Start-up phase optimization of two-phase anaerobic digestion of food waste: Effects of organic loading rate and hydraulic retention time

Carina Malinowsky; Willian Nadaleti; Letícia Rech Debiasi; Ailton João Gonçalves Moreira; Remy Bayard; Armando Borges de Castilhos Junior

doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.113064

Start-up phase optimization of two-phase anaerobic digestion of food waste: Effects of organic loading rate and hydraulic retention time

J Environ Manage. 2021 Oct 15:296:113064. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.113064. Epub 2021 Jul 9.

Authors

Carina Malinowsky¹, Willian Nadaleti², Letícia Rech Debiasi¹, Ailton João Gonçalves Moreira¹, Remy Bayard³, Armando Borges de Castilhos Junior¹

Affiliations

¹ Federal University of Santa Catarina, Department of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), Street Delfino Conte, Campus Reitor João David Ferreira Lima, Technological Center. Trindade, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina State, Cep, 88040 970, Brazil.
² Federal University of Pelotas, Post-graduation Program in Environmental Sciences. Laboratory of Energy and Environmental Engineering, LEAE, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. Electronic address: williancezarnadaletti@gmail.com.
³ National Institute of Applied Sciences of Lyon, University of Lyon, DEEP, Sadi Carnot Building. 20, Avenue A. Einstein, 69621, Villeurbanne Cedex, France.

PMID: 34243088
DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.113064

Abstract

The effects of organic loading rate (OLR) and hydraulic retention time (HRT) on the dynamics of acidogenic and methanogenic processes in two-phase anaerobic digestion (TPAD) of food waste (FW) were investigated to determine the start-up operational conditions. Seven arrangements of TPAD systems under mesophilic conditions were evaluated, each containing one acidogenic reactor and one methanogenic reactor. The work analyzed two HRTs (2 and 3 days) and four OLRs (2, 3, 4 and 5 kgVS.m^-3.d^-1). The 2D5KG system obtained VS and COD removal of 68% and 72%; SMP of 273 L_methane.kg.VS^-1. The 3D4KG system obtained VS and COD removal of 70 and 66%; SMP of 252 L_methane.kg.VS^-1. Valeric acid predominated in the acidogenic reactor in both HRT and OLR evaluated, followed by butyric acid. In the methanogenic reactor, the main methane production route was the butyric acid conversion into acetic acid and finally methane. Higher OLR benefits the methane production. The microbiological profile indicated the pathway of methanogenesis by acetoclastic methanogenesis. The canonical correlation analysis allowed to verify that the groups are independent and, therefore, the variables analyzed in the acidogenic reactor have an influence on the methanogenic reactor.

Keywords: Food waste; Methane; Two-phase anaerobic digestion; VFA.

MeSH terms

Anaerobiosis
Bioreactors
Food*
Methane
Refuse Disposal*

Substances

Methane