Microbial Pretreatment of for Production

Bioenergetics

Jaron Hansen, Brigham Young University

Corresponding Author: Jaron Hansen, Brigham Young University

Abstract

Anaerobic microbial processes offer an opportunity to treat residues more economically and also generate value products in the form of heat and power for industries and municipalities. The energy balance and economics of thermophilic pretreatment followed by anaerobic digestion have been developed for designing a full scale plant using giant king grass as the feedstock. Thermophilic pretreatment of biomass demonstrated advantages regarding the preparation of biomass for conversion to . The strain of the thermophilic microbe and results of testing the microbe with giant king grass demonstrated strong potential for full scale application.

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Indirect Steam Gasification of Willow Biomass for Enhanced Production of Syngas in an Inductively Heated Batch Reactor

Bioenergetics

Dorin Boldor, Cosmin Marculescu, POLITEHNICA University of Bucharest, Romania; McKenna Benbow; Caroline Favrot; Candice Ellison; Pranjali D. Muley [Louisiana State University]

Corresponding Author: Dorin Boldor, POLITEHNICA University of Bucharest, Romania

Abstract

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Bioenergetics of The Central Valley Water Reclamation Facility in Utah

Bioenergetics

Phil Heck, Central Valley Water Reclamation Facility, Utah

Corresponding Author: Phil Heck, Central Valley Water Reclamation Facility, Utah

Abstract

Central Valley Water Reclamation Facility (CVWRF), located in Salt Lake City, is Utah's largest wastewater treatment facility, with a capacity of 75 million gallons of water treated daily. CVWRF currently produces over 85 percent of the electrical power needs and 100 percent of its heating and cooling needs of the plant by cogeneration using biogas/natural gas fuel reciprocating engine generators.

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Modeling de novo granulation of anaerobic sludge

Bioenergetics

Anna Doloman, Honey Varghese, Charles D. Miller, Nicholas S. Flann

Corresponding Author: Anna Doloman, Utah State University

Abstract

Approximately 30 to 40 percent of the gas burned by the engine generators is biogas generated on site using anaerobic digesters. The plant is in the process of replacing the engine generators and upgrading gas treatment and electrical systems to increase efficiency and reduce electrical power and natural gas purchase costs. The facility is currently conducting a pilot project to import approximately 25,000 gallons per day of liquid food waste as a feed stock to the digestion process to boost biogas production and plans to implement a full-scale process as part of a future nutrient removal process change Other improvements in bioenergy generation are being considered as part of the nutrient removal process which may be accomplished in part through algae cultivation and harvesting, and utilization of the harvest algae biomass within the anaerobic digesters for augmented biogas production.

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Bioenergetic Framework for Evaluating Hydrocarbon Treatment of Energy Industry Wastewater

Bioenergetics

Co-authors: Dr. Ronald C. Sims1, Iegor Pererva1, and Tyler Gladwin2

1 Sustainable Waste to Engineering Center and Department, Utah State University

2 WesTech-Inc. Engineering, Salt Lake City, Utah

Abstract:

The goal of this study was to develop a thermodynamic-based method to evaluate the influence of electron acceptors other than dimolecular oxygen (O2) on mineralization of BTEX compounds and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) present in wastes from petroleum processing and from oil and gas extraction processes that might be candidates for anaerobic treatment in an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor or other anaerobic bioreactor. Anaerobic processes represent an approach for bioenergy recovery from wastes and also a potentially cost effective and less energy intensive approach to the treatment of industrial wastewaters compared with more energy intensive and costly aerobic treatment processes that do not provide for recovery of bioenergy. A thermodynamic framework was used to determine free energy changes, and microbial yields based on the free energy liberated from heterotrophic hydrocarbon metabolism were estimated using a bioenergetic growth model. Calculated free energy changes demonstrated that sequential utilization of electronic acceptors follow the order NO3, Fe+3, SO4, and CO2. Biomass production follows the trend for the change in free energy associated with the electronic acceptors. These results identify an approach to experimentally assess the effect of different electron acceptors on the microbial metabolism of organic chemicals present in petroleum and oil and gas extraction wastewaters. Anaerobic treatment is currently being applied and tested in treatability tests for petroleum refining wastewater at the Sustainable Waste to Bioproducts Center at Utah State University for State of Utah industries and the State of Utah Science Technology And Research (USTAR) Program in collaboration with WesTech-Inc. Engineering in Salt Lake City.

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