Potential of Biogas of the Anaerobic Fermentation of Solid Residues of the Sugar Agro-industry, using Anaerobic Pig Dung Mud

Abstract

In this work the potential of the biogas from the mesophilic anaerobic fermentation of the main sugar cane agriculture and industrial solid wastes produced at the Sugar Mill “Uruguay” in Sancti Spíritus province was determined, using as inoculum an anaerobic sludge of porcine manure. The solid wastes evaluated were cane straw and cane bagasse. Batch experiments were carried out in serologic bottles of 585mL, under mesophilic conditions (35±2ºC). Physical-chemical parameters were determined (TS, TVS, pH, Alkalinity) to evaluate the stability of the processes, and the accumulation of VFA and the biogas production were quantified. The results showed that the total biogas production from the digestion of the evaluated wastes was superior to that of the anaerobic digestion of manure as mono-substrate. This showed the viability of the inoculum used for the outburst of digesters treating this kind of wastes. The biogas potential values achieved (259-273 m3/tonVS) are encouraging for the use of this technology for energetic purposes at a higher scale given the fact that the total generation of electric power can reach more than 150 GWh/ year, and the thermal energy more than 230 GWh/year.