assessment of a fixed biomass anaerobic reactor for the treatment of vinasse

the cane alcohol vinasse assessment on the removal efficiency of a fixed biomass anaerobic reactor (fbar) was evaluated. crude vinasse was used to feed the reactor. the fbar was operated with organic load rate (olr) of 0.5, 1, 3 and 6 gcod/l/d. removal efficiencies of 85, 82, 75 and 66 per cent were observed respectively. the fba reactor presented an excellent removal of organic matter, however, when more than olr of 3 gcod/l/d, an unexpected behavior began, it reduced its capacity. the average biogas production was 1.925, 2.613, 5.653 and 8.290 l for olr of 0.5, 1, 3 and 6 gcod/l/d respectively. the methane content in biogas was 56, 79, 89 and 82 per cent, in each olr tested. methane production was 1.070 l for an olr 0.5 gcod/l/d, 2.070 l on an olr of 1 gcod/l/d, 5.046 l with olr of 3 gcod/l/d and 6.800 l to olr of 6 gcod/l/d. methane performance was used as monitoring parameter, this parameter gives information of the value between the catabolic activity (methane production) and the anabolic activity (bio-film production). the average ych4, values were 0.304, 0.302, 0.306 and 0.205 lch4/gcodremoved, respectively. the thermoplastic support inoculated in the fba reactor and fed with crude vinasse, acted as a filter, plus getting good results in removal of chemical oxygen demand (cod), but because of the size and height of the filling, the methane evacuation stopped.