Producción de biogás y enmiendas orgánicas a partir del residuo olivícola (alperujo)

Abstract

A system combining anaerobic and aerobic phases for sludge degradation and biogas production was developed. The anaerobic phase was done in a batch type pilot digesters at 30 °C, with mixtures of residue from the oil industry, called "alperujo", and other vegetable waste to obtain C/N ratios of 30/1, with and without inclusion of methanogenic inoculants. After 72 days, the process without inoculant generated poor quality biogas that did not exceed 13% methane (CH4), with 60% carbon dioxide (CO2) and 8% trace gases. In contrast, the average composition of biogas produced by treatment with inoculants was about 70% CH4, 26% CO2 and 3% trace gases, and the methanogenic phase took 20 days to start, favoring the production of methane. The digestate composting period is less than the control sample, obtaining a product with optimum standards for agricultural use.