Influence of concentration of the seed extract of Moringa oleifera in anaerobic digestion

Abstract

The regulation of the anaerobic digestion process can be affected by factors such as pH, organic load, C/N ratio, alkalinity, agitation, presence of macro and micronutrients, among others. However, the addition of a nutrient medium may present a high application cost, making all treatment impossible. This makes it necessary to look for more accessible alternatives that improve the characteristics of the treatment system. Researches conducted on anaerobic treatments identify the use of Moringa oleifera extract as a supplement to improve the performance of the process as a whole. The present work aims to verify the influence of Moringa oleifera extract concentration on anaerobic digestion. The experiment will be carried out in three phases, phase I being the determination of the variables of interest that may interfere in the performance of the system, phase II verification of the influence of the Moringa oleifera extract on the specific methanogenic activity and the kinetics of substrate degradation, and phase III, which will be the application of the preset results in previous phases in anaerobic continuous fixed bed (ABFSB). All phases will be performed at a temperature of 30°C in Duran flasks with an average volume of 606 mL and an organic matter concentration of 1.0 g O2 L-1 in terms of COD. The inoculum sludge used will be from a UASB reactor from the treatment of poultry effluent having a total volatile solids concentration of 42.25 ± 3.8 g L-1. Daily analyzes of quantification and qualification of biogas, and total, volatile and suspended solids, alkalinity, carbohydrates, and volatile acids will be carried out at the beginning and end of each phase. It is expected that at the end of the project it is possible to define the values of the variables of interest and how the use of Moringa oleifera can act on the specific methanogenic activity and the kinetics of substrate degradation. (AU)