Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub> Nanoparticles to Optimize the Co-Digestion of Vinasse, Filter Cake, and Deacetylation Liquor: Operational Aspects and Microbiological Routes

oleh: Maria Paula Cardeal Volpi, Gustavo Mockaitis, Bruna de Souza Moraes

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: MDPI AG 2023-08-01

Deskripsi

The present work proposes the optimization of the co-digestion of vinasse, filter cake, and deacetylation liquor in a continuous reactor by adding iron(III) oxide (Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>) nanoparticles (NPs), comparing the results with a previous reactor operation without NPs. Initially, tests were carried out in batches with different NP concentrations, resulting in 5 mg L<sup>−1</sup> as the best concentration to be added in the continuous reactor along the increments of the applied organic load rate (OLR). Methane (CH<sub>4</sub>) production reached a maximum value of 2.8 ± 0.1 NLCH<sub>4</sub> gVS<sup>−1</sup> (normal liter methane per gram of volatile solids), and the organic matter removal reached 71 ± 0.9% in phase VI (OLR of 5.5 gVS L<sup>−1</sup> day<sup>−1</sup>). This production was 90% higher than the reactor co-digestion operation without NPs. The anaerobic digestion (AD) development was stable with stable organic acid (OA) concentrations, indicating the predominance of the propionic acid route to produce CH<sub>4</sub>. The main methanogenic Archaea identified was <i>Methanoculleus</i>, indicating that the predominant metabolic route was that of acetate (SAO) coupled with hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis. The use of Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub> NPs managed to improve the AD from the first-generation and second-generation (1G2G) ethanol production residues and stimulated microbial community growth, without modifying the preferable metabolic pathways.