With the signing of the Kyoto Protocol, New Zealand must reduce its national greenhouse gas emissions. As New Zealand has a large proportion of its national emissions as methane (~31%), and methane (CH4) has a short atmospheric lifetime, it provides a good target for mitigation strategies. The initial aim of this research was to identify high and low CH4-emitting cattle to assess factors that contribute to low CH4 production. Initial studies using the SF6 tracer technique to estimate CH4 production could not identify consistently high and low CH4 emitters. Research was therefore undertaken to confirm whether this was due to high variation in estimated CH4 yields, and to quantify the within- and between-animal variation in CH4 production when using the SF6 technique. This research showed considerable within- (coefficient of variation, CV = 7-10%) and between-animal (CV = 7-18%) variation in CH4 yield (g CH4/kg DMI) over time when using the SF6 technique. This is larger than the within- (CV = 3%) and between-animal (CV = 10%) variation reported for calorimetry. This led to the recommendation that the SF6 technique not be used in identifying animals for high or low CH4 yield. A power analysis was developed based on the measured variances for the SF6 technique. Results from this analysis provide researchers with important information on the number of animals and measurements per animal required when undertaking CH4 experiments. One of the sources of variation with the SF6 technique is the SF6 release from permeation tubes. Estimated CH4 yield increases by approximately 8.5% when going from a release rate of 3 mg SF6/day to a rate of 5 mg SF6/day. Further, an in vitro study indicated that SF6 release from permeation tubes is approximately 8% lower in rumen fluid than in air. While further research is required to confirm these results, they emphasise the need to allow time for the release rate to stabilise in the rumen for 4-5 days prior to undertaking measurements. It also led to the recommendation that release rates used in experiments should be within a narrow range, and balanced across experimental treatments.

With the expansion of the Tillamook Creamery, in Tillamook Oregon, to double or more its cheese production, the demand for milk presents an economic opportunity for the member dairies of the Tillamook County Creamery Association. Before area dairies can expand their herd size to increase milk production for the creamery, the problem of manure waste management and pollution control must be solved. This study considers the technical and economic feasibility of developing a centralized waste treatment and methane generation facility to treat manure generated by Tillamook County dairies. A computer program modeling animal waste anaerobic digester design served as the basis for generating cost and production estimates for several hypothetical scenarios assuming input data specific to the Tillamook situation. A follow up study was also made to determine the variability of the potential ultimate methane yield of manures from Tillamook dairies. This study indicates that the proposed system is technically feasible. The study estimates that a comprehensive treatment system could cost dairymen from $70 to $100 per cow per year to start, but the economic feasibility improves as more manure is treated and more dairies participate. A full scale system has the potential to break even economically from the sale of electricity produced by a 5 megawatt methane powered generator. With the marketing of treated solids as a high grade fertilizer the system could gross a return of $1 to $75 per cow per year, depending on the scenario. / Graduation date: 1992

O presente trabalho teve como principal objetivo avaliar o desempenho de um reator anaeróbio híbrido (RAnH) em escala piloto no tratamento da fração líquida de estrume bovino, visando à remoção de matéria orgânica e à produção de biogás. O RAnH estudado apresentava volume total 6,2 m3 e foi composto por manta de lodo, na qual a biomassa encontrava-se suspensa, e leito fixo, no qual utilizou-se Biobob® como material suporte para imobilização da biomassa. Para dar suporte a partida do RAnH, a água residuária em estudo foi submetida a teste de biodegradabilidade visando avaliar a influencia da inoculação do reator no potencial de biodegradabilidade e de produção de metano. No teste, a inoculação mostrou-se adequada, apresentando biodegradabilidade de 57 ± 4% e produção de metano de 344 ± 26 mL CH4. g SV-1. A operação do RAnH foi realizada por 260 dias e foi dividida em duas etapas: etapa inicial, na qual se procedeu a adequação da operação do reator, e etapa experimental, na qual se avaliou o desempenho do reator perante o aumento progressivo da carga orgânica aplicada. Durante a operação do reator foi alcançada a aplicação de COV bruta total de 25,50 ± 2,53 kg DQO.m-3.d-1 e a COV solúvel total de 