In this study, we evaluated the use of an up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor to treat crude glycerol obtained from cottonseed biodiesel production. The laboratory-scale UASB reactor (7.0 L) was operated at ambient temperature of 26.5°C with chemical oxygen demand (COD) concentrations between 0.5 and 8.0 g/L. The volatile fatty acid contents, pH, inorganic salt contents and biogas production were monitored during a 280-day experimental period. Molecular biology techniques were used to assess the microbial diversity in the bioreactor. The reactor achieved COD removal efficiencies of up to 92% except during one phase when the efficiency decreased to 81%. Biogas production remained stable throughout the experimental period, when the fraction converted to methane reached values as high as 68%. The profile of the denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) bands suggested slight changes in the microbial community during reactor operation. The overall results indicated that the crude glycerol from biodiesel production can serve as a suitable substrate for anaerobic degradation with a stable reactor performance and biogas production as long as the applied organic loads are up to 8.06 kg COD/m3·d.
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Research Article|
July 07 2015
Anaerobic treatment of crude glycerol from biodiesel production
M. M. Nakazawa;
M. M. Nakazawa
1Laboratório de Saneamento Ambiental, Departamento de Engenharia Civil, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco. Av. Acadêmico Hélio Ramos, s/n. Cidade Universitária. CEP: 50740-530 Recife – PE, Brazil
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W. R. S. Silva Júnior;
W. R. S. Silva Júnior
2Laboratório de Saneamento, Campus Afogados da Ingazeira, Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia de Pernambuco. Sítio Campinhos, s/n. CEP: 56800-000 Afogados da Ingazeira – PE, Brazil
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M. T. Kato;
M. T. Kato
1Laboratório de Saneamento Ambiental, Departamento de Engenharia Civil, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco. Av. Acadêmico Hélio Ramos, s/n. Cidade Universitária. CEP: 50740-530 Recife – PE, Brazil
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S. Gavazza;
S. Gavazza
1Laboratório de Saneamento Ambiental, Departamento de Engenharia Civil, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco. Av. Acadêmico Hélio Ramos, s/n. Cidade Universitária. CEP: 50740-530 Recife – PE, Brazil
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L. Florencio
1Laboratório de Saneamento Ambiental, Departamento de Engenharia Civil, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco. Av. Acadêmico Hélio Ramos, s/n. Cidade Universitária. CEP: 50740-530 Recife – PE, Brazil
E-mail: flor@ufpe.br
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Water Sci Technol (2015) 72 (8): 1383–1389.
Article history
Received:
December 22 2014
Accepted:
June 23 2015
Citation
M. M. Nakazawa, W. R. S. Silva Júnior, M. T. Kato, S. Gavazza, L. Florencio; Anaerobic treatment of crude glycerol from biodiesel production. Water Sci Technol 1 October 2015; 72 (8): 1383–1389. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2015.345
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