and was able to maintain the pH of the influent in R1 and R2 in the range from 6.5 to 6.8. However, this caused a decrease for 53-39% in the conversion efficiency of the removed totalCOD into methane in R2 because of the increase in the recalcitrant COD in the influent. The largest methane yield values were 0.181 and 0.185 (L) CH4 (gtotal COD removed)−1 in R1 and R2, respectively. These values were attained after 140 days of operation with an OLR of 5.0-7.5 g totalCOD (L d)−1 and total COD removal efficiencies around 70 and 80%.

Reator anaeróbio compartimentado para o tratamento de águas residuárias de suinocultura / Anaerobic baffled reactor for treatment of swine wastewater

A poluição da água e do solo causada pela suinocultura provoca impactos ambientais severos nas regiões produtoras. Uma alternativa eficiente para atenuar esse problema pode ser a utilização de reatores anaeróbios de alta taxa. Neste trabalho, avaliou-se o efeito das águas residuárias de suinocultura com concentrações de sólidos suspensos totais em torno de 6.000 mg.L−1 no desempenho do reator anaeróbio compartimentado, com três câmaras. O volume da primeira câmara foi de 210 L e da segunda e terceira de 160 L. O reator anaeróbio compartimentado foi submetido a tempos de detenção hidráulica de 56, 28 e 18 horas e a cargas orgânicas volumétricas de 5,0 a 10,1 g DQOtotal (L.d)−1. As maiores remoções de demanda química de oxigênio total, de 42 a 68%, e das produções volumétricas de metano, de 0,261 a 0,454 L CH4 (L reator d)−1, ocorreram na segunda câmara.

Water and soil pollution caused by the waste from the swine production causes severe environmental impacts in producing areas. An efficient alternative to reduce these impacts can be the use of high-rate anaerobic reactors. In this work, it was evaluated the effect of the swine wastewater with total suspended solids concentrations around 6.000 mg.L−1 in the anaerobic baffled reactor with three compartments. The volume of the first compartment was 210 L and of the second and third ones of 160 L. The anaerobic baffled reactor was submitted at hydraulic detention times of 56, 28 and 18 hours and to organic load rates of 5.0 to 10.1 g total COD (L.d)−1. The highest total COD removals, of 42 to 68%, and volumetric methane productions, of 0.261 to 0.454 L CH4 (L reactor d)−1, occurred in the second compartment.

Tratamento de águas residuárias de suinocultura em reator UASB e filtro anaeróbio em série seguidos de filtro biológico percolador / Treatment of swine wastewater in UASB reactor and anaerobic filter in series followed of trickling filter

Avaliou-se o desempenho de um reator anaeróbio de fluxo ascendente com manta de lodo (UASB) seguido de um filtro anaeróbio, instalados em série, com volume total de 300 L e 190 L, respectivamente, no tratamento de águas residuárias de suinocultura. As cargas orgânicas volumétricas aplicadas no reator UASB foram de 12,4;15,5; 23,2 e 26,3 g DQOtotal (L d)-1. Para o pós-tratamento do efluente do sistema anaeróbio em dois estágios utilizou-se um filtro biológico percolador com volume total de 250 L. O meio suporte utilizado nos filtros anaeróbio e biológico percolador foi composto por anéis de bambu. No sistema de tratamento anaeróbio e de pós-tratamento foram observadas eficiências médias de remoção de demanda química de oxigênio total (DQOtotal), sólidos suspensos totais (SST), nitrogênio total (NT), fósforo total (P-total), Cu e Zn de até 98, 99, 78, 84, 99 e 98 por cento, respectivamente.

The performance of an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) followed by the anaerobic filter, installed in series, was evaluated for the treatment of swine wastewater. The total volume of UASB and anaerobic filter were of 300 L and 190 L, respectively. The organic load rate applied on the reactor UASB were of 12.4, 15.5, 23.2 and 26.3 g total COD (L d)-1. For the post-treatment of effluent the anaerobic system was used a trickling filter with total volume of 250 L. The supports used in the anaerobic filter and trickling filter were composed by bamboo rings. The efficiencies of removal the chemical oxygen demand, total solids suspended, nitrogen, total phosphorus, Cu and Zn were of up to 98, 99, 78, 84, 99 and 98 percent, respectively, for the anaerobic and aerobic treatment system.

Tratamento de águas residuárias de suinocultura em reator anaeróbio operado em batelada sequencial / Treatment of swine wastewater in anaerobic sequencing batch reactor

Neste estudo avaliou-se o desempenho de um reator anaeróbio operado em batelada sequencial, em escala piloto, com volume total de 280 L, no tratamento de águas residuárias de suinocultura. As cargas orgânicas volumétricas aplicadas no reator foram de 4,42; 5,27; 9,33 e 11,79 g DQOtotal (L d)-1. As eficiências médias de remoção de DQOtotal, sólidos suspensos totais (SST) e sólidos suspensos voláteis (SSV) variaram de 56 a 87 por cento. O nitrogênio total Kjedahl (NTK), fósforo total (P-total) e magnésio (Mg) foram removidos com eficiências médias de 26 a 39 por cento. As produções volumétricas de metano variaram de 0,50 a 0,64 L CH4 (L reator d)-1 e não foram observadas diferenças significativas. As relações sólidos voláteis/sólidos totais (SV/ST) do lodo de tal reator variaram de 0,74 a 0,58. As maiores concentrações médias de nutrientes no lodo do reator foram para o nitrogênio, fósforo, ferro e cálcio, com valores de 30.610 a 64.400, 1.590 a 9.870, 6.180 a 8.700 e 1.180 a 6.760 mg kg-1 base seca, respectivamente.

In the present study, we evaluated an anaerobic sequencing batch reactor, in pilot scale and with a total volume of 280 L, for the treatment of swine wastewater. The organic loading rates applied in such reactor were 4.42; 5.27; 9.33 and 11.79 g CODtotal (L d)-1. The average efficiencies of removal of CODtotal total solids suspension (TSS) and volatile suspension solids (VSS) varied from 56 to 87 percent. The nutrients total Kjedahl nitrogen (TKN), total phosphorus (total P) and Mg were removed with average efficiencies from 26 to 39 percent. The volumetric methane productions varied from 0.50 to 0.64 L CH4 (L reactor d)-1 and did not present significant differences. The VS/TS relations of the aforementioned reactor's sludge varied from 0.74 to 0.58. The highest mean concentrations of nutrients in the reactor sludge were those of nitrogen, phosphorus, iron and calcium, with values from 30.610 to 64.400, 1.590 to 9.870, 6.180 to 8.700 and 1.180 to 6.760 mg kg-1 base dry, respectively.