Kinetic analysis of biodegradability anaerobia of the filter cane with pre-treatment thermoalcalino in the production of methane

Abstract

Filter cane is the main residue of the sugar manufacturing process, and its high volume has become an important pollutant of the environment. The thermoalkaline pretreatment is an effective method given the nature of filter cane and allows a greater production of methane in anaerobic conditions. In this research, a kinetic analysis of the anaerobic biodegradability of the previously treated filter cake is carried out, at different times, with sodium hydroxide NaOH, as chemical agent and temperature of 75 0C. For the study filter cane was taken from the sugar mill "Melanio Hernández", located in the province of Sancti Spíritus; Cuba and its physical-chemical characterization was carried out through the analysis of total solids (ST), volatile solids (SV) and pH. Kinetic parameters were determined by anaerobic digestion in mesophyllic conditions (37 ± 1 °C) is obtained that the kinetic models that describe the improved performance of anaerobic digestion were Chapman Hill and with a high correlation coefficient. The lower yields achieved compared with the literature for other substrates may be affected by undesirable compounds that could be solubilized and affect the anaerobic digestion process. Oxidation of lignin to soluble phenolic is a risk for possible inhibitory effect on the anaerobic digestion process. Among them are acids, aldehydes and aromatic alcohols. Maillard reactions can also occur under thermo-alkaline conditions with substrates containing proteins and carbohydrates, as is the case of the study, with the formation of recalcitrant compounds such as melanoidins.