A novel carrier device for enhancing cell immobilization and Methane Metabolism in Anaerobic Reactors

This study evaluates the feasibility of a novel carrier device for cell immobilization (Patent BR102025011284-1). Developed within the scope of this research and named HD1 (Henrique Dornelles 1), the device was tested in an Anaerobic Fluidized Bed Reactor (AFBR) applied to municipal wastewater treatment and compared to a control AFBR filled with a conventional sand bed. In terms of reactor performance, no significant difference was observed in the average chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency between the two systems. However, the use of HD1 proved more viable due to its significantly lower material requirement compared to sand, suggesting the potential for downsizing treatment facilities without compromising efficiency. The lower density of HD1 also implies a reduced recirculation flow rate and, consequently, lower pumping costs. Furthermore, HD1 promoted enhanced methanogenic activity and favored the selection of methanogenic archaea, particularly Methanothrix, which reached a relative abundance of 17.8% in the HD1 system, compared to only 0.3% in the sand bed. The geometric features and high specific surface area of HD1 provide optimized conditions for biomass development and improved substrate diffusion into the inner layers of the biofilm. These results highlight the broad biotechnological potential of this innovation, especially in processes involving microbial biofilm growth.