Evaluación del efecto de productos enzimáticos en la producción de biogás y las propiedades del lixiviado en vertederos biorreactores destinados a la degradación de materia orgánica residual

Abstract

The environmental issue linked to the inadequate accumulation of biodegradable waste, combined with the growing need for sustainable energy sources, served as the primary motivation for developing a technological alternative that integrates waste treatment with renewable energy generation. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of enzymatic products on biogas production and the characteristics of leachate in bioreactor landfills intended for the anaerobic degradation of residual organic matter. The methodology involved operating three bioreactors: a control unit, a treatment unit, and a treatment replicate. Each was filled with layers of gravel, compost, green waste, and centrifuged sludge. The systems underwent a two-week stabilization phase. In the third week, basal medium was added, which facilitated the generation of leachate and nutrient migration. The treatment with commercial enzymatic products was initiated in the seventh week and continued until week twelve. Prior to the addition of the enzymatic products, the specific methanogenic activity of the three products Biomog, Efibact, and EM-1, was determined. Leachate characterization began in the fourth week, as its appearance was only observed after the addition of the basal medium. In conclusion, the bioreactor systems demonstrated efficiency in biogas production and organic matter degradation, and the enzymatic treatment had a positive effect. However, the leachate properties did not meet expectations due to the short operational period of the systems.