Journal of Fundamentals of Renewable Energy and Applications
Open Access
ISSN: 2090-4541
ISSN: 2090-4541
Maria Tacianne Lima Araujo, Joao Pedro da Silva Moreira dos Santos and Flavio Gonzaga Castro Santos Silva
University of Aveiro, Portugal
Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Fundam Renewable Energy Appl
Stating the problem: The escalating demand for sustainable management of organic waste and the reduction of dependence on fossil fuels has highlighted anaerobic digestion (AD) as a viable biotechnological approach within the circular economy paradigm. This study focuses on biowaste sourced from a university canteen, which was characterized and selected as a complex, high-moisture feedstock for AD. Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: AD in batch processes, catalyzed with biochar, is being studied with the primary objective of exploring its potential for the dual recovery of biomethane and volatile fatty acids (VFAs), both of which are valuable bioresources for energy production and bioproduct synthesis, respectively. The study emphasizes understanding the influence of key operational parameters, including substrate composition, organic loading rate, buffering capacity, and temperature, on the acidogenic and methanogenic phases of digestion. Conclusion & Significance: This ongoing research aims to elucidate how efforts to integrate institutional food waste management with resource recovery systems contribute to the promotion of decentralized waste-toenergy models. The findings are expected to support optimization strategies for both bioenergy production and shortchain carboxylic acid recovery from mixed organic streams. Recent Publications 1. Capela, I., Rodrigues, A., Silva, F., Nadais, H., Arroja, L. (2008). Impact of industrial sludge and cattle manure on anaerobic digestion of the OFMSW under mesophilic conditions. Biomass and Bioenergy, 32(3), 245-251. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2007.09.004 2. Yadav, N. K. & Singh, A. K. (2018). Factors affecting biogas production during anaerobic digestion – a review. International Journal of Creative Research Thoughts, 6(2), 1276-1282. https://ijcrt.org/papers/ IJCRT1812589.pdf 3. Amaral, A. C., Steinmetz, R. L. R., Kunz, A. (2019). O processo de biodigestão. In: Airton, Kunz et al. (Eds.), Fundamentos da digestão anaeróbia, purificação do biogás, uso e tratamento do digestato (Cap. I, pp. 13-26). Concórdia, Brasil: Sbera, Embrapa Suínos e Aves.https://www.alice.cnptia.embrapa.br/ alice/bitstream/doc/1 108617/1/LivroBiogas.pdf 4. Parvez, K. & Ahammed, M. M. (2024). Effect of composition on anaerobic digestion of fraction of municipal solid wastes: a review. Bioresource Technology Reports, 25, 101777. https://doi.org/10.1016/j. biteb.2024.101777 5. Zhang, Y. & Liu, Y. (2023). Harnessing Carbonaceous materials’ multifaceted roles for enhanced anaerobic digestion performance. Chemical Engineering Journal, 477, 146931. https://doi.org/10.1016/j. cej.2023.146931
Maria Tacianne Lima Araujo is a PhD student in Energy Systems and Climate Change and a researcher at the Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM) at the University of Aveiro. She holds a master’s degree in Environmental Technology and Management, a bachelor’s degree in Environmental and Sanitary Engineering, and an undergraduate degree in Environmental Management Technology. She has expertise ranging from environmental sciences to governance and public policies, with experience in wastewater treatment, water reuse, waste management, and environmental studies.