Co-digestion of Sargassum sp. with glycerol and waste frying oil following a design of experiments

• Author(s): Oliveira, João Vítor ; Alves, M. M. ; Costa, J. C.
• Date: 2014
• Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/1822/31559
• Origin: RepositóriUM - Universidade do Minho
• Project/scholarship: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/FCT/5876-PPCDTI/126270/PT ; info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/FCT/5876-PPCDTI/129146/PT ; info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/FCT/5876-PPCDTI/126270/PT
• Subject(s): Anaerobic co-digestion; Design of experiments; Glycerol; Sargassum sp.; Waste frying oil
• Document Type: Conference paper
• Language: English
• Contributor(s): Universidade do Minho

Description

A response surface methodology was adopted to assess the optimal conditions for methane production from the macroalgae Sargassum sp. co-digested with glycerol (Gly) and waste frying oil (WFO). Three variables were tested: % total solids of algae (%TSSargassum sp.), co-substrate concentration (gGly/WFO L-1); and, co-substrate type (Gly or WFO). The Biochemical Methane Potential (BMP) of Sargassum sp. was 181±1 L CH4 kg-1 COD. The co-digestion with Gly and WFO increased the BMP by 56% and 46%, respectively. The methane production rate (k), showed similar behaviour as the BMP, increasing 38% and 19% with Gly and WFO, respectively. The higher BMP (283±18 L CH4 kg-1 COD) and k (65.9±2.1 L CH4 kg-1 COD d-1) was obtained in the assay with 0.5% TS and 3.0 gGly L-1. Co-digestion with Gly or WFO is a promising process to enhance the BMP from the macroalgae Sargassum sp..