CONSTRUCTION AND VALIDATION OF BATCH TYPE BENCH BIODIGESTERS TO QUANTIFY BIOGAS AT LOW COST

Abstract

The objective of this work was to build and validate 24 batch-type biodigestors to quantify biogas produced from the anaerobic fermentation of agro-industrial residues. The effluents and effluents of the biodigesters were characterized in terms of physical parameters (Total Solids, Fixed Solids and Volatile Solids) and physical chemical parameters: (pH and Electrical Conductivity). The yield (L _biogás.kg^-1_SV.ad), the productivity (L_biogás.L^-1_reactor.d^-1) of biogas and the Volumetric Organic Load added COV_ad (kg_SV.L^-1_reactor.d^-1) were calculated. . The experiment was carried out at the Campus of Agricultural Sciences of the Federal University of Vale do São Francisco with a hydraulic retention time of 30 days, using a randomized block design (DBC). The production of biogas from the anaerobic fermentation of the analyzed treatments did not have a significant difference at 5% probability. The physical parameters of the effluents and affluents of the biodigesters showed values similar to those found in the literature for both treatments. The physical chemical parameters of the effluents and effluents of the biodigesters did not remain within the ranges, called ideal described in the literature for biogas production, except for the treatments bovine manure (T2) and sorghum 25% + bovine manure 75% (T4). Cattle manure (T2) showed the highest yield (240.04 L_biogás.kg^-1_SVad) and a higher mean COV_ad of 8.00 kg_SV.L^-1_reactor.d^-1.