Methane production from food waste using a feedback control strategy in a sequencing batch reactor

The performance of a feedback control strategy in the operation of a sequencing batch reactor was evaluated. This strategy uses the online biogas flow measurements to define the duration of the reaction phase of each operating cycle, thereby increasing the energy production of the system and maximizing the methane production rate. The reaction phase is ended when the biogas flow rate reaches a sustained value significantly lower value than the maximum flow rate achieved, as a consequence of the depletion of the soluble chemical oxygen demand. The implementation of the depletion-time control was successful and reached a maximum methane production rate of 1.22 L CH₄/d, showing an average productivity of 0.73 ± 0.3 L CH₄/d. The reaction phase varied from 1.2 to 6 days with hydraulic retention times from 6 to 30 days. The use of this feedback control strategy increased the methane production and the energy production in 80% of the evaluated cycles (from 10.4 to 43.8%) compared to the operation of conventional AD without a control strategy. Furthermore, the strategy is easy to implement since it does not require complex calculations and uses a readily available biogas flow rate sensor.

Acclimation of microorganisms for an efficient production of volatile fatty acids and biogas from mezcal vinasses in a dark fermentation process

Mezcal is an alcoholic artisanal drink made from agave plants in Mexico. Its production causes the generation of wastewater called vinasses, which are highly polluting residues due to its concentration of organic matter as chemical oxygen demand (COD) (35,000-122,000 mg/L) and acidity (pH < 4). Due to their organic content, these residues can be used in dark fermentation to obtain biogas, which is rich in hydrogen. In this work, the acclimation of inoculum by means of a dark fermentation process, in the presence of toxic compounds from mezcal vinasses was studied. The strategy of increasing the initial concentration of vinasse in each treatment cycle in a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) reactor was applied. It was possible to obtain a maximum biogas production of 984 ± 187 mL/L, from vinasses (18,367 ± 1,200 mg COD/L), with an organic matter removal efficiency of 20 ± 1%. A maximum generation of volatile fatty acids (VFA) of 980 ± 538 mg/L equivalent to a production of 74 ± 21% of the influent concentration and removal rate of organic matter of 1,125 ± 234 mg COD/L d^-1 equivalent to a removal efficiency of 20 ± 4% was obtained from vinasses with a concentration of 19,648 ± 1,702 mg COD/L.

The hydraulic retention time influences the abundance of Enterobacter, Clostridium and Lactobacillus during the hydrogen production from food waste

The influence of hydraulic retention time (HRT) on the microbial communities was evaluated in an anaerobic sequencing batch reactor (AnSBR) using organic waste from a restaurant as the substrate. The relationship among Lactobacillus, Clostridium and Bacillus as key micro-organisms on hydrogen production from organic solid waste was studied. The effect of the HRT (8-48 h) on the hydrogen production and the microbial community was evaluated. Quantitative PCR was applied to determine the abundance of bacteria (in particular, Enterobacter, Clostridium and Lactobacillus genera). An AnSBR fermentative reactor was operated for 111 cycles, with carbohydrate and organic matter removal efficiencies of 80 ± 15·42% and 22·1 ± 4·49% respectively. The highest percentage of hydrogen in the biogas (23·2 ± 11·1 %), and the specific production rate (0·42 ± 0·16 mmol H₂ gVS_added ^-1 d^-1 ) were obtained at an HRT of 48 h. The decrease in the HRT generated an increase in the hydrogen production rate but decreasing the content of the hydrogen in the gas. HRT significantly influence the abundance of Enterobacter, Clostridium and Lactobacillus during the hydrogen production from food waste leading the hydrogen production as well as the metabolic pathways. The microbial analysis revealed a direct relationship between the HRT and the presence of fermentative bacteria (Enterobacter, Clostridium and Lactobacillus genera). Clostridium sp. predominated at an HRT of 48 h, while Enterobacter and Lactobacillus predominated at HRTs between 8 and 24 h. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Significance and Impact of the Study: It was demonstrated that hydrogen production using food waste was influenced by the hydraulic retention time (HRT), and closely related to changes in microbial communities together with differences in metabolic patterns (e.g. volatile fatty acids, lactate, etc.). The decrease in the HRT led to the dominance of lactic acid bacteria within the microbial community whereas the increase in HRT favoured the emergence of Clostridium bacteria and the increase in acetic and butyric acids. Statistical data analysis revealed a direct relationship existing between the HRT and the microbial community composition in fermentative bacteria. This study provides new insight into the relationship between the bioprocess operation and the microbial community to understand better and control the biohydrogen production.

Greywater treatment in an aerobic SBR: sludge structure and kinetics

In order to have an efficient operation, sequencing batch reactors (SBR) must support granular biomass with high conversion rates, settling properties, and be able to deal with the inherent variability of the composition of real wastewaters. In this study, the effect of the influent composition and the specific organic loading rate (Bx) on the granulation process was evaluated in two SBRs, fed with greywater (GW) and a synthetic medium (SM). The feeding with SM led to the formation of compact granular biomass, with a sludge volume index (SVI) of 22.4 mL g^-1, and a zone settling velocity (ZSV) of 13.1 m h^-1. In contrast, feeding with GW induced the formation of filamentous granules, with lower settling properties (SVI = 165 mL g^-1 and ZSV = 10 m h^-1), when the system was operated at high Bx (4.4 kg COD kg VSS^-1 d^-1). However, the reduction of the average Bx to 2 kg COD kg VSS^-1 d^-1 induced an improvement in the morphology and properties of the granules (SVI = 98 mL g^-1 and ZSV = 13 m h^-1). Furthermore, the kinetic analysis indicated that granules cultivated with SM were formed by fast growing microorganisms with a high cell yield, whereas those cultivated in GW presented a much lower cell yield.

