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In Sinaloa, agricultural and livestock practices are extensive but proportionally generate organic wastes that subsequently produce greenhouse gases and negatively impact water bodies. In this research, a laboratory-scale up-flow anaerobic reactor was configured and evaluated to treat combined agricultural and livestock wastes. Subsequently, the quality and yield of the biogas were used to make an energetic and economic comparison with Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG). The results were also projected for the energy needs of the pilot community from which the waste was obtained. The reactor used was a 2.4 L reactor operated continuously at 45±2 °C and HRT of 7.2 d, with an organic load of 15000 mg/L. Carbon/nitrogen ratios of 25:1 and 32:1 were evaluated. With the 25:1 ratio, 1650 mL/d of biogas were obtained. With this ratio, greater stability was observed, and a higher proportion of methane. On average, 70% was methane (once stabilization was reached), converting it into biofuel. The projection made for Sinaloa is that 59.65 m3 of methane could be obtained per year, which is equivalent to $2.25 million per year. All the information generated serves as a precedent for large-scale technical and economic feasibility studies. All these studies will allow the integral use of agricultural industry waste, mainly in rural communities, which will also improve the population's quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sugar cane bagasse constitutes an abundant lignocellulosic agro-industrial residue in Cuban sugar industry. However, its complex structure partially limits biodegradation, for that reason it is necessary to apply a pretreatment, being the alkaline the most effective for biomasses with a high lignin content. This work objective is to evaluate the effect of alkaline pretreatment in cane bagasse delignification, and its anaerobic biodegradability with respect to without pretreatment bagasse. Two alkalis (NaOH and KOH) with two concentration levels (0.5 and 1% w/v), and two contact times (1 and 3 h), were studied at room temperature. Results were evaluated in terms of % delignification, methane yield and process kinetics according to a first order model. Maximum lignin reduction (36.5%) and methane yield (192 mLCH4/g VS) were obtained with NaOH (0.5% -3h), achieving a 94.6% increase in methane yield respect to without pretreating bagasse. Kinetic study confirmed that kinetic parameters are improved compared to without pretreatment bagasse, with this variant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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