Energy and Economic Evaluation of the Production of Biogas from Anaerobic and Aerobic Sludge in Brazil

This study conducted energy and economic analysis for biogas production from an Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB) and activated sludge from the Copasa and Fânia ® Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTP), both of which are located in the city of Itajubá, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The methodology adopted...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Waste and biomass valorization Vol. 12; no. 2; pp. 947 - 969
Main Authors:	Cañote, Susan J. B., Barros, Regina Mambeli, Lora, Electo Eduardo Silva, del Olmo, Oscar Almazan, dos Santos, Ivan Felipe Silva, Piñas, Jean Agustin Velásquez, Ribeiro, Eruin Marturcelli, de Freitas, João Victor Rocha, de Castro e Silva, Hellen Luisa
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01-02-2021 Springer Nature B.V
Subjects:	Activated sludge Biogas Economic analysis Energy Engineering Environment Environmental Engineering/Biotechnology Evaluation Feasibility studies Industrial Pollution Prevention Life span Methane Original Paper Physiochemistry Project feasibility Renewable and Green Energy Sludge Sludge digestion Substrates Upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactors Volatile solids Waste Management/Waste Technology Wastewater treatment Wastewater treatment plants Brazil Activated sludge Biogas Renewable energy Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket Economic viability
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Summary:	This study conducted energy and economic analysis for biogas production from an Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB) and activated sludge from the Copasa and Fânia ® Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTP), both of which are located in the city of Itajubá, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The methodology adopted for the research study included Physicochemical laboratory analyses of sludge samples. Furthermore, an experimental prototype of a sludge anaerobic digester (AD) that measured the characteristics of biogas and methane discharge was constructed and monitored. Lastly, economic viability analysis for using biogas energy was studied. The results show that the substrate, following processing using an AD, had reductions in all of the physiochemical parameters evaluated. Furthermore, CH 4 yield in relation to volatile solids (VS) was 0.0046 Nm 3 CH 4 /kgSV (4.6 Nm 3 CH 4 /tSV), 32.89% VS for UASB sludge, 0.0019 Nm 3 CH 4 /kgSV (1.9 Nm 3 CH 4 /tSV), and 50.45% VS for activated sludge. UASB sludge samples had the best results, which were 1014.46 kWh/year of electrical energy generated at the Copasa WWTP. Economic feasibility analysis considered a project lifespan of 15 years for continuous power generation. The results showed a NPV of negative USD$-226,255.28, a LCOE of 1.40 USD/kWh, and an unfeasible Internal Rate of Return (IRR). Graphic Abstract
ISSN:	1877-2641 1877-265X
DOI:	10.1007/s12649-020-01046-w