Evaluation of methane concentrations generated in a bench bioreactor based on physical and chemical parameters

ABSTRACT

The monitoring of the methane (CH₄) generated in bioreactors allows to evaluate the development of the anaerobic biodegradation of organic solid waste (OSW). The aim of this paper was to evaluate the interpositions caused by physicochemical factors in the methane concentrations generated on a bench bioreactor filled with OSW from a school in the city of Campina Grande (PB), Brasil. The methodology used in the research consisted in confection and instrumentation of a bioreactor of 0.03 m³ capacity, in which were carried out monitoring of methane concentrations, microbiological analysis and of the physical-chemical parameters during a period of 355 days. From the analysis of the results, was found that the pH was above 7.0, during for the most part of the monitoring, indicating that the alkalinity presented by the material used to fill the bioreactor was enough to impede the accumulation of volatile acids occurred in the initial phase of monitoring entailed the destabilization of the system. Thus, it was possible to concluded that the physical-chemical parameters analyzed contributed of satisfactory form for the biodegradation of the waste, leading in consideration that methane concentrations reached the levels expected for this type of reactor, reaching values close to 60%.

Keywords:
biodegradation; bioreactor; methane; organic solid waste