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ABSTRACT
This work aimed at developing a mathematical model that could estimate more precisely the fraction
of chemical oxygen demand (COD) recovered as methane in the biogas and which, effectively,
represented the potential for energy recovery in upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactors
treating domestic wastewater. The model sought to include all routes of conversion and losses in
the reactor, including the portion of COD used for the reduction of sulfates and the loss of methane in
the residual gas and dissolved in the effluent. Results from the production of biogas in small- and
large-scale UASB reactors were used to validate the model. The results showed that the model
allowed a more realistic estimate of biogas production and of its energy potential.
Key words | anaerobic reactors, biogas, COD balance, domestic wastewater, energy recovery, UASB
reactor
INTRODUCTION
The mass balance of chemical oxygen demand (COD) to
estimate the recovery of methane and energy in anaerobic
reactors usually does not consider the portion of COD
used in sulfate reduction, nor the portions lost as dissolved
methane in the effluent or emitted to the atmosphere. It is
known that the portion of COD used in sulfate reduction
is small due to the low concentration of sulfates in domestic
wastewater, usually in the range of 20-100 mg SO^^ L"^
(Singh & Viraraghavan 1998; Metcalf & Eddy 2003), but it
is still important to consider it in the models that estimate
the production of methane. On the other hand, in relation
to the COD converted to methane, a significant portion
could be dissolved in tbe liquid pbase and be lost witb tbe
final effluent (Agrawal et al 1997; Hartley & Lant 2006;
Souza & Cbernicbaro 2on). Furthermore, methane loss
can also occur due to emissions on the settler surface of
upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactors. Measurements taken by Souza & Cbernicbaro (2on) indicated tbat,
of all the methane produced in UASB reactors treating domestic wastewater, tbe portion dissolved in tbe effluent varied
from 36 to 40%, wbile tbe portion emitted on tbe surface of
the settlers was in the order of 4%, constituting the waste
gas. To explain these huge losses of dissolved methane.
Hartley & Lant (2006) developed the hypothesis that the
methane dissolved in tbe effluent of different types of
anaerobic reactors could be supersaturated in relation to
doi: 10.2166/wst.2012.514
tbe saturation calculated according to Henry's law. Therefore, the measurements taken by Souza & Chernicharo
(2on) in anaerobic reactors treating domestic (low concentration) wastewater and operated at a very low organic
loading rate (around 1.5 kg COD m"^ d"^) are in accordance with tbis hypothesis.
The loss of methane dissolved in tbe effluent or in the
waste gas not only represents a loss of potential energy but
also contributes to the emission of greenhouse gases. Pierotti
(2007) reports a mass balance that considers tbe portion of
COD converted to metbane to be divided into methane in
the biogas and metbane dissolved in tbe effluent, in percentages from 20 to 25% of tbe influent COD, for both portions.
The same mass balance sbows tbe percentage of 40-50% for
tbe COD effluent and 10% for tbe COD that is converted
into sludge. This mass balance takes into account the portion of COD converted to metbane and its division;
however, it does not include tbe portion tbat is due to
sulfidogenesis.
Considering tbat the potential for production and recovery of biogas in UASB reactors tbat treat domestic waste is
considered low (Noyola et al 2006), rarely resulting in
some type of energy use (the biogas is usually burned), the
development of models that permit more precise estimates
of the effective potential energy tbat may be recovered, as
well as the emission factors (losses), becomes important.
2746
L. C. S. Lobato et al.
rates of methane loss. The typical scenario uses intermediary values for the input data.
Input data
The input data considered in the simulation are shown in
Table 1. The variability of the input data (Pop, QPC,
QPCcoD and T) was incorporated into the interpretation
of the model results, through Analysis of Uncertainty,
which is based on a large number of simulations (in this
case, 250 simulations for each scenario), making the socalled Monte Carlo simulation. For each run of the model,
a different set of values for the input data is chosen for
which uncertainty exists. The input data were generated randomly following uniform distribution and within preestablished ranges.
Fractions of the mass baiance of COD and of potentiai
recovery of CH4
r -tf
tn
COD converted into CH4 and lost with the waste gas
* -
i,
I
1
-=HL
COD not converted into CH4, and lost with the effluent
i
COD used by the BRS in sulfate rduction
1
-
2747
Table 1
L. C. S. Lobato e al.
scenario
Reference
Unit
worst
Typical
inbab.
1,000-1,000,000
Best
0.12-0.22
0.09-0.11
60
65
70
0.08
0.06
0.04
80
75
70
Souza (2010)
20-30
kg m"^
7.5
5.0
2.5
7.5
5.0
2.5
0.025
0.020
70
75
80
0/0
(CcH4)
2748
Table 2 I Equations for calculating the portions of the mass balance of COD and energy recovery potential
Portions
Estimate of mean
influent fiowrate
Estimate of daily COD
Equations
Notes
an = Pop X QPC
removal (%)
Estimate of daily COD
mass used by the
biomass
i'coD =
CODCH, =
= CODremoved x
converted into
sulfide
_ CODm, x K x (275-F T)
QCH, px/<coD x 1.000
Qw CH4 = QCH,
Qo-CH.=QcH,xpo
Estimate of actual
methane production
Estimate of available
energy potential
2749
Table 3
Characteristic
Pilot-scale
Demo-scale
Full-scale
Location
CePTS*
CePTS*
Population (inhab.)
