Methane fluxes from different vinasse distribution systems and evaluation of microbial associated community that produces this gas

• Grant number: 13/05597-5
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: June 01, 2013
• End date: May 31, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy
• Principal Investigator: Brigitte Josefine Feigl
• Grantee: Brigitte Josefine Feigl
• Host Institution: Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura (CENA). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil
• City of the host institution: Piracicaba
• Associated researchers: Carlos Clemente Cerri

Abstract

The use of renewable energy and low carbon content is one of the strategies to mitigate the greenhouse gases emissions (GHGs). Ethanol from sugar cane, which has significantly favorable energy balance, is a commercially available alternative with great potential for fast expansion in many countries, including new applications. As a co-product of this process is generated vinasse. There are few data on the possible impacts it causes in the environment, especially in regard to GHG emissions, despite many benefits when applied to the soil. It is known that the greatest impact of GHG from the vinasse is the emission of CH4, but it is unknown what factors are interfering in the production of greenhouse gases and their correlation with the methanogenic microorganisms. Thus, the main goal of this project is to measure the CH4 emission from the vinasse in different delivery systems and analyze the microbial diversity related to the CH4 production. This diversity is determined by the amplification of the gene related to the microbial production of CH4, mcrA, by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), followed by analysis by T-RFLP (Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism Terminal) and qPCR (quantitative PCR). In a first step the studies will focus on preliminary survey of the different vinasse distribution systems found in plants, where located in representative area of ethanol production in Brazil. Through this survey will be determinated study areas for further study and perform the sampling of methane. With this will be obtained important data from vinasse in different systems, in order to identify changes in emissions over the crop of cane sugar. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

OLIVEIRA, BRUNA GONCALVES; NUNES CARVALHO, JOAO LUIS; CHAGAS, MATEUS FERREIRA; PELLEGRINO CERRI, CARLOS EDUARDO; CERRI, CARLOS CLEMENTE; FEIGL, BRIGITTE JOSEFINE. Methane emissions from sugarcane vinasse storage and transportation systems: Comparison between open channels and tanks. Atmospheric Environment, v. 159, p. 135-146, JUN 2017. (13/05597-5, 12/05735-6)

OLIVEIRA, BRUNA G.; MENDES, LUCAS W.; SMYTH, EOGHAN M.; TSAI, SIU M.; FEIGL, BRIGITTE J.; MACKIE, I, RODERICK. Assessment of microbial diversity associated with CH4 emission from sugarcane vinasse storage and transportation systems. Journal of Environmental Management, v. 269, SEP 1 2020. (12/05735-6, 13/09377-0, 13/05597-5)