Influence of crude glycerol load and pH shocks on the granulation and microbial diversity of a sulfidogenic Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket reactor
Mora Garrido, Mabel (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament d'Enginyeria Química, Biològica i Ambiental)
Lafuente Sancho, Francisco Javier (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament d'Enginyeria Química, Biològica i Ambiental)
Gabriel, David (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament d'Enginyeria Química, Biològica i Ambiental)

Date:	2020
Abstract:	Bioscrubbers are an environmental-friendly alternative to valorize SO2 contained in flue gases to obtain elemental sulfur as final value-added product. The bottleneck of a SO2 bioscrubber relies on the heterotrophic reduction of the absorbed SO2 to obtain sulfide. In this study, the performance and stability of a sulfidogenic Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket reactor (UASB) using crude glycerol was investigated during 6 months of operation under variable organic loading rates. The UASB presented a maximum elimination capacity and a sulfate removal efficiency of 110 mg S-SO42- L-1 h(-1) and 100%, respectively, when the chemical oxygen demand to sulfate ratio (COD/S-Sulfate) was 8. 5 g O-2 g(-1) S-SO42-. The intermediate compounds identified from crude glycerol degradation were mainly propionic and acetic acid, which varied along the sludge bed together with the pH. Microbial diversity analyses of the sulfidogenic granular sludge showed that the most abundant sulfate reducing genera were Desulfovibrio spp. and Desulfobulbus spp. Methanosaeta and other fermentative/acidogenic microorganisms were also found in significant amounts. Particle size distribution analyses showed that biogas production allowed the granulation of the sulfidogenic sludge, which had an average particle size ranging from 729. 3 mu m (lower part of the bed) to 391. 7 mu m (upper part of the test). A short-term pH shock caused a detrimental effect over the system performance due to degranulation. Concomitantly, biogas production was interrupted and acetic acid was accumulated also causing a significant impact on microbial diversity. Unclassified Clostridiales, Desulfovibrio spp. and Desulfobulbus spp. showed a higher resistance to pH shocks.
Grants:	Agencia Estatal de Investigación RTI2018-099362-B-C21
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, i la comunicació pública de l'obra, sempre que no sigui amb finalitats comercials, i sempre que es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original. No es permet la creació d'obres derivades.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió acceptada per publicar
Subject:	Crude glycerol ; Sludge bed stratification ; SO2 valorization ; SRB ; Sulfidogenesis ; UASB
Published in:	Process Safety and Environmental Protection, Vol. 133 (January 2020) , p. 159-168, ISSN 1744-3598

DOI: 10.1016/j.psep.2019.11.005

Postprint 21 p, 968.2 KB

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