7,69 ± 0,02 kg DQO.m-3.d-1, sendo atingido o TDH de 1,27 ± 0,004 d. O RAnH apresentou eficiência de remoção média de 65 ± 4 % durante a etapa experimental. A produção média de metano foi de 0,310 ± 0,095 m3 CH4. m-3.d-1 e 0,098 ± 0,018 m3 CH4. kg SVad, com 89 ± 3% de metano na composição do biogás. O potencial de produção de energia elétrica estimada com base no reaproveitamento metano produzido no RAnH foi de 0,89 kWh.m-3. O aproveitamento desta energia em sistema com vazão de 3.500 m3.d-1 geraria energia suficiente para abastecer 615 residências e uma economia mensal de R$ 11.835,09. / The main objective of this work was to evaluate the performance of a pilot-scale anaerobic hybrid reactor (RAnH) in the treatment of the liquid fraction of dairy manure, in order to remove organic matter and produce biogas. The applied RAnH had a total volume of 6.2 m3 and was composed of sludge blanket, in which the biomass was suspended, and fixed bed, in which Biobob® was applied as a support material for biomass immobilization. In order to support RAnH startup, the wastewater under study was submitted to a biodegradability test to evaluate the influence of reactor inoculation on the biodegradability potential and methane production potential. In the test the inoculated condition presented appropriate biodegradability (57 ± 4%) and higher methane production potential (344 ± 26 mL CH4.gVS-1). The RAnH operation was performed for 260 days and was divided into two stages: initial stage, in which the reactor operation was adjusted, and the experimental stage, in which the reactor performance was evaluated with the progressive increase of the applied organic load. During the reactor operation was reachead total raw VOC application of 25.50 ± 2.53 kg COD m-3.d-1 and total soluble VOC of 7.69 ± 0.02 kg COD m-3.d-1, with the HRT of 1.27 ± 0.004 d. The RAnH presented average removal efficiency of 65 ± 4% during the experimental stage. The average methane production was 0.310 ± 0.095 m3 CH4.m-3.d-1 and 0.098 ± 0.018 m3 CH4. kg VSad, with 89 ± 3% of methane in the biogas composition. The potential of electric energy production estimated based on the reuse of the methane produced in the RAnH was 0,89 kWh.m-3. The use of this energy in a system with a flow of 3,500 m3.d-1 would generate sufficient energy to supply 615 homes and a monthly saving of R$ 11,835.09.

Microbial electrosynthesis (MES) is an emerging biotechnology platform for the conversion of CO2 feedstocks into value-added chemical commodities. In MES, microbial catalysts use the cathode (electrons/ H2) as a sole source of energy for the reduction of CO2. Integrating MES technology with renewable energy sources, such as solar power, to convert CO2 to storable chemicals is an example of a perfect circular economy and a sustainable climate change mitigation strategy. However, many knowledge gaps need to be addressed to scale-up MES as an economically viable chemical production process. Therefore, different in-depth approaches were tested in this dissertation by optimizing the cathode architecture and exploring the saline application to enhance MES performance. A balance between various bio-physicochemical phenomena at the MES cathode, i.e., the three-phase interface between CO2 gas, cathodic-biofilm, and electrolyte, is desirable for efficient microbial electrochemical CO2 capture and utilization. To address this problem, this thesis investigated alternatives to the benchmark carbonbased plane cathode by applying a dual-functioning (cathode as well as a CO2 gas-transfer membrane) electrode architecture on MES performance. High Faradaic efficiencies for CO2 reduction were achieved with this novel cathode architecture. This hollow-fiber electrode architecture was also applied to MES operation in saline conditions (i.e., Saline-MES). Because seawater potentially acts as an endless source of saline electrolyte, and its high electrical conductivity useful to minimize the concentration overpotential losses occurs in MES. However, exploring robust halophilic microbial catalysts with high selectivity towards CO2 reduction to the desired end product(s) is necessary to develop the saline-MES process. Therefore, this thesis investigated natural saline habitats with hyper (Red sea brine pool) and moderate salinity (mangrove and salt marsh sediment) as a source of inoculum. Emphasis was placed on improving new knowledge in the direction of halophilic CO2 reducing communities enrichment using cathode selective pressure in the saline-MES. The fundamental insights demonstrated in this dissertation are useful for further development of MES technology, to bring MES one step closer to full-scale applications, for overcoming the bottlenecks associated with reactor scaling-up related to cathode architecture, strategies for the enrichment of halophilic CO2 reducing microbial communities, and saline-MES process optimization.

