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Improving the Continuous Multiple Tube Reactor: an Innovative Bioreactor Configuration with Great Potential for Dark Fermentation Processes

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Abstract

The continuous multiple tube reactor (CMTR) has been developed as a promising technology to maximize biohydrogen production (BHP) by dark fermentation (DF) by preventing excess biomass accumulation, leading to suboptimum values of specific organic loading rates (SOLR). However, previous experiences failed to achieve stable and continuous BHP in this reactor, as the low biomass retention capacity in the tube region limited controlling the SOLR. This study goes beyond the evaluation of the CMTR for DF by inserting grooves in the inner wall of the tubes to ensure better cell attachment. The CMTR was monitored in 4 assays at 25ºC using sucrose-based synthetic effluent. The hydraulic retention time (HRT) was fixed at 2 h, while the COD varied between 2–8 g L−1 to obtain organic loading rates in the 24 – 96 g COD L−1 d−1. Long-term (90 d) BHP was successfully attained in all conditions due to the improved biomass retention capacity. Optimal values for the SOLR (4.9 g COD g−1 VSS d−1) were observed when applying up to 48 g COD L−1 d−1, in which BHP was maximized. These patterns indicate a favorable balance between biomass retention and washout was naturally achieved. The CMTR looks promising for continuous BHP and is exempt from additional biomass discharge strategies.

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Funding

The authors acknowledge the financial support of Araucaria Foundation (grant number 20/2015) and the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq, grant number 311741/2018–5).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Post-Graduation in Agricultural Engineering, Western Parana State University, 2069, Universitária St., Jardim Universitário, Cascavel, PR, 5819-110, Brazil

    Ana Paula Trevisan, Willyan Goergen de Souza, Simone Damasceno Gomes & Benedito Martins Gomes

  2. Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Federal Technological University of Paraná, Av. Brasil, 4232, Parque Independência, Medianeira, PR, 85884-000, Brazil

    Eduardo Borges Lied

  3. Chemical Engineering Department, Polytechnic School, University of São Paulo (DEQ/EP/USP), Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes 580, Bloco 18 - Conjunto das Químicas, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil

    Lucas Tadeu Fuess

  4. Biological Processes Laboratory (LPB), São Carlos School of Engineering (EESC), University of São Paulo (USP), Av. João Dagnone, 1100, Santa Angelina, São Carlos, SP, 13563-120, Brazil

    Marcelo Zaiat

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  1. Ana Paula Trevisan
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Contributions

Ana Paula Trevisan: Conceptualization, methodology, writing, experiments. Simone Gomes: resources, writing and supervision. Marcelo Zaiat: review. Lucas Fuess: review. Willian de Souza: data analysis and writing. Eduardo Lied: writing – review and editing. Benedito Gomes: resources.

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Highlights

• The grooves inside the tubes in a worm-like fashion were adequate for the biomass attachment.

• CMTR maintained continuous H2 production in long-term operation (90 d) and the ability to recover from performance losses.

• CMTR operated steadily at specific organic loading rate values regardless of the ideal range.

• The larger values of production of H2 were associated with the best conditions of biomass adhesion on the CMTR tube walls.

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Trevisan, A.P., Lied, E.B., Fuess, L.T. et al. Improving the Continuous Multiple Tube Reactor: an Innovative Bioreactor Configuration with Great Potential for Dark Fermentation Processes. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 196, 457–477 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-023-04553-3

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