Improvement of Sugarcane Stillage (Vinasse) Anaerobic Digestion with Cheese Whey as its Co-substrate: Achieving High Methane Productivity and Yield

Journal Article · Fri Nov 15 04:00:00 EST 2019 · Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/S12010-019-03056-4· OSTI ID:22927505

Sousa, Sandro P.; Lovato, Giovanna ^[1]; Albanez, Roberta; Ratusznei, Suzana M.; Rodrigues, José A. D., ^[2]

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1. University of São Paulo (USP), São Carlos School of Engineering (EESC) (Brazil)
2. Mauá Institute of Technology (IMT), Mauá School of Engineering (EEM) (Brazil)

This study investigated methane production in an anaerobic sequencing batch biofilm reactor (AnSBBR) by co-digesting sugarcane vinasse and cheese whey. The assessment was based on the influence of feed strategy, interaction between cycle time and influent concentration, applied volumetric organic load (OLR{sub A}), and temperature over system stability and performance. The system showed flexibility with regard to the feed strategy, but the reduction of cycle time and influent concentration, at the same OLR{sub A}, resulted in lower methane productivity. Increasing organic load, up to the value of 15.27 gCOD L{sup −1} day{sup −1}, favored the process, increasing methane yield and productivity. Temperature reduction from 30 to 25 °C resulted in worse performance, although increasing it to 35 °C provided similar results to 30 °C. The best results were achieved at an OLR{sub A} of 15.27 gCOD L{sup −1} day{sup −1}, cycle time of 8 h, fed-batch operation, and temperature of 30 °C. The system achieved soluble COD removal efficiency of 89%, methane productivity of 208.5 molCH{sub 4} m{sup −3} day{sup −1} and yield of 15.76 mmolCH{sub 4} gCOD{sup −1}. The kinetic model fit indicated methanogenesis preference for the hydrogenotrophic route. At the industrial scale estimative, considering a scenario with a sugarcane ethanol plant with ethanol production of 150,896 m{sup 3} year{sup −1}, it was estimated energy production of 25,544 MWh month{sup −1}.

• OSTI ID: 22927505
• Journal Information: Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Journal Name: Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 189; ISSN ABIBDL; ISSN 0273-2289
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES
ANAEROBIC DIGESTION
CHEESE
ETHANOL
ETHANOL PLANTS
METHANE
STILLAGE
SUGAR CANE
WHEY