Anaerobic digestion of macroalgae: methane potentials, pre-treatment, inhibition and co-digestion

2011 ◽  
Vol 64 (8) ◽  
pp. 1723-1729 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. B. Nielsen ◽  
S. Heiske
Keyword(s):  
Anaerobic Digestion ◽  
Methane Production ◽  
Organic Content ◽  
Saccharina Latissima ◽  
Green Tides ◽  
Volatile Solids ◽  
Continuously Stirred Tank Reactor ◽  
Pre Treatment ◽  
Centralized Biogas Plant ◽  
Chaetomorpha Linum

In the present study we tested four macroalgae species – harvested in Denmark – for their suitability of bioconversion to methane. In batch experiments (53 °C) methane yields varied from 132 ml g volatile solids−1 (VS) for Gracillaria vermiculophylla, 152 ml g VS−1 for Ulva lactuca, 166 ml g VS−1 for Chaetomorpha linum and 340 ml g VS−1 for Saccharina latissima following 34 days of incubation. With an organic content of 21.1% (1.5–2.8 times higher than the other algae) S. latissima seems very suitable for anaerobic digestion. However, the methane yields of U. lactuca, G. vermiculophylla and C. linum could be increased with 68%, 11% and 17%, respectively, by pretreatment with maceration. U. lactuca is often observed during ‘green tides’ in Europe and has a high cultivation potential at Nordic conditions. Therefore, U. lactuca was selected for further investigation and co-digested with cattle manure in a lab-scale continuously stirred tank reactor. A 48% increase in methane production rate of the reactor was observed when the concentration of U. lactuca in the feedstock was 40% (VS basis). Increasing the concentration to 50% had no further effect on the methane production, which limits the application of this algae at Danish centralized biogas plant.

scholarly journals Efficiency of integrated electrooxidation and anaerobic digestion of waste activated sludge

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. Barrios ◽  
A. Cano ◽  
F. F. Rivera ◽  
M. E. Cisneros ◽  
U. Durán
Keyword(s):  
Anaerobic Digestion ◽  
Current Density ◽  
Methane Production ◽  
Energy Recovery ◽  
Energy Analysis ◽  
Mathematical Optimization ◽  
Waste Activated Sludge ◽  
Bdd Electrode ◽  
Vs Removal ◽  
Pre Treatment

Abstract Background Most of the organic content of waste activated sludge (WAS) comprises microbial cells hard to degrade, which must be pre-treated for energy recovery by anaerobic digestion (AD). Electrooxidation pre-treatment (EOP) with boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrode have been considered a promising novel technology that increase hydrolysis rate, by the disintegrating cell walls from WAS. Although electrochemical oxidation could efficiently solubilize organic substances of macromolecules, limited reports are available on EOP of WAS for improving AD. In this endeavour, the mathematical optimization study and the energy analysis of the effects of initial total solids concentrations [TS] of WAS and current density (CD) during EOP on the methane production and removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and volatile solids (VS) were investigated. Because limited reports are available on EOP of WAS for improving biogas production, it is not well understood; however, it has started to attract interest of scientists and engineers. Results In the present work, the energy recovery as biogas and WAS conversion were comprehensively affected by CD and [TS], in an integrated EOP and AD system. When working with WAS at 3% of [TS] pre-treated at current density of 24.1 mA/cm2, the highest COD and VS removal were achieved, making it possible to obtain the maximum methane (CH4) production of 305 N-L/kg VS and a positive energy balance of 1.67 kWh/kg VS. Therefore, the current densities used in BDD electrode are adequate to produce the strong oxidant (hydroxyl radical, ·OH) on the electrode surface, allow the oxidation of organic compounds that favours the solubilization of particulate matter and VS from WAS. Conclusions The improvement of VS removal and COD solubilization were due to the effects of pre-treatments, which help to break down the microbial cells for faster subsequent degradation; this allows a decomposition reaction that leads to biodegrade more compounds during AD. The balance was positive, suggesting that even without any optimization the energy used as electricity could be recovered from the increased methane production. It is worth noting that this kind of analysis have not been sufficiently studied so far. It is therefore important to understand how operational parameters can influence the pre-treatment and AD performances. The current study highlights that the mathematical optimization and energy analysis can make the whole process more convenient and feasible.

Effect of solid-state NaOH pretreatment on methane production from thermophilic semi-dry anaerobic digestion of rose stalk

2016 ◽  
Vol 73 (12) ◽  
pp. 2913-2920 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yue-Gan Liang ◽  
Beijiu Cheng ◽  
You-Bin Si ◽  
De-Ju Cao ◽  
Dao-Lin Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Anaerobic Digestion ◽  
Solid State ◽  
Methane Production ◽  
Treated Group ◽  
Net Energy ◽  
Process Stability ◽  
Rosa Rugosa ◽  
Naoh Pretreatment ◽  
Volatile Solids ◽  
Dry Anaerobic Digestion

Abstract The effects of solid-state NaOH pretreatment on the efficiency of methane production from semi-dry anaerobic digestion of rose (Rosa rugosa) stalk were investigated at various NaOH loadings (0, 1, 2, and 4% (w/w)). Methane production, process stability and energy balance were analyzed. Results showed that solid-state NaOH pretreatment significantly improved biogas and methane yields of 30-day anaerobic digestion, with increases from 143.7 mL/g volatile solids (VS) added to 157.1 mL/g VS –192.1 mL/g VS added and from 81.8 mL/g VS added to 88.8 mL/g VS–117.7 mL/g VS added, respectively. Solid-state NaOH pretreatment resulted in anaerobic digestion with higher VS reduction and lower technical digestion time. The 4% NaOH-treated group had the highest methane yield of 117.7 mL/g VS added, which was 144% higher compared to the no NaOH-treated group, and the highest net energy recovery. Higher rate of lignocellulose breakage and higher process stability of anaerobic digestion facilitated methane production in the NaOH-pretreated groups.

