Startup of Bench Scale Anaerobic Digesters for Biogas Production from Algal Biomass

Martnez-Morales, E.; Marty-Rivera, M.; Rosario-Rodrguez, K. & Gervais, G.W.

Environmental Sciences Department, University of Puerto Rico, Ro Piedras campus.

Introduction

Analytical Tests of Predigester and Digester Effluents:

Alkalinity, Total Solids, Volatile Solids and Volatile Organic Acids are
measured as per Standard Methods (AWWA, 2005).
Soluble COD measured by the Hach Low Range kit using dichromate
chemistry .
Bioreactor Control Parameters:
Reactor control variables include: (i) volume ratio of the first stage to
second stage reactors, (ii) recirculation rate, (iii) organic loading rate,
(iv) hydraulic retention time, (v) pH and (vi) salinity.
Feedstock:
Fresh Sargassum spp
is periodically collected from near shore
locations around Puerto Rico.
The algal biomass is washed in
freshwater to remove sand and debris, dried at 65C, ground and
stored in a desiccator until needed.
Dried Sargassum is resuspended in appropriately diluted sea salt mix
at 10% total solids.
The feed suspension is periodically tested for salinity, pH, alkalinity,
total solids, volatile solids and soluble COD.

Given its lack of indigenous fossil fuels, renewable energy is a critical

research area for Puerto Rico. It is also of key interest to the
Department of Defense, which sponsors the UPR Center for

Days

We have fabricated two bench scale systems for testing the feasibility
of producing biogas from marine macroalgae using seawater.
The grow-out of microbial biomass is ongoing. The target feed rate is
at least 5 g/d VS per L of second stage digester.
Once the target is
achieved, the volume of the first stage will be reduced to 1/3 of the
second stage volume.
Data will be acquired on steady-state
performance of the system at that level.
The effluent from these two stage systems will be used to inoculate
larger scale 10L baffled bioreactors which will be installed this summer.
The baffled bioreactors will permit improved compartmentalization and
separation of sulfur reduction from methanogenesis and should be
easier to scale up.

Bibliography
AWWA/APHA (2005). Standard methods for the examination of water
and wastewater. 21st Ed.
American Public Health Association,
American Water Works Association and Water Environment Federation.
Days

Harun R, Singh M, Forde G. M, Danquah M. K. (2010) Bioprocess

engineering of microalgae to produce a variety of consumer
products. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 14: 1037-1047
Nallathambi G., Anaerobic digestion of biomass for methane
production: A review, Biomass and Bioenergy, Volume 13, Issues 1-2,
1 9 9 7 , P a g e s 8 3 - 11 4 , I S S N 0 9 6 1 - 9 5 3 4 , D O I : 1 0 . 1 0 1 6 /
S0961-9534(97)00020-2.
Vergara-Fernandez A, Vargas G, Alarcon N, Velasco A. Evaluation of
marine algae as a source of biogas in a two-stage anaerobic reactor
system. Biomass and Bioenergy 2008;32:33844

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Renewable Energy and Sustainability (CRES). We have identified

marine macroalgae as potentially
the best source for biomass to
produce industrial scale quantities of biofuels on the island. We are
currently investigating the microbial conversion of the common brown
algae Sargassum spp. into biogas using anaerobic digestion, in
collaboration with our partners at the UPR Mayagez campus as well
as at the University of Georgia in Athens.
Anaerobic degradation of organic carbon to produce biogas (primarily
methane and carbon dioxide with low levels of hydrogen sulfide,
hydrogen and ammonia)
is an old and well established process
commonly used for treating municipal or industrial wastewater to
reduce organic contaminants.
The energy value of biogas as a fuel
has encouraged a growing interest in applying this technology for the
conversion of biomass into useful biofuel.
Although some work has
been done on microbial conversion of marine algae, this feedstock is
high in sulfur and sodium, both inhibitors of the methanogenic microbes
at the core of the conversion process. Our research is focused on
overcoming sodium and sulfur inhibition, using a multi-stage anaerobic
digester which partitions sulfur reduction and methane production in
separate compartments.

