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As societies around the world become increasingly more dependent on fossil based fuels, the need to investigate alternative fuel sources becomes more pressing. Renewable, biomass-based carbon sources obtained from the biosphere can be gasified to produce synthesis gas, which can in turn be fermented to produce fuel-grade ethanol. A byproduct of ethanol production via fermentation is acetic acid. An optimized ethanol fermentation process should produce a wastewater stream containing less than 2 g/L of acetic acid. This is not enough acid to justify recovery of the acid; however it is a high enough concentration that treatment of the stream is required before it can be discharged. The purpose of this research was to convert the acetic acid into biogas, producing a twoold result: removal of the acid from the wastewater stream and the production of methane, which is a valuable source of energy. Microorganisms known as methanogens will consume acetic acid to produce methane and carbon dioxide under anaerobic conditions. The goal of this research was to optimize methane production from the wastewater stream discharged from an ethanol to syngas facility. Sludge containing methanogenic organisms was obtained from the anaerobic digester of a wastewater treatment facility and used as inoculum in batch reactors containing a synthetic acetic acid solution. Variables such as the type and amount of supplied nutrients, acid concentration, pH, cell acclimation, oxygen exposure, headspace gas composition, and agitation rate were examined. The effects of these parameters on the amount of biogas produced and acetic acid degraded were used to evaluate and optimize reactor performance. Additional experimentation further evaluating methanogenesis at low pH was also conducted using a laboratory scale semi-continuous fermentor. Finally, advanced analytical techniques were used to evaluate changes in organism population with respect to changes in reactor operational parameters. The results of this research were used to estimate kinetic parameters, develop different full-scale reactor design models, and estimate the both the cost of wastewater treatment as well as the value of the methane produced.

Two experiments were conducted to examine the use of peppermint leaves and cinnamon oil on methane production and apparent ruminal digestibility. In experiment 1, 12 jars were utilized in a completely randomized design to conduct three separate 24 hour batch culture experiments. The objective of the batch culture experiments was to examine the effects of the selected natural supplements on methane production. For the first batch culture, jars were randomly assigned to one of the following treatments: 1) control diet (CON); 2) CON plus the addition of peppermint leaves at 3% of the diet (PEP3); 3) CON plus the addition of peppermint leaves at 6% of the diet (PEP6); or 4) CON plus the addition of peppermint leaves at 12% of the diet (PEP12). The addition of the peppermint leaves increased (P = 0.004) oxygen and tended to increase (P = 0.10) nitrogen gas, but had no significant (P ≥ 0.15) effect on methane production. For the second batch culture, jars were randomly assigned to one of the folloiwng treatments: 1) control diet (CON); 2) CON plus the addition of cinnamon oil at 125 mg/L (CIN 125); 3) CON plus the addition of cinnamon oil at 250 mg/L (CIN250); or 4) CON plus the addition of cinnamon oil at 500 mg/L (CIN500). Cinnamon oil decreased (P = 0.002) methane production when added at 500 mg/L which also decreased (P = 0.001) total gas production compared to the other treatments. For the final batch culture, jars were randomly assigned to one of the following treatments: 1) control diet (CON); 2) CON plus the addition of peppermint leaves at 3% of the diet and cinnamon oil at 125 mg/L (3:125); 3) CON plus the addition of peppermint leaves at 3% of the diet and cinnamon oil at 250 mg/L (3:250); or 4) CON plus the addition of peppermint leaves at 6% of the diet and cinnamon oil at 125 mg/L (6:125). The addition of the peppermint leaves at 6% of the diet and cinnamon oil at 125 mg/L significantly decreased nitrogen (P = 0.05) and methane (P = 0.0001) gas production compared to CON and 3:250 treatment. Based on the results of the three batch cultures, experiment 2 utilized four dual-flow continuous fermenters in a Latin Square design to examine the effects of the selected natural supplements on apparent ruminal digestibility and ruminal characteristics. Fermenters were randomly assigned to one of the following treatments: 1) control diet (CON); 2) CON plus the addition of peppermint leaves at 3% of the diet (PEP3); 3) CON plus the addition of cinnamon oil at 500 mg/L (CIN500); or 4) CON plus the addition of peppermint leaves at 6% of the diet and cinnamon oil at 125 mg/L (COMBO). Treatments for experiment 2 had no effect (P ≥ 0.17) on apparent ruminal digestibility of nutrients. There was no significant difference (P ≥ 0.09) in total or individual VFA concentrations, suggesting that the use of peppermint leaves, cinnamon oil, or a combination of the two has no adverse effects on apparent ruminal digestibility. Feeding ruminants a natural supplement such as cinnamon oil, peppermint leaves, or a combination could potentially reduce GHG production when feeding a low-quality, forage based diet.