The aim of the study was to determine the effects of different dietary fibre levels on methane production and growth performance of Bonsmara and Nguni steers. Nine Bonsmara and nine Nguni male weaners aged 8 – 9 months were used for the study. On arrival, animals were fed Eragrostis curvula hay on ad libitum basis for the first 14 days as part of adaptation to the feedlot environment. Animals were gradually adapted to treatments to prevent metabolic disorders. The study was conducted as a 3 x 3 x 2 factorial experiment. Treatments were allocated in a completely randomised design. Data were submitted to analysis of variance (ANOVA). Student's t-LSD was calculated at the 5 % level (P < 0.05) to compare treatment means for significant effects. Feeding a diet that is low in crude fibre content had significantly increased (P < 0.05) growth performance in both breeds. Bonsmara steers had significantly higher growth performance (P < 0.0001) across all treatment diets compared to Nguni steers. High rumen total microbial count was observed in animals that received diets with low crude fibre. Reducing dietary crude fibre resulted in reduced methane production. Low dietary fibre showed low rumen archaea counts. There was a positive correlation between rumen pH and methane emission for both Bonsmara (R2 = 0.9105) and Nguni (R2 = 0.9517) steers. However, a negative correlation was observed between rumen total microbial count and feed conversion ratio for both Bonsmara (R2 = 0.8286) and Nguni (R2 = 0.7208) steers. The low rumen archaea counts were detected from the Bonsmara. Feeding diets with low fibre levels is recommended for improving growth performance and reducing methane production for Bonsmara and Nguni steers. / Agriculture and  Animal Health / M. Sc. (Agriculture)

Coal reservoir quality in the Ferron Sandstone Member of the Mancos Shale, and in the Fruitland Formation is dependent on coal cleat characteristics. Coal reservoir permeability increases as a result of high cleat density. From careful outcrop examination, we were able to identify several factors that increase cleat density. Vitrain coal typically has the highest fracture density as a result of having well-developed face cleats and conchoidal fractures. Clarain coal contains face and butt cleats. Cleat density in clarain is also controlled by mechanical layer thickness. As mechanical layer thickness decreases, cleat density increases. Durain and fusain coals typically contain no welldeveloped cleat system, although their presence can affect mechanical layer thickness in adjacent coals, as they may form bounding units. Cleat density increases in the damage zone of faults and in the hinge-line of folds. Cleat-controlled reservoir permeability has beneficially affected methane production in one portion of the Drunkards Wash Gas Field, Utah, and appears to have negatively influenced methane production in the coalbed methane field.

A aplicação da digestão anaeróbia aparece como opção para processamento da vinhaça, visto que por meio deste processo é possível aliar a recuperação de energia (hidrogênio e metano) ao enquadramento ambiental deste resíduo sem interferir em suas qualidades como biofertilizante. Nesse sentido, este trabalho avaliou a aplicação da digestão anaeróbia da vinhaça em sistema combinado acidogênico e metanogênico. Inicialmente, avaliou-se a influência de materiais suportes (argila expandida, carvão vegetal, cerâmica porosa e polietileno de baixa densidade) na produção de hidrogênio, em reatores de leito empacotado (APBR) operados em condição mesofílica (25°C) (Etapa 1). De uma forma geral, apenas traços de hidrogênio foram observados nos reatores preenchidos com partículas de carvão vegetal e cerâmica porosa (2 - 7,9 mL-H2.d-1.L-1 reator). Por outro lado, os valores para a produção volumétrica de hidrogênio (PVH) nos reatores com argila expandida e polietileno de baixa densidade foram dez vezes superior (74,3 - 84,2 mL-H2.d-1.L-1 reator), todavia, estatisticamente iguais. O critério de seleção do material suporte ocorreu com base em relatos na literatura que indicaram rebaixamento do leito e entupimento da saída de reatores APBR preenchidos com argila expandida. Portanto, o polietileno de baixa densidade foi escolhido como melhor opção dentre os suportes avaliados. Não obstante, a baixa relação C/N da vinhaça associada à microaeração do sistema (presença de microrganismos anóxicos) afetou severamente os reatores APBR com diferentes