140
330,000
30,000
0.02
0.32
660
70
Number of units
24
Dimensions (m)
D = 0.3
D = 2.0
38.4x6.4
21.7x6.2
4.5
1,210.9
4.0
4.5
4.5
0.36
14.0
2,211.9
Full-scale
(*) Centre for Research and Training on Sanitation - Belo Horizonte - Brazil.
(a)
COO not
conerted into
CH4, and lost
witiithe
effluent
m
COD used
in Sulfate
reduction
7%
(b)
(c)
COD
conveftedlnto
sludge ' ' ^
COD used in
^^
sulfate
\
"
reduction
5%
COD
converted into
COD used in f^ng
sulfate
1504
reduction
3%
converted into
CH4, and lost
with the
effluent
35%
COD not
converted into
CH4, and lost
Ottier
C0DCH4
losses
3%
30%
Figure 2 I Result of the simulations of COD mass balance in UASB reactors treating domestic waste, in relation to the infiuent COD for the three scenarios: (a) worst; (b) typical; (c) best.
ergy
(b)
c
400,000 -
'S
300,000
(MJ.
Ir
200,000 i 00,000
s.
Typical
i Best
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
2,500
0
"Wonl
Typical
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
2,500
Figure 3 I Expected ranges of biogas production (a) and potentiai generation of energy (b) in UASB reactors treating domestic wastewater.
2750
Tbe predicted results of biogas production and the corresponding potential for energy recovery, for tbe four UASB
Determination
coefficient (/?')
y = 8.95X
y = 235.92X
0.83
7.52*
y = 185.46
0.75
y = 5.16
y = 118.86
0.64
Scenario
Best
Typical
Worst
"Regression equations were obtained for a set of simulated data during a certain run of the
model.
Table 5 I Unitary relationships for the production of methane, biogas and energy production In UASB reactors treating domestic wastewater
Worst scenario
unitary relationsiiip
Unitary metbane
yield
Unitary energy
potential
unit
NLCH4 inbab"' day"'
iVIaximun'1
Minimum
Typicai scenario
Mean
iVlaximum1
Minimum
Best scenario
iVIean
iVlaximum 1
Minimum
Mean
9.9
3.6
6.8
13.3
7.4
10.2
16.7
11.1
13.7
NLCH4 m"^wastewater
81.7
16.7
42.2
103.7
34.8
64.2
134.6
51.8
81.3
NLCH4kgCOD-eUved
154.1
66.0
113.4
185.8
124.2
158.3
219.1
173.9
196.0
14.1
5.2
9.8
17.7
9.9
13.6
20.8
13.9
17.1
NLbiogas m"^wastewater
116.7
23.8
60.3
138.3
46.4
85.6
168.3
64.8
101.6
NLbiogas kg CODremoved
220.1
94.3
162.0
247.8
165.6
211.1
273.9
217.4
245.0
2.9
MJ m^'^wastewater
2.9
0.6
1.5
3.7
1.2
2.3
4.8
1.9
MJ kg CODr'moved
5.5
2.4
4.1
6.7
4.5
5.7
7.9
6.2
7.0
25.1
25.1
25.1
26.9
26.9
26.9
28.7
28.7
28.7
129.5
47.7
89.7
173.8
96.8
133.8
218.4
145.7
179.3
MJ Nm"^biogas
MJ inbab"' year"'
2751
0.02
0.03
0.02
0.03
measured da ta (pilolseale)
Figure 4 I Validation of the modei using the monitoring data from the pilot-scale UASB reactor: (a) biogas production; (b) potential ot energy recovery.
.1
0.2
0.3
0.1
0.2
0.3
Figure 5 I Validation of the model using the monitoring data from the demonstration-scale UASB reactor: (a) biogas production; (b) potential of energy recovery.
20
40
60
80
20
40
60
80
meastjreddata (Labotcaux WWTP)
Figure 6 I Validation of the model using the monitoring data from the Laboreaux WWTP: (a) biogas production; (b) potentiai of energy recovery.
2752
(a)
(b)
7.000
6.000
fi
5,000
g
3
4,000
1 3.000 .
a.
a
2.000
CQ
/y
/y
1.000
200
400
600
800
1,000
)0
400
600
800
1,000
Figure 7 I validation of ttie model using the monitoring data from the Ona WWTP; (a) biogas production; (b) potential of energy recovery.
y=5.70x
R"=0.81
250
500
750
Figure 8 I Model adjustment to the measured biogas production data; (a) pilot- and demonstration-scale UASB reactors; (b) full-scale UASB reactors.
CONCLUSION
The mathematical model developed enabled better representation of the mass balance of COD and of the potential for
energy recovery in UASB reactors treating domestic wastewater. The results of the simulations performed showed
that the model enables a more realistic estimate of the
amount of biogas that can be recovered from the interior
of the three-phase separators, which effectively represent
the portion available for energy recovery.
The incorporation into the model of the losses of
methane dissolved in the effiuent and in the gaseous phase.
2753
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors wish to acknowledge the support obtained from
the following institutions: Companhia de Saneamento de
Minas Gerais - COPASA; Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientfico e Tecnolgico - CNPq; Fundaao de
Amparo Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais - FAPEMIG;
Sistema Autnomo de Agua e Esgoto de Itabira - SAAE
Itabira.
REFERENCES
Agrawal, L. K., Harada, H. & Okui, H. 1997 Treatment of dilute
wastewater in a UASB reactor at a moderate temperature:
Performance aspects. Journal of Fermentation and
Bioengineering 83 (2), 179-184.
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