The production of biodiesel and ethanol as well as the citrus fruit processing are essential activities for Brazilian’s economic and social development. These processes generate large amounts of residue that are excellent feedstocks for bioenergy production. The goal of this research was to evaluate the bioconversion of glycerol into H2 by dark fermentation process, using purified glycerol (PG) as substrate and bagasse biochar (BB) as support material to the inoculum, which was obtained from the raw effluent of citrus processing industry. To create the BB, samples of sugarcane bagasse were torrified in low temperatures (240, 260 and 280 °C), for 1h in static air. These biomaterials were characterized by ATR mid-infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, elemental analysis, high-resolution scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, BET surface area and by the total electron exchange capacities. Inoculum was subjected to heat treatment (100 °C, 15 min), followed by reactivation for cell enrichment and purification. Assays were performed in batch reactors (50 mL) containing 0.5 g L-1 of BB added to the synthetic substrate (20 mL), pH=6.5, composed by: meat extract, yeast extract, peptone (5 g L-1, each), and PG (10 g L-1). The headspace was filled with N2 (100%) and the systems were maintained at 37°C. H2 production was quantified using a gas chromatograph with thermal conductivity detector and the by-products were determined by ion chromatography conductivity detector. It was observed an increase in H2 production for all assays performed with biochars, in relation to the control assay (without biochar). After 30h, H2 generation was 25% higher in the presence of BB280 (12.3 mmol L-1), with butyric acid (2,000 mg L-1) and acetic acid (521 mg L-1) as the main by-products. Biochar applied in anaerobic batch reactors fed with glycerol is an interesting strategy to increase the clean energy production from residues, improving the bioeconomy of biodiesel and agroindustries.

Improving the bioconversion of glycerol into hydrogen using biochar obtained from sugarcane bagasse and inoculum from effluent of citrus industry

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.