Banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO: THALITA GOUVEIA CASTILHO

Uma banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO de DOUTORADO foi cadastrada pelo programa.
STUDENT : THALITA GOUVEIA CASTILHO
Date: 16/12/2025
TIME: 14:00
LOCAL: UFABC - Online
TITLE:

Enhancement of anaerobic digestion by conductive materials via direct interspecies electron transfer: a study of carbonaceous materials

PAGES: 80
BIG AREA: Engenharias
AREA: Engenharia Ambiental
SUBÁREA: Saneamento Básico/Esgotos/Reator Anaeróbico
SUMMARY:

Anaerobic Digestion (AD) is a fundamental technology for energy and resource recovery within the circular bioeconomy. However, its operational efficiency is frequently constrained by the slow conversion kinetics of intermediates, such as Volatile Fatty Acids (VFAs), which constitutes a metabolic bottleneck. This thesis investigates the application of conductive materials as a strategy to intensify the AD process by promoting Direct Interspecies Electron Transfer (DIET), a more thermodynamically favorable pathway. The research is structured around two complementary approaches. Firstly, a long-term performance evaluation of Carbon Felt (CF) as a conductive support medium in an Anaerobic Membrane Bioreactor (AnMBR). The CF-supplemented reactor demonstrated a significant acceleration in the start-up phase, consistent with DIET stimulation, but did not sustain production superiority in the long term, suggesting that the material's biocompatibility might override conductivity as the limiting factor. Secondly, the investigation delves into the mechanism of action through a matrix of carbonaceous materials (Hydrochar (HC), Biochar (BC), and their iron-doped versions (HC-Fe, BC-Fe)). This study aims to correlate key physicochemical properties (electrical conductivity vs. redox-active surface sites) with methanogenic performance in Biochemical Methane Potential (BMP) assays using propionate as a model substrate. The goal is to understand whether AD enhancement is primarily mediated by electron conduction through the carbon structure (BC) or by redox mediation via oxygen-containing functional groups (HC and Fe-doped materials), which will guide the future development of sustainable carbon additives for real-world wastewater treatment.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Presidente - Interno ao Programa - 1073159 - EDUARDO LUCAS SUBTIL
Membro Titular - Examinador(a) Interno ao Programa - 2605882 - JULIANA TOFANO DE CAMPOS LEITE
Membro Titular - Examinador(a) Externo à Instituição - MARCELO ZAIAT - USP
Membro Suplente - Examinador(a) Interno ao Programa - 1548098 - GILBERTO MARTINS
Membro Suplente - Examinador(a) Externo ao Programa - 3047358 - RICARDO HIDEO TANIWAKI