EVALUATION OF BIOGAS PRODUCTION FROM WASTE FROM A CELLULOSE INDUSTRY

Abstract

Biogas is a compound generated during the process in which anaerobic bacteria degrade organic materials. This study aimed to evaluate the production of biogas using solid waste generated in the Celulose Nipo-Brasileira paper industry located in the municipality of Belo Oriente, state of Minas Gerais. Ten treatments were implemented with different concentrations of waste collected in the industry: biological sludge (LB) from the treatment of sewage generated in the industry, the dregs (D) and the coal slug (MC) from the pulp processing process. The treatments LB/D/MC used were: 90%/5%/5%; 80%/10%/10%; 70%/15%/15%; 60%/20%/20%; 50%/25%/25%; 50%/40%/ 10%; 50% /10% /40%; 70%/30%/0%; 70%/0%/30%; 100%/0%/0% in volume ratio. The materials were mixed in different proportions, totaling 0.1 kg for each container and conditioned in glass containers (reactors) of 500 ml with the addition of water, hermetically sealed and kept in the soil and water chemistry laboratory at UFVJM. Biogas production was evaluated using a digital manometer with weekly readings for a period of 12 weeks. The treatment that showed the best result in the total production of biogas was a mixture of 80% biological sludge, 10% dregs and 10% coal sludge. Of the ten treatments performed, four did not produce biogas. In these treatments, the charcoal wal content in the mixture was above 20%, indicating that amounts of this element above the proportion of 20% in the mixture inhibit microbiological activity and biogas production. All other treatments produced significant amounts of biogas.