ABSTRACT This study aimed to assess the anaerobic digestion response of laying hen manure with different inclusion levels of biochar in batch reactors as measured by physicochemical parameters, biogas production and digestate quality. Four levels of biochar inclusions (0, 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5%) were tested with 3 replicates each. Twelve two-liter anaerobic batch reactors were used for 86 days at 35°C. Substrate and digestate of each treatment were assessed for monitored parameters, biogas production and digestate quality. Increased levels (0, 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5%) of biochar were found to gradually reduce total ammonia nitrogen (1794.33, 140.84, 950.81 and 509.32 mg.L-1, respectively). Despite the positive effect of biochar to accelerate initial biogas production, its use at any inclusion rate did not contribute significantly to biogas production in terms of biogas yield or digestate quality as compared to control treatment.

RESUMO Objetivou-se avaliar a eficiência do processo de biodigestão anaeróbia e produção de biogás por dejetos de suínos suplementados com ractopamina em diferentes períodos. Utilizaram-se dejetos de 50 suínos em terminação, segundo as dietas recebidas: sem suplementação e com suplementação de 20 ppm de ractopamina durante sete, 14; 21; 28 e 35 dias pré-abate. Foram utilizados biodigestores contínuos de bancada, mensuradas as produções de biogás e realizadas as análises de sólidos totais (ST) e voláteis (SV), pH, fósforo total (P total), nitrogênio total (N total) e nitrogênio amoniacal (N amoniacal) em amostras de dejetos, afluentes e efluentes dos biodigestores. O pH e N amoniacal como parâmetros indicadores do equilíbrio e da estabilidade do processo apresentaram-se satisfatórios. Não houve diferença nas reduções de ST e SV (50,04 e 56,51%, respectivamente). Dejetos de animais suplementados com ractopamina por 35 e 28 dias apresentam maiores produções de biogás (0,0722 e 0,0603 m3/kg, respectivamente). A suplementação com 20 ppm de ractopamina para suínos em terminação, por sete a 35 dias, não oferece riscos de falência do processo de biodigestão anaeróbia.

ABSTRACT This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of anaerobic digestion and biogas production by manure from pig supplemented with ractopamine over different periods. We used manure of 50 finishing pigs according to the following diets: without supplementation and supplemented with 20-ppm ractopamine during 7, 14, 21, 28 and 35 days pre-slaughter. Continuous bench biodigesters were used in the experiment. We measured biogas production and made analyses of total (TS) and volatile solids (VS), pH, total phosphorus (total P), total nitrogen (total N) and ammoniacal nitrogen (ammoniacal N) in samples of manure, affluent and effluent from biodigesters. The pH and ammoniacal N as indicator parameters of the process balance and stability were satisfactory. Moreover, there was no difference in the reduction of TS and VS (50.04 and 56.51%, respectively). Manure of animals supplemented with ractopamine for 35 and 28 days presented higher biogas production (0.0722 and 0.0603 m3 kg−1, respectively). The supplementation with 20-ppm ractopamine for finishing pigs from 7 to 35 days does not present collapse risks for the anaerobic biodigestion process.