Two-stage anaerobic membrane bioreactor for the treatment of sugarcane vinasse: Assessment on biological activity and filtration performance

• Published in: Bioresource technology 2013-10, Vol.146, p.494-503
• Main Authors: Mota, Vera Tainá, Santos, Fábio S., Amaral, Míriam C.S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acidogenesis; Anaerobic digestion; Anaerobic treatment; Anaerobiosis; Biofuels; Biological and medical sciences; Biological Oxygen Demand Analysis; Biological treatment of sewage sludges and wastes; Biomass; Bioreactors; Biotechnology; Carbohydrates - chemistry; Crack opening displacement; Effluents; Environment and pollution; Equipment Design; Filtration; Food industries; Food Industry; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects; Industrial Waste; Membranes; Membranes, Artificial; Methane - chemistry; Methanogenesis; Methods. Procedures. Technologies; Polymers - chemistry; Reactors; Saccharum - metabolism; Submerged anaerobic membrane bioreactor; Time Factors; Use and upgrading of agricultural and food by-products. Biotechnology; Various methods and equipments; Vinasse; Waste Disposal, Fluid - methods; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Water Purification - methods
• ISSN: 0960-8524; 1873-2976
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2013.07.110

•A two-stage AnMBR was designed for the treatment of sugarcane vinasse.•Intermittent feeding was found to be effective to acclimate the microorganisms.•COD and DOC removals efficiencies were 96.9±0.7% and 95.0±1.1%, respectively.•Membrane filtration resistance was found to be predominantly removable.•SMP protein and EPS protein were correlated to membrane filtration resistance. A two-stage submerged anaerobic membrane bioreactor (2-SAnMBR) was designed for the treatment of sugarcane vinasse. For start-up, the flow rate was reduced whenever VFA levels reached critical levels in the methanogenic reactor. After acclimation, the system was operated under a continuous flow. Separation of the stages was observed during the entire period of operation. VFA, COD and DOC levels of raw effluent, acidified effluent and permeate averaged 2141, 3525 and 61mgVFAL−1 (as acetic acid), 15727, 11512 and 488mgCODL−1, and, 3544, 3533 and 178mgDOCL−1, respectively. Overall COD and DOC removal efficiencies of 96.9±0.7% and 95.0±1.1%, respectively, were reached. Methane content of the biogas from the acidogenic and methanogenic reactors ranged 0.1–4.6% and 60.1–70.1%, respectively. Removable fouling strongly affected filtration performance and cake layer formation accounted for most of filtration resistance. Membrane resistance was related to presence of protein-like substances and carbohydrates.