Autor(es): Oliveira, J. V. M. ; Alves, M. M. ; Costa, J. C.
Data: 2014
Identificador Persistente: http://hdl.handle.net/1822/31751
Origem: RepositóriUM - Universidade do Minho
Projeto/bolsa: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/FCT/5876-PPCDTI/126270/PT ;
Assunto(s): Algae; Gracilaria sp.; Glycerol; Pre-treatment; Sewage sludge; Science & Technology
A design of experiments was applied to evaluate different strategies to enhance the methane yield of macroalgae Gracilaria vermiculophylla. Biochemical Methane Potential (BMP) of G. vermiculophylla after physical pre-treatment (washing and maceration) reached 481 ± 9 L CH4 kg−1 VS, corresponding to a methane yield of 79 ± 2%. No significant effects were achieved in the BMP after thermochemical pre-treatment, although the seaweeds solubilisation increased up to 44%. Co-digestion with glycerol or sewage sludge has proved to be effective for increasing the methane production. Addition of 2% glycerol (w:w) increased the BMP by 18%, achieving almost complete methanation of the substrate (96 ± 3%). Co-digestion of seaweed and secondary sludge (15:85%, TS/TS) increased the BMP by 25% (605 ± 4 L CH4 kg−1 VS) compared to the seaweed individual digestion.
The authors acknowledge the financial support of the Portuguese Science Foundation (FCT) and European Social Fund (ESF, POPH-QREN) through the grant given to Jose Carlos Costa (SFRH/BDP/48962/2008), and through the projects: FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-027914 (PTDC/AAG-TEC/3048/2012), financed by FEDER through COMPETE - Programa Operacional Factores de Competitividade; and FCT Strategic Project PEst- OE/EQB/LA0023/2013, the FCT Project RECI/BBB-EBI/0179/2012 and the Project "BioEnv Biotechnology and Bioengineering for a sustainable world'', REF. NORTE-07-0124-FEDER-000048, co-funded by the Programa Operacional Regional do Norte (ON. 2 - O Novo Norte), QREN, FEDER. We would like to thank Dr. Rui Pereira (Algaplus), for providing the seaweed samples.
