Estudo de viabilidade do emprego de lodo de esgoto e resíduos agrícolas para a geração de bioenergia
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Data
2016-12-12
Autores
Torquato, Lilian Danielle de Moura [UNESP]
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Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp)
Resumo
O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a viabilidade do emprego de lodo anaeróbio, originados pelo processo de tratamento de efluentes sanitários, como biomassa para a geração de energia, o qual foi realizada por diferentes processos de conversão: por combustão, sendo este resíduo aplicado isoladamente ou co-processados com bagaço de cana-de-açúcar; por digestão anaeróbia, aplicando-o como inóculo para a produção biológica de hidrogênio. No processo termoquímico, avaliou-se o desempenho térmico e cinético das biomassas citadas, bem como de suas misturas (“blendas”) em diferentes proporções. Os estudos demonstraram que as blendas, apesar da influência das biomassas precursoras, apresentaram propriedades térmicas distintas destas durante o processo de combustão e dependentes da razão de aquecimento empregadas. Em termos de conteúdo energético, inerentemente, o poder calorífico das blendas cresce com a quantidade de bagaço adicionado, que contribui para o aumento da reatividade destes materiais durante a devolatilização. Entretanto, para a combustão em grande escala, a adição de 75% de bagaço ao lodo não se mostrou viável, por levar ao aumento da energia de ativação (Ea) durante o processo. Por outro lado, apesar de necessitar de maior Ea inicialmente, o lodo demonstrou maior estabilidade ao longo do processo, sugerindo sua capacidade de manter o mesmo rendimento por maior tempo. Os estudos preliminares de emissões gasosas demonstraram um perfil inesperado para a blenda com maior proporção de bagaço, o qual pode ser um reflexo dos resultados obtidos durante a caracterização térmica das biomassas avaliadas. Quanto à abordagem bioquímica, foram realizados ensaios voltados à geração de H2 por meio da digestão anaeróbia, empregando o lodo como inóculo e, como substrato, meio de cultura sintético e efluentes da indústria de processamento de frutas cítricas (a água residuária e a vinhaça citrícola). Este estudo demonstrou a potencialidade de ambos os efluentes citrícolas como substratos, bem como reiteraram a viabilidade de aplicação prática do lodo de esgoto LG para a produção biológica de H2, a qual já havia sido comprovada em meio sintético, inclusive em concentrações crescente de sacarose. Este inóculo apresentou maior potencial biológico quando comparado a amostras de lodo de diferentes sistemas de tratamento de efluentes da região de Araraquara. Paralelamente, foi desenvolvido um método termogravimétrico para a análise imediata de biomassas (umidade, materiais voláteis, carbono fixo e cinzas), no qual foi possível a avaliação de todas as referidas propriedades em uma única medida, realizada em um tempo consideravelmente mais curto em relação a métodos padrão. O método desenvolvido foi validado e aplicado a diferentes tipos de biomassas, demonstrando ser preciso mesmo quando aplicado a uma matriz complexa, como o lodo de esgoto. Em todos os estudos, ficou clara a importância da análise térmica para a caracterização destes resíduos quando se propõe sua aplicação energética, haja visto que fornece parâmetros que servem de base à compreensão dos fatores preponderantes para a futura implantação destes em processos em larga escala. As informações fornecidas por este trabalho certamente podem contribuir para agregar valor a materiais outrora tidos como rejeitos, promovendo-os a fontes potenciais de energia (biomassa) renovável e até mesmo limpa (H2), com alta disponibilidade e custo reduzido.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of using the anaerobic sludge generated by the treatment of sanitary effluents, as biomass for power generation, which was carried out by different conversion processes: combustion, by applying this residue single or co-processed with sugar cane bagasse; anaerobic digestion, by applying sludge as inoculum for the biological production of hydrogen. In the thermochemical process, the thermal and kinetic performance of the related biomasses, as well as of their mixtures ("blends") were evaluated in different proportions. The studies showed that the blends had different thermal properties during combustion process despite the influence of the precursor biomass, which dependes on the heating rate employed. In terms of energy content, inherently, the heating value of the blends increases as increases the amount of bagasse, which contributes to increase the reactivity of these materials during devolatilization. However, for large-scale combustion, the addition of 75% of bagasse to the sludge was not feasible, since it results in a increase of the activation energy (Ea) during the process. On the other hand, despite the need for a greater input of Ea, the sludge showed greater stability throughout the process, suggesting its capacity to maintain the same yield for a longer time. Preliminary studies of gaseous emissions showed an unexpected profile for the blend with the highest bagasse ratio, which may be a reflection of the results