Improved methane production from sugarcane vinasse with filter cake in thermophilic UASB reactors, with predominance of Methanothermobacter and Methanosarcina archaea and Thermotogae bacteria

•Reactors in series contributed to process stability.•Increased methane production from vinasse through the use of sugarcane filter cake.•The highest concentrations of methane in the biogas were 73% in R1 and 83% in R2.•The most abundant bacterial phylum observed in the sludge was Thermotogae.•Quant...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Bioresource technology 2017-11, Vol.244 (Pt 1), p.371-381
Main Authors: Barros, Valciney Gomes de, Duda, Rose Maria, Vantini, Juliana da Silva, Omori, Wellington Pine, Ferro, Maria Inês Tiraboschi, Oliveira, Roberto Alves de
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alkalinity
Anaerobiosis
Archaea
Bacteria
Biogas
Bioreactors
Methane
Methanobacteriaceae
Methanogenic archaea
Methanosarcina
Microbial diversity
Nutrient supplementation
Organic loading rate
Saccharum
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Summary:•Reactors in series contributed to process stability.•Increased methane production from vinasse through the use of sugarcane filter cake.•The highest concentrations of methane in the biogas were 73% in R1 and 83% in R2.•The most abundant bacterial phylum observed in the sludge was Thermotogae.•Quantitative PCR indicated balanced amounts of bacteria and archaea in the sludge. Biogas production from sugarcane vinasse has enormous economic, energy, and environmental management potential. However, methane production stability and biodigested vinasse quality remain key issues, requiring better nutrient and alkalinity availability, operational strategies, and knowledge of reactor microbiota. This study demonstrates increased methane production from vinasse through the use of sugarcane filter cake and improved effluent recirculation, with elevated organic loading rates (OLR) and good reactor stability. We used UASB reactors in a two-stage configuration, with OLRs up to 45gCODL−1d−1, and obtained methane production as high as 3LL−1d−1. Quantitative PCR indicated balanced amounts of bacteria and archaea in the sludge (109–1010copiesg−1VS), and of the predominant archaea orders, Methanobacteriales and Methanosarcinales (106–108copiesg−1VS). 16S rDNA sequencing also indicated the thermophilic Thermotogae as the most abundant class of bacteria in the sludge.
ISSN:0960-8524
1873-2976
DOI:10.1016/j.biortech.2017.07.106