Anaerobic digestion of glycerol derived from biodiesel manufacturing.
The anaerobic digestion of glycerol derived from biodiesel manufacturing, in which COD was found to be 1010 g/kg, was studied in batch laboratory-scale reactors at mesophilic temperature using granular and non-granular sludge. Due to the high KOH concentration of this by-product, H(3)PO(4) was added to recover this alkaline catalyst as agricultural fertilizer (potassium phosphates). Although it would not be economically viable, a volume of glycerol was distilled and utilised as reference substrate. The anaerobic revalorisation of glycerol using granular sludge achieved a biodegradability of around 100%, while the methane yield coefficient was 0.306 m(3) CH(4)/kg acidified glycerol. Anaerobic digestion could be a good option for revalorising this available, impure and low priced by-product derived from the surplus of biodiesel companies. The organic loading rate studied was 0.21-0.38 g COD/g VSS d, although an inhibition phenomenon was observed at the highest load.
Siles López
José Angel
JA
Departamento de Química Inorgánica e Ingeniería Química, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Córdoba, Campus Universitario de Rabanales, Edificio C-3, Ctra. Madrid-Cádiz, km 396, 14071 Córdoba, Spain. a92siloj@uco.es
Martín Santos
María de Los Angeles
Mde L
Chica Pérez
Arturo Francisco
AF
Martín Martín
Antonio
A
D000693:Anaerobiosis; D001674:Bioelectric Energy Sources; D019149:Bioreactors; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D002384:Catalysis; D005308:Fertilizers; D005990:Glycerol / Q000737:chemistry*; D006878:Hydroxides / Q000737:chemistry; D007700:Kinetics; D008697:Methane / Q000737:chemistry; D000432:Methanol / Q000737:chemistry; D008956:Models, Chemical; D010100:Oxygen / Q000737:chemistry; D017680:Potassium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D012984:Software; D013696:Temperature
D005308:Fertilizers; D006878:Hydroxides; D017680:Potassium Compounds; D008697:Methane; D005990:Glycerol; D010100:Oxygen; C029943:potassium hydroxide; D000432:Methanol