materiais suportes, levando-os à falência. Na segunda etapa, adotou-se a operação dos APBR preenchidos com polietileno de baixa densidade, em condição termofílica (55°C) a fim de diminuir o rendimento da biomassa acidogênica e a solubilidade do oxigênio. Adicionalmente, foi avaliada influência da Carga Orgânica Volumétrica aplicada (COVa - 36,4 - 108,6 kg- DQO.m-3.d-1), por meio da variação do Tempo de Detenção Hidráulica (TDH - 8 - 24 h). Produção contínua de hidrogênio foi observada em todos os reatores operados em condição termofílica (Etapa 2). Nessa etapa, estabeleceu-se a condição ótima de operação com COVa de 84,2 kg-DQO.m-3.d-1 e TDH de 10 h, resultando em PVH de valor 575,3 mL-H2.d-1.L-1 reator e rendimento de hidrogênio (Y1H2) de 1,4 mol-H2.mol-1 carboidratos totais. Na Etapa III, essas condições foram impostas na operação do APBR, resultando em aumento de 18,2% e 14,2% nos valores de PVH e Y1H2, respectivamente, em relação aos dados obtidos na Etapa II. Em paralelo, foram operados dois reatores metanogênicos do tipo manta de lodo (UASB), compondo um sistema único (UASB) e um sistema combinado (APBR/UASB). A produção de energia no sistema combinado foi 25,7% superior ao observado no sistema único. A eficiência de remoção da matéria orgânica total e solúvel aumentou de 60,7 ± 0,3% e 72,6% ± 1,2% no sistema único e 74,6 ± 0,3% e 96,1 ± 1,7% no sistema combinado, respectivamente, sob COVa de 25 kg-DQO.m-3.d-1 (calculada para os sistemas metanogênicos). / Anaerobic digestion application appears as an option for sugar cane vinasse processing, since via this process it is possible to combine the energy recovery (hydrogen and methane) to the environmental framework of this residue without interfering in their qualities as biofertilizer. In this sense, this study evaluated the application of anaerobic digestion of vinasse in two-stage system (acidogenic and methanogenic). Initially, it was evaluated the influence of support material (expanded clay, charcoal, porous ceramics, and low-density polyethylene) on hydrogen production in acidogenic packed bed reactors (APBR) operated under mesophilic condition (25°C) (Phase 1). In general, only traces of hydrogen were observed in APBR filled with charcoal and porous ceramics particles (2 - 7.9 mL-H2.d-1.L-1 reactor). On the other hand, in APBR with expanded clay and low-density polyethylene as support, the values for volumetric hydrogen production (VHP) were ten times higher (74.3 - 84.2 mL-H2.d-1.L-1 reactor), however, statistically equal. The selection criteria of support material was based on reports in the literature that indicated bed lowering and clogging in APBR outlet with expanded clay as support. Therefore, the low-density polyethylene was chosen as the best support among those evaluated. Nevertheless, the low C/N ratio of vinasse associated to microaeration condition in the systems (presence of microorganisms anoxic) severely affected the APBR with different support materials, leading them to bankruptcy. In the second phase, it was adopted the operation of APBR filled with low density polyethylene in thermophilic conditions (55°C) in order to reduce the acidogenic biomass yield and oxygen solubility. Moreover, it was evaluated the influence of organic loading rate (OLR - 36.4 to 108.6 kg-COD.m-3.d-1) by hydraulic retention time varying (HRT - 8 - 24 h). Continuous hydrogen production was observed in all reactors operated at 55°C (Phase 2). In this phase, it was established the optimum condition of operation, OLR of 84.2 kg-COD.m-3.d-1 and HRT of 10 h, resulting in values for PVH and hydrogen yield (Y1H2) of 575.3 mL-H2.d-1.L-1 reactor and 1.4 mol-H2.mol-1 total carbohydrates, respectively. In Phase III, these conditions were imposed on the operation of the APBR, resulting in an increase of 18.2% and 14.2% in the values of PVH and Y1H2, respectively, compared to the data obtained in Phase II. In parallel, two methanogenic reactors were operated (Up-flow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket UASB type), which composed a single stage system (UASB) and a two-stage system (APBR/UASB). The energy production in the two-stage system was 25.7% higher compared to the single stage system. The values for total and soluble organic matter removal were 60.7 ± 0.3% and 72.6 ± 1.2% to single stage system and 74.6 ± 0.3% and 96.1 ± 1.7% to two-stage system, respectively, at OLR of 25 kg-COD.m-3.d-1 (calculated for the methanogenic reactors).

