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Influence of Organic Load on Biohydrogen Production in an AnSBBR Treating Glucose-Based Wastewater

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Abstract

An anaerobic sequencing batch reactor with immobilized biomass (AnSBBR) was applied to the production of biohydrogen treating a glucose-based wastewater. The influence of the applied volumetric organic load was studied by varying the concentration of influent at 3600 and 5250 mg chemical oxygen demand (COD) L−1 and cycle lengths of 4, 3, and 2 h resulting in volumetric organic loads of 10.5 to 31.1 g COD L−1. The results revealed system stability in the production of biohydrogen and substrate consumption. The best performance was an organic removal (COD) of 24 % and carbohydrate removal (glucose) of 99 %. Volumetric and specific molar productivity were 60.9 mol H2 m−3 day−1 and 5.8 mol H2 kg SVT−1 day−1 (biogas containing 40 % H2 and no CH4) at 20.0 g COD L−1 day−1 (5250 mg COD L−1 and 3 h). The yield between produced hydrogen and removed organic matter in terms of carbohydrates was 0.94 mol H2 Mol GLU−1 (biogas containing 52 % H2 and no CH4) at 10.5 g COD L−1 day−1 (3600 mg COD L−1 and 4 h), corresponding to 23 and 47 % of the theoretical values of the acetic and butyric acid metabolic routes, respectively. Metabolites present at significant amounts were ethanol, acetic acid, and butyric acid. The conditions with higher influent concentration and intermediate cycle length, and the condition with lower influent concentration and longer cycle showed the best results in terms of productivity and yield, respectively. This indicates that the best productivity tends to occur at higher organic loads, as this parameter involves the biogas production, and the best yield tends to occur at lower and/or intermediate organic loads, as this parameter also involves substrate consumption.

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Abbreviations

ASOLCT :

Applied specific organic load based on organic matter—nonfiltered sample [kg COD m−3 day−1]

ASOLST :

Applied specific organic load based on carbohydrate (glucose)—nonfiltered sample [kg GLUC m−3 day−1]

AVOLCT :

Applied volumetric organic load based on organic matter—nonfiltered sample [kg COD m−3 day−1]

AVOLST :

Applied volumetric organic load based on carbohydrate (glucose)—nonfiltered sample [kg GLU m−3 day−1]

BA:

Bicarbonate alkalinity [mg CaCO3 L−1]

CCF :

Concentration based on organic matter for filtered samples in the effluent [mg COD L−1]

CCT :

Concentration based on organic matter for unfiltered samples in the effluent [mg COD L−1]

CCT,I :

Concentration based on organic matter for unfiltered samples in the influent [mg COD L−1]

CH2 :

Concentration of hydrogen [mmol L−1]

CSF :

Concentration based on carbohydrates (glucose) for filtered samples in the effluent [mg GLU L−1 or mmol GLU L−1]

CST :

Concentration based on carbohydrates (glucose) for unfiltered samples in the effluent [mg GLU L−1]

CST,I :

Concentration based on carbohydrates (glucose) for unfiltered samples in the influent [mg GLU L−1]

CCF :

Concentration based on organic matter for filtered samples [mg COD L−1]

CX-TVS :

Concentration of biomass in the reactor in total volatile solids per volume of liquid [g TVS L−1]

C′X-TVS :

Concentration of biomass in the reactor in total volatile solids per mass of support [g TVS gsupport −1]

MTVS :

Total biomass in the reactor in total volatile solids [g TVS]

MPr:

Daily molar productivity of hydrogen [mol H2 m−3 day−1]

MYALC,m :

Molar yield per applied load based on organic matter expressed as kilograms [mol H2 kg COD−1]

MYALC,n :

Molar yield per applied load based on organic matter expressed as moles [mol H2 mol COD−1]

MYALS,m :

Molar yield per applied load based on carbohydrates (glucose) expressed as kilograms [mol H2 kg GLU−1]

MYALS,n :

Molar yield per applied load based on carbohydrates (glucose) expressed as moles [mol H2 mol GLU−1]

MYRLC,m :

Molar yield per removed load based on organic matter expressed as kilograms [mol H2 kg COD−1]

MYRLC,n :

Molar yield per removed load based on organic matter expressed as moles [mol H2 mol COD−1]

MYRLS,m :

Molar yield per removed load based on carbohydrates (glucose) expressed as kilograms [mol H2 kg GLU−1]

MYRLS,n :

Molar yield per removed load based on carbohydrates (glucose) expressed as moles [mol H2 mol GLU−1]

NG :

Molar quantity of biogas (H2, CO2, and CH4) produced along a cycle (mmol)

nH2 :

Daily molar production of hydrogen [mol day−1]

RSOLCF :

Removed volumetric specific load based on organic matter—filtered sample [kg COD g TVS−1 day−1]

RSOLSF :

Removed volumetric specific load based on carbohydrate (glucose)—filtered sample [kg GLU g TVS−1 day−1]

RVOLCF :

Removed specific organic load based on organic matter—filtered sample [kg COD m−3 day−1]

RVOLSF :

Removed specific organic load based on carbohydrates (glucose)—filtered sample [kg GLU m−3 day−1]

SMPr:

Daily specific molar productivity of hydrogen [mol H2 kg TVS−1 day−1]

tC :

Cycle length [h cycle−1]

TS:

Total solids concentration [mg L−1]

TSS:

Total suspended solids concentration [mg L−1]

TVA:

Total volatile acids [mg HAc L−1]

TVS:

Total volatile solids concentration [mg L−1]

VSS:

Volatile suspended solids concentration [mg L−1]

VF :

Volume of wastewater fed during the cycle [L cycle−1]

VG :

Normal volume of biogas (H2, CO2, and CH4) produced along a cycle (N mL)

VR :

Volume of liquid medium in the reactor [L]

εCF :

Removal efficiency based on organic matter for filtered samples [%]

εCT :

Removal efficiency based on organic matter for unfiltered samples [%]

εSF :

Removal efficiency based on carbohydrates (glucose) for filtered samples [%]

εST :

Removal efficiency based on carbohydrates (glucose) for unfiltered samples [%]

HAc:

Acetic acid

HBut:

Butyric acid

HPr:

Propionic acid

EtOH:

Ethanol

vSF :

Carbohydrate consumption rate for filtered samples [mmol L−1 h−1]

vH2 :

Hydrogen formation rate [mmol L−1 h−1]

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo – FAPESP (São Paulo, Brasil), process numbers 09/15.984-0, 12.01.039-5 (L.P. Souza), and 12/01.048-4 (T.G. Lullio). The authors gratefully acknowledge Dr. Baltus C. Bonse for the revision of this paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Engenharia Química e de Alimentos, Escola de Engenharia Mauá, Instituto Mauá de Tecnologia (IMT), Praça Mauá 1, CEP 09.580-900, São Caetano do Sul, SP, Brazil

    L. P. Souza, T. G. Lullio, S. M. Ratusznei & J. A. D. Rodrigues

  2. Departamento de Hidráulica e Saneamento, Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Av. Trabalhador São-Carlense 400, CEP 13.566-590, São Carlos, SP, Brazil

    M. Zaiat

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  1. L. P. Souza
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  2. T. G. Lullio
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  3. S. M. Ratusznei
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  4. J. A. D. Rodrigues
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Correspondence to J. A. D. Rodrigues.

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Souza, L.P., Lullio, T.G., Ratusznei, S.M. et al. Influence of Organic Load on Biohydrogen Production in an AnSBBR Treating Glucose-Based Wastewater. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 176, 796–816 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-015-1612-4

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