abstract
In anaerobic digestion processes, pH has a vital role due to the direct impacts on the microbial community. An eco-friendly approach has been applied to control pH in anaerobic bioreactors, using waste-containing fly ash geopolymer spheres (GS) instead of powdered chemical compounds, to promote continuous alkalis leaching. The influence of GS porosity and concentration on the behavior of anaerobic sequential batch reactor treating cheese whey was evaluated. Results showed that the use of GS with the highest concentration and porosity promoted an increase in methane yield up to 30%, compared to the assay with powdered chemical compounds addition. In addition, GS boosted butyric acid production to the detriment of propionic acid, which favored methane production by a factor up to 1.2. This innovative approach indicates that GS addition can regulate pH in anaerobic digesters treating challenging wastewaters and, simultaneously, improve not only its efficiency but also the sustainability of the entire process.
subject category
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology; Engineering, Chemical
authors
Gameiro, T; Novais, RM; Correia, CL; Carvalheiras, J; Seabra, MP; Tarelho, LAC; Labrincha, JA; Capela, I
our authors
João António de Sousa Carvalheiras
PhD Student
João António Labrincha Baptista
Full professor
Maria Paula Seabra
Assistant Professor
Rui Miguel Novais
Assistant Professor
Tânia Gameiro
Junior Researcheracknowledgements
R. M. Novais and J. Carvalheiras wish to thank FundacAo para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia (FCT) for supporting their work (Ref. CEECIND/00335/2017 and SFRH/BD/144562/2019). This work was developed within the scope of the project CESAM-Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (UIDP/50017/2020 and UIDB/50017/2020), and CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials (UIDB/50011/2020 and UIDP/50011/2020), both financed by national funds through the FCT/MCTES.