Effect of feeding strategy and temperature on methane production in a stirred AnSBBR reactor treating vinasse

Abstract

The research line related to the study of anaerobic sequencing batch reactors, aiming at improving its performance and feasibility of its application, has been approached by research groups of the Engineering School of São Carlos of University of São Paulo (EESC/USP) and of the Engineering School of Mauá of the Institute Mauá of Technology (EEM/IMT) since 1998, with an established research accord and supported by FAPESP. At this moment, the pieces of research projects are oriented toward bioenergy production, hydrogen and methane, as well as environmental adequacy of the treated effluent. Such projects are within the thematic project titled Production of bioenergy in wastewater treatment and environmental adequacy of the effluents and wastes generated (FAPESP Process nº 09/15.984-0). In this context, the reactor with immobilized biomass and mechanical stirring is one of the positive issues of this partnership, with promising results obtained in workbench and pilot scales, applied to different wastewaters such as sanitary sewage, whey, automobile industry wastewater, personal care industry wastewater, and containing volatiles acids, as well as nitrogen and sulfurous compounds removal. Within the research scope of bioenergy production, this project will be oriented toward the assessment of the anaerobic sequencing batch reactor with immobilized biomass and mechanical stirring, applied to the production of biomethane by treatment of vinasse. Stability, reactor efficiency and the factor of conversion of organic matter to methane at different organic loads and feeding times, modified by influent concentration, are going to be assessed. Besides, ranges of temperature (mesofilic, 30°C, and termofilic, 50°C) influence will be taken into account. (AU)