Evaluation of an optimal fill strategy to biodegrade inhibitory wastewater using an industrial prototype discontinuous reactor

This work presents the results and discussions of the application of an optimally controlled influent flow rate strategy to biodegrade, in a discontinuous reactor, a synthetic wastewater constituted by 4-chlorophenol. An aerobic automated discontinuous reactor system of 1.3 m3, with a useful volume of 0.75 m3 and an exchange volume of 60% was used. As part of the control strategy influent is fed into the reactor in such a way as to obtain the maximal degradation rate avoiding inhibition of microorganisms. Such an optimal strategy was able to manage increments of 4-chlorophenol concentrations in the influent between 250 and 1000 mg/L. it was shown that the optimally controlled influent flow rate strategy brings savings in reaction time and flexibility in treating high concentrations of an influent with toxic characteristics.

Effect of starvation on activity and viability of Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 10145 degrading 4-chlorophenol

The evolution of degradsation capacity and in the viability of Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 10145 acclimated to 25 mg4CP/L degradation and, later, exposed to starvation periods of 24, 48, 72, 96, 132 and 156 hours was studied. Degradation rate heterotrophic plate count and cell cytometry were used to evaluate the starvation influence. Results demonstrated that the exposition of P. aeruginosa to starvation produces a decrease in the viability and activity for the degradation of 4-chlorophenol.

Optimal biodegradation of phenol and municipal wastewater using a controlled sequencing batch reactor

This work presents the results of the application of an optimally controlled influent flow rate strategy to biodegrade, in a discontinuous reactor, a mixture of municipal wastewater and different concentrations of phenol when used as a toxic compound model. The influent is fed into the reactor in such a way to obtain the maximal degradation rate avoiding the inhibition of the microorganisms. Such an optimal strategy was able to manage increments of phenol concentrations in the influent up to 7000 mg/L without any problem. It was shown that the optimally controlled influent flow rate strategy is a good and reliable tool when a discontinuous reactor is applied to degrade an industrial wastewater.

Biodegradation of high 4-chlorophenol concentrations in a discontinuous reactor fed with an optimally controlled influent flow rate

This work presents the results of the application of an optimally controlled influent flow rate strategy to biodegrade, in a discontinuous reactor, high concentrations of 4-chlorophenol used as toxic compound model. The influent is fed into the reactor in such a way as to obtain the maximal degradation rate, thus avoiding the inhibition of the microorganisms. The optimal strategy was able to manage increments of toxic concentrations in the influent up to 7,000 mg 4CP/L without any problem. It was shown not only that higher concentrations of toxic could be treated, but also that a reduction in degradation time (around 52%) and in the supplied air volume was obtained.

Influence of the origin of the inoculum on the anaerobic biodegradability test

Five different sources of inocula were studied to determine its influence on biodegradability tests. Inocula were characterized determining granulometry, specific methanogenic activity, solids content, and volumetric sludge index. Also, the fermentative, aceticlastic, hydrogenophilic, OPHA, and sulfate-reducing groups were determined by the most probable number technique. Anaerobic biodegradability tests were conducted with two different substrates, one easy to degrade (glucose) and a toxic one (phenol). The best performance, in terms of percent of biodegradation and lag time, for both substrates, was obtained with the inoculum from a brewery industry UASB. The results can be explained in terms of the initial activity of the inoculum. The influence of the significant variations found in the specific methanogenic activity of the five inocula studied is discussed, in terms of the microbial composition of the samples. The results emphasized the importance of the selection of an appropriate source of inoculum in order to obtain reliable results.

Variation of the microbial activity during the acclimation phase of a SBR system degrading 4-chlorophenol

The variation of microbial activity during acclimation to 4-chlorophenol (4CP) in an aerobic automated sequencing batch reactor was studied. The results show a reduction in degradation time as the acclimation process occurred. During acclimation for an initial concentration of 50 mg 4CP/L, degradation time was reduced from 40 h to 50 min after 10 cycles. In the case of an initial concentration of 100 mg/L, degradation time was reduced from 52 h to 1.16 h, also after 10 cycles. Doubling the initial concentration of a previously acclimated sludge produces only a slight increase in degradation time. It was found that as acclimation took place, the affinity of the consortia to biodegrade the toxic increased, whereas the ability to biodegrade acetate decreased. The evolution of the substrate uptake rate over time during the acclimation period was highly correlated with an exponential relationship. It was also observed that acclimation decreased both the production of a toxic metabolite and the sludge volumetric index.

Influence of the initial substrate to microorganisms concentration ratio on the methanogenic inhibition test

The influence of the initial substrate to microorganisms ratio (So/Xo) on the inhibition of the methane production caused by 4-chlorophenol, 4CP, was studied. The effect of the 4CP on glucose degradation was evaluated measuring the quantity of methane produced during the test. One part of the inoculum was used as it came from its origin and another was fed with ethanol in order to maintain its activity. The inhibition tests were carried out using the same initial concentration of glucose, three initial suspended solids concentrations and eight initial concentrations of 4CP. The use of ethanol-acclimatized sludge presented a great influence on the inhibition results, since the inhibition was greater in the raw sludge than the acclimated one. Significant differences in the inhibition tests were found depending on the initial So/Xo ratio with respect to the glucose as substrate. It was observed that the inhibition decreases as the So/Xo decreases, in other words as the initial biomass concentration increases. When the results were analyzed in respect to the 4CP it was observed that the inhibition increases as the So/Xo increases. Also, it was observed that for the same value of So/Xo there is an increase of the inhibition when the quantity of Xo decreases.