The production of pulp and paper is associated with the generation of large quantities of wastewater that has to be purified to avoid severe pollution of the environment. Wastewater purification in pulp and paper mills combines sedimentation, biological treatment, chemical precipitation, flotation and anaerobic treatment, and the specific combination of techniques is determined by the local conditions. Wastewater treatment generates large volumes of sludge that after dewatering can be incinerated and thus used for bio-energy production. Sludge is currently viewed as biofuel of poor quality due to its high water content, and some mills treat it solely as a disposal problem. Two strategies have been identified as feasible options to improve the energy efficiency of sludge management. One is drying using multi-effect evaporation followed by incineration. The other is anaerobic digestion of the wet sludge to produce methane. This thesis explores the energy balances of sludge management strategies in pulp and paper mills with special focus on anaerobic digestion. The first part consists of a system analysis, used to evaluate some wastewater treatment processes and sludge management, and the second part of empirical studies of anaerobic digestion of pulp and paper mill sludge. It was shown that the use of energy for aeration in aerobic biological treatment should be kept to the minimum required for acceptable quality of the processed water. Additional aeration for reduction of the generated sludge will only result in reduced energy generation in a subsequent methane generation stage. In the second part of the thesis, it is shown that anaerobic digestion is a feasible option for sludge management as it leads to production of high value biogas. Co-digestion with grass silage, cow/pig manure or municipal sewage sludge should then be used to counteract the low nitrogen content of pulp and paper mill sludge.

Os probióticos são indicados como alternativa para reduzir a infecção de patógenos e melhorar a saúde e o desempenho animal. O estudo presente avaliou desempenho zootécnico, balanço nutricional, produção de metano fecal e avaliação econômica e microbiológica da ração e fezes de suínos nas fases de crescimento e terminação, alimentados com dieta contendo probiótico (Bacillus subtilis) comparando-se os resultados aos oriundos de dietas inclusas ou não de antimicrobianos. Constatou-se que além do GPD na fase de crescimento II, as demais variações dos resultados sugerem melhor conversão alimentar dos animais submetidos ao tratamento com probiótico, quando os animais foram segregados da condição comercial de produção para a condição experimental. A inclusão de probiótico na dieta melhorou a digestibilidade aparente da proteína, indicando também melhor digestibilidade da matéria seca, da energia e da relação energia digestível: energia bruta. Não houve significativa perda de capital, quando se optou pela inclusão dietética do probiótico, ao invés do antibiótico. Fezes oriundas da dieta com probiótico produziram menor quantidade de metano que aquelas da combinação probiótico e antibiótico ou só o antibiótico. / Probiotics are indicated as alternatives to reduce infections from pathogenic microorganisms and improve health and animal performance. The objective of this research was to evaluate growth performance, nutrient balance, economic parameters, faces methane production and feces microbial status of pigs feed probiotic (Bacillus subtilis) and different protein. Results from antibiotic diet were compared with probiotic diet in all situations. Beside weight gain (AWG) during growth phase II, most of results suggest better feed conversion for pigs under probiotic diet, under segregation condition form farm and conventional pig production. The probiotic inclusion in the diet improved the protein digestibility as well suggested better dry matter and energy digestibility and digestibility: gross energy rate. There is no significant capital loss with probiotic inclusion in the diet compared to antibiotic inclusion. Feces derived from pigs fed with probiotic diet produced less methane than those pigs fed with probiotic and antibiotic diet or antibiotic diet.