Alkalinity (g/L eq. CaCO3)

designed to digest marine macroalgae are described. The first AD

reactor uses brackish water, while the second reactor uses nearly full
strength sea water to investigate the feasibility of operating under high
salinity conditions. In order to demonstrate the economic and technical
practicality of using marine macroalgae as feedstock for biofuels
production, it is necessary to efficiently convert the biomass into a
useful fuel. Biogas derived from anaerobic digestion is one of the most
studied and widely applied techniques for fuel production from
biomass. A successful anaerobic digester must be seeded with an
appropriate microbial population, and the microbial ecosystem must be
carefully batch fed to proliferate enough of the slow growing
methanogens to achieve an efficient steady-state conversion rate of
organic carbon to methane. The first stage of the two-stage bioreactor
is primarily designed to remove excess sulfur from the feedstock while
hydrolyzing macromolecules. The second stage of the operation is
optimized for methane production under slightly alkaline conditions.
The results of the first three months of startup operations are
presented.

Bench top Bioreactors:

Two identical two-stage stirred benchtop bioreactors were fabricated
from acrylic jars, polypropylene fittings and PVC tubing. (see Figure 1)
The bioreactors were inoculated with anoxic sludge taken from San
Jose Lagoon which was gradually adapted to high salinity conditions.
The working volume of each second stage (digester) is approximately
1.2 L, while the working volume of each first stage (predigester) may be
adjusted to operate between 300 ml and 1.2L
Gas is collected, measured and analyzed.

Discussion

VOA (g/L eq. AceOH)

Startup operations for two bench scale anaerobic digesters (AD)

Materials & Methods

Estimated soluble COD (ppm)

Abstract

Figure 2: A. Alkalinity (g/L eq. CaCO3) time course.

B. VOA (g/L eq. AceOH) and organic loading rates (gVS/day).
C. Estimated soluble COD (ppm) time course.

Results

Figure 1: Benchtop two-stage bioreactors.

Specific Aims
Demonstrate the efficient production of biogas from macroalgae.
Compare biogas yield at high and low salinities.
Produce microbial seed for scale-up to 10L Baffled bioreactors.

At startup, an aggressive rate of increase in organic loading was attempted.

However, VOA's started spiking when the feed rate was raised to 4 grams
VS fed/day so the feed rate was reduced to 2 grams VS fed/day to allow the
systems to stabilize.
pH for both bioreactor stages has been stable since startup. Values range
between 7.5 and 7.6.
Both systems are well buffered, as the alkalinity is high and stable (Figure
2.A).
Currently, both bioreactors are operating at 3 grams VS fed/day. Feeding
rate was increased once VOA levels stabilized (Figure 2.B).
During the first 64 days of operation, the volume of the first stage was equal
to the volume of the second stage. All of the observed reduction in soluble
COD occurred in the first stage only at 10 ppt salinity. Meanwhile COD
reduction continued in the second stage at 30 ppt salinity (Figure 2.C).

UPR Center for Renewable Energy and Sustainability

http://renewable.uprrp.edu

Acknowledgments
Department of Chemistry, UPRRP.(Dr. Liz Daz, Dr. Kai Griebenow, Dr.
Noel Motta)
Department of Environmental Sciences, UPRRP. (Dr. Rafael Ros, Dr.
Loretta Roberson, Dr. Jorge Ortiz-Zayas, Mayra Snchez. Agnerys
Rodrguez-Santos, Norberto Quiones & Joel Melndez.
University of Georgia at Athens.
School of Architecture workshop, UPRRP.
This project has been supported by Grant W911NF-11-1-0218, U.S.
Department of Defense

Contact Information
Michael Marty-Rivera
Gary W. Gervais
Edgardo Martinez-Morales
Kenneth Rosario-Rodrguez

michael.marty32@gmail.com
gary.gervais@upr.edu
edgardo_mrtnz@yahoo.com
kenneth.rosario@hotmail.com