A aplicação da digestão anaeróbia aparece como opção para processamento da vinhaça, visto que por meio deste processo é possível aliar a recuperação de energia (hidrogênio e metano) ao enquadramento ambiental deste resíduo sem interferir em suas qualidades como biofertilizante. Nesse sentido, este trabalho avaliou a aplicação da digestão anaeróbia da vinhaça em sistema combinado acidogênico e metanogênico. Inicialmente, avaliou-se a influência de materiais suportes (argila expandida, carvão vegetal, cerâmica porosa e polietileno de baixa densidade) na produção de hidrogênio, em reatores de leito empacotado (APBR) operados em condição mesofílica (25°C) (Etapa 1). De uma forma geral, apenas traços de hidrogênio foram observados nos reatores preenchidos com partículas de carvão vegetal e cerâmica porosa (2 - 7,9 mL-H2.d-1.L-1 reator). Por outro lado, os valores para a produção volumétrica de hidrogênio (PVH) nos reatores com argila expandida e polietileno de baixa densidade foram dez vezes superior (74,3 - 84,2 mL-H2.d-1.L-1 reator), todavia, estatisticamente iguais. O critério de seleção do material suporte ocorreu com base em relatos na literatura que indicaram rebaixamento do leito e entupimento da saída de reatores APBR preenchidos com argila expandida. Portanto, o polietileno de baixa densidade foi escolhido como melhor opção dentre os suportes avaliados. Não obstante, a baixa relação C/N da vinhaça associada à microaeração do sistema (presença de microrganismos anóxicos) afetou severamente os reatores APBR com diferentes materiais suportes, levando-os à falência. Na segunda etapa, adotou-se a operação dos APBR preenchidos com polietileno de baixa densidade, em condição termofílica (55°C) a fim de diminuir o rendimento da biomassa acidogênica e a solubilidade do oxigênio. Adicionalmente, foi avaliada influência da Carga Orgânica Volumétrica aplicada (COVa - 36,4 - 108,6 kg- DQO.m-3.d-1), por meio da variação do Tempo de Detenção Hidráulica (TDH - 8 - 24 h). Produção contínua de hidrogênio foi observada em todos os reatores operados em condição termofílica (Etapa 2). Nessa etapa, estabeleceu-se a condição ótima de operação com COVa de 84,2 kg-DQO.m-3.d-1 e TDH de 10 h, resultando em PVH de valor 575,3 mL-H2.d-1.L-1 reator e rendimento de hidrogênio (Y1H2) de 1,4 mol-H2.mol-1 carboidratos totais. Na Etapa III, essas condições foram impostas na operação do APBR, resultando em aumento de 18,2% e 14,2% nos valores de PVH e Y1H2, respectivamente, em relação aos dados obtidos na Etapa II. Em paralelo, foram operados dois reatores metanogênicos do tipo manta de lodo (UASB), compondo um sistema único (UASB) e um sistema combinado (APBR/UASB). A produção de energia no sistema combinado foi 25,7% superior ao observado no sistema único. A eficiência de remoção da matéria orgânica total e solúvel aumentou de 60,7 ± 0,3% e 72,6% ± 1,2% no sistema único e 74,6 ± 0,3% e 96,1 ± 1,7% no sistema combinado, respectivamente, sob COVa de 25 kg-DQO.m-3.d-1 (calculada para os sistemas metanogênicos). / Anaerobic digestion application appears as an option for sugar cane vinasse processing, since via this process it is possible to combine the energy recovery (hydrogen and methane) to the environmental framework of this residue without interfering in their qualities as biofertilizer. In this sense, this study evaluated the application of anaerobic digestion of vinasse in two-stage system (acidogenic and methanogenic). Initially, it was evaluated the influence of support material (expanded clay, charcoal, porous ceramics, and low-density polyethylene) on hydrogen production in acidogenic packed bed reactors (APBR) operated under mesophilic condition (25°C) (Phase 1). In general, only traces of hydrogen were observed in APBR filled with charcoal and porous ceramics particles (2 - 7.9 mL-H2.d-1.L-1 reactor). On the other hand, in APBR with expanded clay and low-density polyethylene as support, the values for volumetric hydrogen production (VHP) were ten times higher (74.3 - 84.2 mL-H2.d-1.L-1 reactor), however, statistically equal. The selection criteria of support material was based on reports in the literature that indicated bed lowering and clogging in APBR outlet with expanded clay as support. Therefore, the low-density polyethylene was chosen as