Os probióticos são indicados como alternativa para reduzir a infecção de patógenos e melhorar a saúde e o desempenho animal. O estudo presente avaliou desempenho zootécnico, balanço nutricional, produção de metano fecal e avaliação econômica e microbiológica da ração e fezes de suínos nas fases de crescimento e terminação, alimentados com dieta contendo probiótico (Bacillus subtilis) comparando-se os resultados aos oriundos de dietas inclusas ou não de antimicrobianos. Constatou-se que além do GPD na fase de crescimento II, as demais variações dos resultados sugerem melhor conversão alimentar dos animais submetidos ao tratamento com probiótico, quando os animais foram segregados da condição comercial de produção para a condição experimental. A inclusão de probiótico na dieta melhorou a digestibilidade aparente da proteína, indicando também melhor digestibilidade da matéria seca, da energia e da relação energia digestível: energia bruta. Não houve significativa perda de capital, quando se optou pela inclusão dietética do probiótico, ao invés do antibiótico. Fezes oriundas da dieta com probiótico produziram menor quantidade de metano que aquelas da combinação probiótico e antibiótico ou só o antibiótico. / Probiotics are indicated as alternatives to reduce infections from pathogenic microorganisms and improve health and animal performance. The objective of this research was to evaluate growth performance, nutrient balance, economic parameters, faces methane production and feces microbial status of pigs feed probiotic (Bacillus subtilis) and different protein. Results from antibiotic diet were compared with probiotic diet in all situations. Beside weight gain (AWG) during growth phase II, most of results suggest better feed conversion for pigs under probiotic diet, under segregation condition form farm and conventional pig production. The probiotic inclusion in the diet improved the protein digestibility as well suggested better dry matter and energy digestibility and digestibility: gross energy rate. There is no significant capital loss with probiotic inclusion in the diet compared to antibiotic inclusion. Feces derived from pigs fed with probiotic diet produced less methane than those pigs fed with probiotic and antibiotic diet or antibiotic diet.

Fat, oil, and grease residues, food particles, solids and some kitchen wastewaters are collected in grease traps which are separate from the municipal wastewater stream. Grease traps are emptied periodically and grease trap waste (GTW) is hauled for treatment. This dissertation focuses on anaerobic co-digestion of un-dewatered (raw) GTW with municipal wastewater treatment sludge (MWS) at wastewater treatment plants. In particular, this research focuses on the biochemical methane potential of un-dewatered GTW as well as the stability and performance of anaerobic co-digestion of MWS and un-dewatered GTW. A set of modified biochemical methane potential tests was performed to determine the methane potential of un-dewatered GTW under mesophilic conditions (35 °C). Methane potential of un-dewatered GTW in this study was 606 mL CH₄/g VS [subscript added] which is less than previously reported methane potentials of 845 - 1050 mL CH₄/g VS [subscript added] for concentrated/dewatered GTW. However, the methane potential of un-dewatered GTW (606 mL CH₄/g VS [subscript added]) was more than two times greater than the 223 mL CH₄/g VS [subscript added] reported for MWS digestion alone. A comprehensive study was performed to determine the stability and performance of anaerobic co-digestion of MWS with un-dewatered GTW as a function of increasing GTW feed ratios. The performance of two semi-continuously fed anaerobic digesters at 35 °C was evaluated as a function of increasing GTW feed ratios. Anaerobic co-digestion of MWS with un-dewatered GTW at a 46% GTW feed ratio (on a volatile solids basis) resulted in a 67% increase in methane production and a 26% increase in volatile solids reduction compared to anaerobic digestion of MWS alone. On the other hand, anaerobic co-digestion of un-dewatered