Theodosi Palimeri, D.; Papadopoulou, K.; Vlyssides, A.G.; Vlysidis, A.A. Improving the Biogas Production and Methane Yield in a UASB Reactor with the Addition of Sulfate. Sustainability2023, 15, 14896.
Theodosi Palimeri, D.; Papadopoulou, K.; Vlyssides, A.G.; Vlysidis, A.A. Improving the Biogas Production and Methane Yield in a UASB Reactor with the Addition of Sulfate. Sustainability 2023, 15, 14896.
Theodosi Palimeri, D.; Papadopoulou, K.; Vlyssides, A.G.; Vlysidis, A.A. Improving the Biogas Production and Methane Yield in a UASB Reactor with the Addition of Sulfate. Sustainability2023, 15, 14896.
Theodosi Palimeri, D.; Papadopoulou, K.; Vlyssides, A.G.; Vlysidis, A.A. Improving the Biogas Production and Methane Yield in a UASB Reactor with the Addition of Sulfate. Sustainability 2023, 15, 14896.
Abstract
: Sulfate presence is of great importance for anaerobic digestion as its addition can control the anaerobic microbial community. In this study, the effect of sulfuric acid addition on the perfor-mance of an UASB reactor fed with hydrolyzed starch was investigated. TOC, Fe and SO4-2 re-moval as well as the methane production were monitored under various COD/ SO4-2 ratios, HRTs and OLRs. When HRT was 16 hours and OLR equal to 2 g COD/LUASB-d the methane production was 0.24 L CH4/LUASB-day. After the sulfuric acid addition, TOC removal reached 95%. At HRT, OLR, and COD/ SO4-2 ratio equal to 16 hours, 2 g COD/ LUASB-d and 3.72 respectively, the methane production was 0.267 L CH4/LUASB-d. When the OLR was increased to 5.94 g COD/LUASB-d and COD/SO4-2 ratio was equal to 12.5, the methane production was 3 times higher (0.84 L CH4/LUASB-d) with a methane content in the produced biogas greater than 70%. 16s rRNA gene analysis demonstrated that after the sulfate addition, SRB were enriched and methane was mainly produced by Methanosaeta sp. This study indicates that appropriate sulfate concentrations in the feed in combination with the presence of iron in the UASB reactor lead to enhanced me-thane yields.
Environmental and Earth Sciences, Waste Management and Disposal
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