Co-digestão anaeróbia de tortas de oleaginosas visando à produção de metano

Abstract

This research aimed to study the anaerobic treatment of different oilcake, biodiesel production waste using anaerobic batch reactors with different configurations, in order to generate biogas and a more stable waste in a environmental point of view. We studied the anaerobic digestion of castor and cotton oilcake inoculated with sludge from a UASB reactor. The study was divided into three phases. In the first phase, we studied the anaerobic digestion of castor and cotton oilcake, with two different inoculum:substrate ratios based volatile solids. In the second phase, we studied the impact of the zeolite adsorbent to reduce the concentration of ammonia and its influence on the biogas production of castor oilcake. Two natural zeolites with different physical characteristics were tested and compared to reactors without the inclusion of the adsorbent. In the third phase, were avaliated physicochemical treatments to accelerate the hydrolysis rate of substrate and thereby improve the performance of the reactors. It were tested thermal, ultrasonic, acid and alkaline treatment, and their effects on methane production were analyzed by means of multivariate factorial experiment. Research has shown that methane can be produced from oilseed cakes, with up to 0.194 LCH4.g-1VS for castor oilcake, and 0.243 LCH4.g-1VS and 70% methane in the biogas, for both substrates. Recalcitrant compounds present in the composition of oicake and the production of inhibitory substances prevent further degradation of the substrates and increased production of methane. A higher ratio of inoculum and volatile solids provides more favorable conditions for anaerobic digestion with biogas production increased by volatile solids added, however, results in lower production of methane per reactor volume. Adding zeolite to the medium led to a reduction of the ammonia concentration and consequent increase in methane production while the cost of application should be assessed. The multifatorial experiment showed the influence of substrate in methane production, however, the use of pre-treatments had no effect on the production of methane.