Estudo da produção de biogás a partir de resíduos orgânicos de restaurante universitário

Abstract

This final project aimed to evaluate the potential for biogas production from organic waste from a university cafeteria at the Federal Technological University of Paraná, Ponta Grossa Campus, using fresh cattle manure as inoculum in a laboratory-scale batch anaerobic biodigestion system. The results indicated that the waste has potential for biogas production, as evidenced by good volumetric production, but limited and late methane yield, possibly due to the imbalance in the carbon-nitrogen (C:N) ratio and the acidity of the medium. It is suggested that, in order to optimize methane conversion, adjustments in the pH to a more neutral condition would be viable, to enhance the methanogenesis phase, and the addition of carbon sources, such as cellulose itself or more vegetables. It is concluded that, with a longer retention time and refined operational conditions, methane production in biogas may be optimized. It is also verified that the residue and inoculum analyzed have characteristics that qualify them as a promising raw material for the generation of biogas, being a sustainable alternative for the management of organic waste.