obtained during the thermal characterization of the evaluated biomasses. Regarding the biochemical approach, tests were performed to generate H2 by anaerobic digestion, using sludge as inoculum and, as substrate, synthetic medium and effluents from the citrus processing industry (the wastewater and the citrus vinasse). This study demonstrated the potential of both citrus effluents as substrates, as well as reaffirm the feasibility of practical application of LG sewage sludge to the biological production of H2, which have already been proven in synthetic medium, even in increasing concentrations of sucrose. This inoculum presented higher biological potential when compared to sludge samples from different effluent treatment systems of the region of Araraquara. In parallel, a thermogravimetric method was developed for the proximate analysis of biomasses (moisture, volatile matter, fixed carbon and ash), which enables the direct evaluation of all these properties in a single measurement, carried out in a considerably shorter time in relation to standard methods. The developed method was validated and applied to different types of biomass, showing to be accurate even when applied to a complex sample as sewage sludge. In all studies, it became clear the importance of thermal analysis for the characterization of these residues when it is proposed their energetic application, given that it provides parameters that serve as a basis for the understanding of the prevailing factors for the future application of these materials in large scale processes. The information provided by this work can certainly contribute to add value to materials once considered as tailings, turning them into potential sources of renewable and even clean energy (H2), with high availability and low cost.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of using the anaerobic sludge generated by the treatment of sanitary effluents, as biomass for power generation, which was carried out by different conversion processes: combustion, by applying this residue single or co-processed with sugar cane bagasse; anaerobic digestion, by applying sludge as inoculum for the biological production of hydrogen. In the thermochemical process, the thermal and kinetic performance of the related biomasses, as well as of their mixtures ("blends") were evaluated in different proportions. The studies showed that the blends had different thermal properties during combustion process despite the influence of the precursor biomass, which dependes on the heating rate employed. In terms of energy content, inherently, the heating value of the blends increases as increases the amount of bagasse, which contributes to increase the reactivity of these materials during devolatilization. However, for large-scale combustion, the addition of 75% of bagasse to the sludge was not feasible, since it results in a increase of the activation energy (Ea) during the process. On the other hand, despite the need for a greater input of Ea, the sludge showed greater stability throughout the process, suggesting its capacity to maintain the same yield for a longer time. Preliminary studies of gaseous emissions showed an unexpected profile for the blend with the highest bagasse ratio, which may be a reflection of the results obtained during the thermal characterization of the evaluated biomasses. Regarding the biochemical approach, tests were performed to generate H2 by anaerobic digestion, using sludge as inoculum and, as substrate, synthetic medium and effluents from the citrus processing industry (the wastewater and the citrus vinasse). This study demonstrated the potential of both citrus effluents as substrates, as well as reaffirm the feasibility of practical application of LG sewage sludge to the biological production of H2, which have already been proven in synthetic medium, even in increasing concentrations of sucrose. This inoculum presented higher biological potential when compared to sludge samples from different effluent treatment systems of the region of Araraquara. In parallel, a thermogravimetric method was developed for the proximate analysis of biomasses (moisture, volatile matter, fixed carbon and ash), which enables the direct evaluation of all these properties in a single measurement, carried out in a considerably shorter time in relation to standard methods. The developed method was validated and applied to different types of biomass, showing to be accurate even when applied to a complex sample as sewage sludge. In all studies, it became clear the importance of thermal analysis for the characterization of these residues when it is proposed their energetic application, given that it provides parameters that serve as a basis for the understanding of the prevailing factors for the future application of these materials in large scale processes. The information provided by this work can certainly contribute to add value to materials once considered as tailings, turning them into potential sources of renewable and even clean energy (H2), with high availability and low cost.
Descrição
Palavras-chave
Lodo de esgoto, Resíduos agrícolas, Caracterização térmica, Bioenergia, Biohidrogênio, Sewage sludge, Agricultural waste, Thermal characterization, Bioenergy, Biohydrogen