the best support among those evaluated. Nevertheless, the low C/N ratio of vinasse associated to microaeration condition in the systems (presence of microorganisms anoxic) severely affected the APBR with different support materials, leading them to bankruptcy. In the second phase, it was adopted the operation of APBR filled with low density polyethylene in thermophilic conditions (55°C) in order to reduce the acidogenic biomass yield and oxygen solubility. Moreover, it was evaluated the influence of organic loading rate (OLR - 36.4 to 108.6 kg-COD.m-3.d-1) by hydraulic retention time varying (HRT - 8 - 24 h). Continuous hydrogen production was observed in all reactors operated at 55°C (Phase 2). In this phase, it was established the optimum condition of operation, OLR of 84.2 kg-COD.m-3.d-1 and HRT of 10 h, resulting in values for PVH and hydrogen yield (Y1H2) of 575.3 mL-H2.d-1.L-1 reactor and 1.4 mol-H2.mol-1 total carbohydrates, respectively. In Phase III, these conditions were imposed on the operation of the APBR, resulting in an increase of 18.2% and 14.2% in the values of PVH and Y1H2, respectively, compared to the data obtained in Phase II. In parallel, two methanogenic reactors were operated (Up-flow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket UASB type), which composed a single stage system (UASB) and a two-stage system (APBR/UASB). The energy production in the two-stage system was 25.7% higher compared to the single stage system. The values for total and soluble organic matter removal were 60.7 ± 0.3% and 72.6 ± 1.2% to single stage system and 74.6 ± 0.3% and 96.1 ± 1.7% to two-stage system, respectively, at OLR of 25 kg-COD.m-3.d-1 (calculated for the methanogenic reactors).

A digestão anaeróbia é uma alternativa para o tratamento de resíduos com altas concentrações de matéria orgânica. Por meio dos processos anaeróbios é possível a produção de biogás, fonte de energia renovável e ambientalmente amigável. Elevadas concentrações de lipídios, todavia, apesar de representarem elevado potencial metanogênico, interferem negativamente nos sistemas de tratamento, podendo inibir a atividade microbiana e, consequentemente, a produção de metano. O presente projeto avaliou o efeito da adição de bagaço de cana-de-açúcar no processo de biodigestão anaeróbia de elevadas concentrações de gorduras advindas de efluentes de laticínio. Para tanto foi utilizado bagaço de cana-de-açúcar in natura e pré-tratadas pelos seguintes métodos: organossolve, hidrotérmico, explosão à vapor e ácido diluído. O uso desse material lignocelulósico teve o objetivo de controlar a inibição causada pelos produtos da hidrólise dos lipídios por meio de sua adsorção e, consequentemente, diminuição das concentrações de tais compostos no meio. Outra hipótese era que o bagaço de cana-de-açúcar pudessem agir como co-substrato no processo de biodigestão anaeróbia. Inicialmente realizaram-se ensaios de biodegradabilidade anaeróbia com concentrações crescentes de gordura, que resultaram em relação entre substrato e microrganismo 0,06, 0,1, 0,2, 0,4 e 0,6 g DQO/gSTV. O ensaio com concentração em que foi verificada a inibição severa (0,4 gDQO/gSTV) do processo foi repetido com adição das fibras tratadas e não tratadas. Aos dados de produção acumulada de metano ajustou-se modelo de Gompertz, e parâmetros cinéticos foram inferidos. O bagaço de cana-de-açúcar mostrou potencial como adsorvente de gordura, pois as produções metanogênicas foram superiores à condição inibida sem adição desse material. A adição de fibras pré-tratadas por método organossolve resultou nas maiores produções de metano. / Anaerobic digestion is an alternative for treating waste with high concentrations of organic matter. Through anaerobic processes biogas production is possible, which represents environmentally friendly renewable energy source. High lipid concentrations, however, although having high methanogenic potential, may negatively interfere with the treatment systems causing microbial activity inhibition and, consequently, depleting the production of methane. This project evaluated the effect of addition of cellulosic fibers in the anaerobic digestion process of high concentrations of fatty residues from dairy effluents. Therefore, sugarcane bagasse fibers were used in