GTW resulted in a higher inhibition threshold (46% on VS basis) than that of dewatered GTW. These results indicate that using un-dewatered GTW instead of dewatered GTW can reduce the inhibition risk of anaerobic co-digestion of MWS and GTW. Recovery of the anaerobic digesters following upset conditions was also evaluated and semi-continuous feed of digester effluent into upset digesters yielded of the biogas production level of the undisrupted digestion. Finally, a mathematical model was used to describe the relationship between methane potential and GTW feed ratio on a VS basis. The results of this research can be used to predict methane production and identify suitable GTW feeding ratios for successful co-digestion of un-dewatered GTW and MWS. / text

The aim of this thesis was to determine effect of drainage, restoration and addition of mineral and organic nitrogen to spruce swamp forest soil on potential methane production and oxidation. Six study sites (2 pristine, 2 drained and 2 restored) were located in Šumava National Park in the Czech Republic.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:33:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2011-08-26Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:45:14Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 meneses_sl_dr_jabo.pdf: 771014 bytes, checksum: b5bd515c6b311e1b6141c69275171d05 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / O aproveitamento energético do biogás oriundo da codigestão cana-de-açúcar e silagem de cana com esterco bovino é uma iniciativa desenvolvida visando mitigar o efeito estufa e dar mais sustentabilidade à matriz energética. Objetivou-se avaliar a viabilidade da codigestão anaeróbia do esterco bovino com cana de açúcar e esterco bovino com silagem de cana no potencial de produção de biogás e metano. O trabalho foi realizado no Laboratório de Biomassa e Biodigestão Anaeróbia da Unesp,campus de Jaboticabal. Foram utilizados biodigestores de bancada, tipo batelada com capacidade de 2 litros. Foram analisados pH, alcalinidade, acidez volátil, macro e micronutrientes, fibra em detergente neutro (FDN), fibra em detergente ácido (FDA), lignina, celulose, hemicelulose, teores de sólidos totais (ST) e sólidos voláteis (SV). O pH com 10 dias após abastecimento variou de 5,62 à 5,98 para cana 10% e somente esterco, respectivamente. A alcalinidade e acidez foram satisfatórios para todos os tratamentos analisados. A produção total acumulada de biogás variou de 0,01597m³ à 0,1916m³ para silagem 10% e cana 5%, respectivamente. O potencial de produção de biogás por kg de SV reduzidos variou de 0,54 à 7,05 m³/kg para os tratamentos silagem 10% e cana 5%, respectivamente. O potencial de produção de metano por kg de SV reduzidos foi respectivamente, 0,35 à 4,12m³/kg para silagem 10% e cana 5%. As reduções de ST, SV e fração fibrosa hemicelulose foram mais efetivas no tratamento com esterco. No tratamento cana 5% as maiores reduções ocorreram nas frações FDN, FDA e celulose. Conclui-se que a codigestão de esterco bovino com cana de açúcar na proporção 5% teve melhor rendimento em relação aos outros tratamentos avaliados / The energetic use of biogas that is a result of the co-digestion of sugar cane and sugar cane silage with cattle manure is one of the alternatives that may be developed in order to reduce the greenhouse effect and give more sustainability to the energetic matrix. The aim of the study was to evaluate the viability of the anaerobic co-digestion of sugar cane and cattle manure and sugar cane silage and cattle manure to produce biogas and methane. The study was done in the Biodigestion Anaerobic Laboratory from São Paulo State University, Jaboticabal-SP, two liters stand biodigestors of the batch type were used. The parameters used were pH, alkalinity, acidity, macro and micronutrients, NDF, ADF, lignin, celluloses, total solids and volatile solids. After 10 days, the pH varied from 5.62 to 5.98 for sugar cane (10%) and only cattle manure treatments, respectively. The alkalinity and acidity had satisfactory results for all the period. The biogas production varied from 0.01597 m3 to 0.1916 m3 to silage (10%) and sugar cane (5%) treatments, respectively. The biogas production by kg of VS reduced varied from 0.54 to 7.05 m3/kg for silage (10%) and sugar cane (5%) treatments, respectively. The methane production by kg of VS varied from 0.35 m3 to 4.12 m3 for silage (10%) and sugar cane (5%) treatments. The reduction of TS, VS and fibrous fraction were more effective in the treatment sugar (5%). The co-digestion with cattle manure with sugar cane at 5% has better efficiency related to the others

