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Anaerobic Digestion of Sugarcane Vinasse Through a Methanogenic UASB Reactor Followed by a Packed Bed Reactor

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Abstract

The anaerobic treatment of raw vinasse in a combined system consisting in two methanogenic reactors, up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) + anaerobic packed bed reactors (APBR), was evaluated. The organic loading rate (OLR) was varied, and the best condition for the combined system was 12.5 kg COD m−3day−1 with averages of 0.289 m3 CH4 kg COD r−1for the UASB reactor and 4.4 kg COD m−3day−1 with 0.207 m3 CH4 kg COD r−1 for APBR. The OLR played a major role in the emission of H2S conducting to relatively stable quality of biogas emitted from the APBR, with H2S concentrations <10 mg L−1. The importance of the sulphate to COD ratio was demonstrated as a result of the low biogas quality recorded at the lowest ratio. It was possible to develop a proper anaerobic digestion of raw vinasse through the combined system with COD removal efficiency of 86.7% and higher CH4 and a lower H2S content in biogas.

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Abbreviations

AD:

Anaerobic digestion

OLR:

Organic loading rate

COD:

Chemical oxygen demand, g L−1

SRB:

Sulphate-reducing bacteria

LDPF:

Low-density polyurethane foam

ɳCOD:

COD removal efficiency

TS:

Total solids, g L−1

TVS:

Total volatile solids, g L−1

VSS:

Volatile suspended solids, g L−1

TKN:

Total nitrogen, g L−1

VFA:

Volatile fatty acids, g L−1

TIC:

Total inorganic carbonate, g L−1

Q:

Volumetric flow

HAc:

Acetic acid, g L−1

HPr:

Propionic acid, g L−1

HBu:

Butyric acid, g L−1

HVa:

Valeric acid, g L−1

UASB:

Up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket

APBR:

Anaerobic packed bed reactors

DHS:

Down-flow hanging sponge

SR:

Sulphate reducing tank

ASTBR:

Anaerobic structured-bed reactor

AR:

Acidification reactor

SAnMBR:

Submerged anaerobic membrane bioreactor

AFBR:

Anaerobic fluidized bed reactor

GBABR:

Granular bed anaerobic baffled reactor

CSTR:

Continuously stirred tank reactor

UASFB:

Hybrid up-flow anaerobic sludge-filter bed reactor

AH:

Anaerobic hybrid reactor

USSB:

Modified sludge blanket reactor

SBR:

Sequential batch reactor

MS-UASB:

Multistaged up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (Capes), Brazil, Project CAPES/MES-Cuba 117/11.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Estudio de Ingeniería de Procesos (CIPRO), Facultad de Ingeniería Química, Universidad Tecnológica de La Habana José A. Echeverría (CUJAE), Calle 114 No 11901 e/ Ciclo vía y Rotonda, Marianao, La Habana, Cuba

    A. Cabrera-Díaz & I. Pereda-Reyes

  2. Centro de Estudio de Tecnologías Energéticas Renovables (CETER), Facultad de Ingeniería Mecánica, Universidad Tecnológica de La Habana José A. Echeverría (CUJAE), Calle 114 No 11901 e/ Ciclo vía y Rotonda, Marianao, La Habana, Cuba

    D. Oliva-Merencio

  3. Department of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology, School of Industrial Engineering, Universidad de Valladolid, Venue Dr. Mergelina, 47011, Valladolid, Spain

    R. Lebrero

  4. Laboratório de Processos Biológicos (LPB), Centro de Pesquisa, Desenvolvimento e Inovação em Engenharia Ambiental, Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos (EESC), Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Engenharia Ambiental - Bloco 4-F. Av. João Dagnone 1100 - Santa Angelina 13.563-120, São Carlos, SP, Brazil

    M. Zaiat

Authors
  1. A. Cabrera-Díaz
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  2. I. Pereda-Reyes
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  3. D. Oliva-Merencio
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  4. R. Lebrero
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  5. M. Zaiat
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. Cabrera-Díaz.

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Highlights

• The anaerobic process performance in the treatment of raw vinasse in a combined system of two methanogenic reactors (UASB + APBR) was evaluated under different OLR.

• The sulphate to COD ratio was demonstrated to be of major relevance in the biogas quality.

• The combination of the two anaerobic methanogenic reactors clearly improved the process performance, as a result not only of a higher COD removal efficiency but also of a higher CH4 and a lower H2S content in comparison with the UASB operating as a stand-alone unit.

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Cabrera-Díaz, A., Pereda-Reyes, I., Oliva-Merencio, D. et al. Anaerobic Digestion of Sugarcane Vinasse Through a Methanogenic UASB Reactor Followed by a Packed Bed Reactor. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 183, 1127–1145 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-017-2488-2

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