natura and pretreated by the following methods: organosolve, hydrothermal, steam explosion and dilute acid. The use of the fibers had the objective to control the inhibition caused by the products of the hydrolysis of lipids through adsorption and thus decrease the concentrations of such compounds in the medium. We also had the hypothesis that the cellulosic fibers could act as co-substrate in the anaerobic digestion process. Initially, anaerobic biodegradability tests were set with increasing concentrations of fatty residue, which resulted in relation entity substrate and microorganism of 0.057; 0.12; 0.24; 0.37 and 0.57 g COD / gSTV. The assay in which severe inhibition was verified (0.37 g COD/gSTV) was repeated with addition of treated and untreated fibers. The sugarcane bagasse showed potential as adsorbent because the methanogenic yields in the presence of the fibers were higher than the inhibited condition, without addition of that material. The addition of pretreated fibers by organosolv method resulted in higher methane production.

Anaerobic digestion, which is the process by which bacteria breakdown organic matter to produce biogas (renewable energy source) and digestate (biofertiliser) in the absence of oxygen, proves to be the ideal concept not only for sustainable energy provision but also for effective organic waste management. However, the production amount of biogas to keep up with the global demand is limited by the underperformance in the system implementing the AD process. This underperformance is due to the difficulty in obtaining and maintaining the optimal operating parameters/states for anaerobic bacteria to thrive with regards to attaining a specific critical population number, which results in maximising the biogas production. This problem continues to exist as a result of insufficient knowledge of the interactions between the operating parameters and bacterial community. In addition, the lack of sufficient knowledge of the composition of bacterial groups that varies with changes in the operating parameters such as temperature, substrate and retention time. Without sufficient knowledge of the overall impact of the physico-environmental operating parameters on anaerobic bacterial growth and composition, significant improvement of biogas production may be difficult to attain. In order to mitigate this problem, this study has presented a nonlinear multi-parameter system modelling of mesophilic AD. It utilised raw data sets generated from laboratory experimentation of the influence of four operating parameters, temperature, pH, mixing speed and pressure on biogas and methane production, signifying that this is a multiple input single output (MISO) system. Due to the nonlinear characteristics of the data, the nonlinear black-box modelling technique is applied. The modelling is performed in MATLAB through System Identification approach. Two nonlinear model structures, autoregressive with exogenous input (NARX) and Hammerstein-Wiener (NLHW) with different nonlinearity estimators and model orders are chosen by trial and error and utilised to estimate the models. The performance of the models is determined by comparing the simulated outputs of the estimated models and the output in the validation data. The approach is used to validate the estimated models by checking how well the simulated output of the models fits the measured output. The best models for biogas and methane production are chosen by comparing the outputs of the best NARX and NLHW models (each for biogas and methane production), and the validation data, as well as utilising the Akaike information criterion to measure the quality of each model relative to each of the other models. The NLHW models mhw2 and mhws2 are chosen for biogas and methane production, respectively. The identified NLHW models mhw2 and mhws2 represent the behaviour of the production of biogas and methane, respectively, from mesophilic AD. Among all the candidate models studied, the nonlinear models provide a superior reproduction of the experimental data over the whole analysed period. Furthermore, the models constructed in this study cannot be used for scale-up purpose because they are not able to satisfy the rules and criteria for applying dimensional analysis to scale-up.