Biogas production enhancement by non-conventional AnSBR treating protein and lipid-rich wastewater: From Lab to Pilot

“Treating protein and lipid-rich wastewater using cost-effective and simple-structured single-stage reactors presents several challenges. In this study, we applied an anaerobic sequencing batch reactor (AnSBR) to treat slaughterhouse wastewater. An average biomethane potential of 307 Nml CH4. gCODsubstrate-1 of the slaughterhouse wastewater was obtained at an inoculum to substrate ratio (I:S) of 4, which was equivalent to an anaerobic biodegradability of 87%. Further analysis with similar protein and FOG characteristics that the slaughterhouse wastewater showed that protein degradation was not significantly affected by the high lipid concentration. Furthermore, similar anaerobic biodegradabilities were obtained for all FOG:Protein ratios (0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1) in the range of 75-82%, with no signals of VFAs accumulation or inhibition. The pilot AnSBR system proved to be efficient for treating slaughterhouse wastewater. Stable performance was reached at VLR 3 gCOD.L-1.d-1, achieving a total COD removal efficiency of about 75%. Furthermore, it also showed to be robust to concentration fluctuations when concentrated wastewater was added to the system. Volumetric loading rates of up to 6.2 gCOD/(L.d) were applied to the system, with significant daily variations in load. The system coped with the increase in load and performed in a very stable manner despite the variations. Furthermore, the genus Clostridiumsensu stricto 1, known as protein and lipids degrader was predominant in the reactor. By comparing the energy and nutrient balance of the conventional DAF+UASB with the AnSBR based on the pilot trials results and the full-scale data, the biogas production and energy recovery of the AnSBR is about 25% higher, enabling also lower operational costs and foot-print and a more cost-effective post-treatment. .Our results provide valuable insights to optimise the design and operation of AnSBR for efficient treatment of protein and lipid-rich wastewater.”

(Citation: Julian Munoz Sierra, Zhe Deng, Ana Lucia Morgado Ferreira, et al, – Biogas production enhancement by non-conventional AnSBR treating protein and lipid-rich wastewater – From Lab to Pilot – 18th IWA World Conference on Anaerobic Digestion -Conference Proceedings Book 2-6 juni 2024 lstanbul-Tiirkiye)

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