Orientador: Jorge de Lucas Junior / Coorientador: Ana Claudia Ruggieri / Banca: Adélia Pereira Miranda / Banca: Tânia Mara Baptista dos Santos / Banca: José Ricardo Soares Telles de Souza / Banca: Mauro Dal Secco de Oliveira / Resumo: O aproveitamento energético do biogás oriundo da codigestão cana-de-açúcar e silagem de cana com esterco bovino é uma iniciativa desenvolvida visando mitigar o efeito estufa e dar mais sustentabilidade à matriz energética. Objetivou-se avaliar a viabilidade da codigestão anaeróbia do esterco bovino com cana de açúcar e esterco bovino com silagem de cana no potencial de produção de biogás e metano. O trabalho foi realizado no Laboratório de Biomassa e Biodigestão Anaeróbia da Unesp,campus de Jaboticabal. Foram utilizados biodigestores de bancada, tipo batelada com capacidade de 2 litros. Foram analisados pH, alcalinidade, acidez volátil, macro e micronutrientes, fibra em detergente neutro (FDN), fibra em detergente ácido (FDA), lignina, celulose, hemicelulose, teores de sólidos totais (ST) e sólidos voláteis (SV). O pH com 10 dias após abastecimento variou de 5,62 à 5,98 para cana 10% e somente esterco, respectivamente. A alcalinidade e acidez foram satisfatórios para todos os tratamentos analisados. A produção total acumulada de biogás variou de 0,01597m³ à 0,1916m³ para silagem 10% e cana 5%, respectivamente. O potencial de produção de biogás por kg de SV reduzidos variou de 0,54 à 7,05 m³/kg para os tratamentos silagem 10% e cana 5%, respectivamente. O potencial de produção de metano por kg de SV reduzidos foi respectivamente, 0,35 à 4,12m³/kg para silagem 10% e cana 5%. As reduções de ST, SV e fração fibrosa hemicelulose foram mais efetivas no tratamento com esterco. No tratamento cana 5% as maiores reduções ocorreram nas frações FDN, FDA e celulose. Conclui-se que a codigestão de esterco bovino com cana de açúcar na proporção 5% teve melhor rendimento em relação aos outros tratamentos avaliados / Abstract: The energetic use of biogas that is a result of the co-digestion of sugar cane and sugar cane silage with cattle manure is one of the alternatives that may be developed in order to reduce the greenhouse effect and give more sustainability to the energetic matrix. The aim of the study was to evaluate the viability of the anaerobic co-digestion of sugar cane and cattle manure and sugar cane silage and cattle manure to produce biogas and methane. The study was done in the Biodigestion Anaerobic Laboratory from São Paulo State University, Jaboticabal-SP, two liters stand biodigestors of the batch type were used. The parameters used were pH, alkalinity, acidity, macro and micronutrients, NDF, ADF, lignin, celluloses, total solids and volatile solids. After 10 days, the pH varied from 5.62 to 5.98 for sugar cane (10%) and only cattle manure treatments, respectively. The alkalinity and acidity had satisfactory results for all the period. The biogas production varied from 0.01597 m3 to 0.1916 m3 to silage (10%) and sugar cane (5%) treatments, respectively. The biogas production by kg of VS reduced varied from 0.54 to 7.05 m3/kg for silage (10%) and sugar cane (5%) treatments, respectively. The methane production by kg of VS varied from 0.35 m3 to 4.12 m3 for silage (10%) and sugar cane (5%) treatments. The reduction of TS, VS and fibrous fraction were more effective in the treatment sugar (5%). The co-digestion with cattle manure with sugar cane at 5% has better efficiency related to the others / Doutor