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Co-digestion of Whey with Glycerin in an AnSBBR for Biomethane Production

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Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the co-digestion of cheese whey and glycerin in an anaerobic sequencing batch biofilm reactor (AnSBBR) with recirculation of the liquid phase applied to biomethane production. The applied volumetric organic load (AVOL) in all conditions was 7.5 kgCOD m−3 day−1. The feeding time was equal to half of the cycle time. The best condition for co-digestion was the wastewater with 75 % of cheese whey and 25 % of glycerin (chemical oxygen demand (COD) basis); it achieved a productivity of 101.8 molCH4 m−3 day−1 and a yield of 13.3 molCH4 kgCOD−1 with 89 % of COD removal. This represents an increase of productivity of almost 9 and 30 % when compared to the anaerobic digestion of cheese whey and glycerin alone, respectively. The co-digestion proposed is a promising solution for both pollutants with the advantage of high energy production. A first-order kinetic model was fitted efficiently to the process.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP, grant #2014/07692-8 and #2009/15.984-0), the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), and the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. São Carlos School of Engineering, University of São Paulo (EESC/USP), Av. Trabalhador São-Carlense 400, São Carlos, SP, CEP 13.566-590, Brazil

    G. Lovato & M. Zaiat

  2. Mauá School of Engineering, Mauá Institute of Technology (EEM/IMT), Praça Mauá 1, São Caetano do Sul, SP, CEP 09.580-900, Brazil

    S. M. Ratusznei & J. A. D. Rodrigues

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  1. G. Lovato
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  2. S. M. Ratusznei
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  3. J. A. D. Rodrigues
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  4. M. Zaiat
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Correspondence to J. A. D. Rodrigues.

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Lovato, G., Ratusznei, S.M., Rodrigues, J.A.D. et al. Co-digestion of Whey with Glycerin in an AnSBBR for Biomethane Production. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 178, 126–143 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-015-1863-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-015-1863-0

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