Sludge electrooxidation as pre-treatment for anaerobic digestion

2016 ◽  
Vol 75 (4) ◽  
pp. 775-781 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. Barrios ◽  
U. Duran ◽  
A. Cano ◽  
M. Cisneros-Ortiz ◽  
S. Hernández
Keyword(s):  
Anaerobic Digestion ◽  
Volatile Fatty Acids ◽  
Biogas Production ◽  
Oxygen Demand ◽  
Wastewater Sludge ◽  
Boron Doped Diamond ◽  
Boron Doped ◽  
Treatment Conditions ◽  
Volatile Solids ◽  
Pre Treatment

Anaerobic digestion of wastewater sludge is the preferred method for sludge treatment as it produces energy in the form of biogas as well as a stabilised product that may be land applied. Different pre-treatments have been proposed to solubilise organic matter and increase biogas production. Sludge electrooxidation with boron-doped diamond electrodes was used as pre-treatment for waste activated sludge (WAS) and its effect on physicochemical properties and biomethane potential (BMP) was evaluated. WAS with 2 and 3% total solids (TS) achieved 2.1 and 2.8% solubilisation, respectively, with higher solids requiring more energy. After pre-treatment, biodegradable chemical oxygen demand values were close to the maximum theoretical BMP, which makes sludge suitable for energy production. Anaerobic digestion reduced volatile solids (VS) by more than 30% in pre-treated sludge with a food to microorganism ratio of 0.15 g VSfed g−1 VSbiomass. Volatile fatty acids were lower than those for sludge without pre-treatment. Best pre-treatment conditions were 3% TS and 28.6 mA cm−2.

Anaerobic digestion of mixed microalgae cultivated in secondary effluent under mesophilic and thermophilic conditions

2015 ◽  
Vol 72 (8) ◽  
pp. 1398-1403 ◽  
Author(s):  
Glenda Cea-Barcia ◽  
Gloria Moreno ◽  
Germán Buitrón
Keyword(s):  
Anaerobic Digestion ◽  
Methane Production ◽  
Incubation Temperature ◽  
Secondary Effluent ◽  
Microalgae Culture ◽  
Batch Tests ◽  
Volatile Solids ◽  
Thermophilic Conditions ◽  
Maximum Production Rate ◽  
Mesophilic Conditions

The anaerobic digestion of mixed indigenous microalgae, grown in a secondary effluent, was evaluated in batch tests at mesophilic (35°C) and thermophilic (50°C) conditions. Under mesophilic conditions, specific methane production varied from 178 to 207 mL CH4/g volatile solids (VS) and the maximum production rate varied from 8.8 to 26.1 mL CH4/(gVS day), depending on the type of microalgae culture. Lower methane parameters were observed in those cultures where Scenedesmus represents more than 95% of the microalge. The culture with the lowest digestion performances under mesophilic conditions was studied under thermophilic conditions. The increase in the incubation temperature significantly increased the specific methane production (390 mL CH4/g VS) and rate (26.0 mL CH4/(gVS day)). However, under thermophilic conditions a lag period of 30 days was observed.

scholarly journals Inter-stage thermophilic aerobic digestion may increase organic matter removal from wastewater sludge without decreasing biogas production

2017 ◽  
Vol 77 (3) ◽  
pp. 721-726
Author(s):  
Sasha D. Hafner ◽  
Johan T. Madsen ◽  
Johanna M. Pedersen ◽  
Charlotte Rennuit
Keyword(s):  
Anaerobic Digestion ◽  
Methane Production ◽  
Biogas Production ◽  
Oxygen Demand ◽  
Wastewater Sludge ◽  
Aerobic Digestion ◽  
Anaerobic Digesters ◽  
Stage System ◽  
Thermophilic Aerobic Digestion ◽  
Pre Treatment

Abstract Combining aerobic and anaerobic digestion in a two-stage system can improve the degradation of wastewater sludge over the use of either technology alone. But use of aerobic digestion as a pre-treatment before anaerobic digestion generally reduces methane production due to loss of substrate through oxidation. An inter-stage configuration may avoid this reduction in methane production. Here, we evaluated the use of thermophilic aerobic digestion (TAD) as an inter-stage treatment for wastewater sludge using laboratory-scale semi-continuous reactors. A single anaerobic digester was compared to an inter-stage system, where a thermophilic aerobic digester (55 °C) was used between two mesophilic anaerobic digesters (37 °C). Both systems had retention times of approximately 30 days, and the comparison was based on measurements made over 97 days. Results showed that the inter-stage system provided better sludge destruction (52% volatile solids (VS) removal vs. 40% for the single-stage system, 44% chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal vs. 34%) without a decrease in total biogas production (methane yield per g VS added was 0.22–0.24 L g−1 for both systems).

Effects of phosphorus removal chemicals upon methane production during anaerobic sludge digestion

1986 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Warren B. Kindzierski ◽  
Steve E. Hrudey
Keyword(s):  
Anaerobic Digestion ◽  
Ferric Chloride ◽  
Methane Production ◽  
Phosphorus Removal ◽  
Anaerobic Sludge ◽  
Methane Formation ◽  
Chemical Toxicity ◽  
Methane Generation ◽  
Sludge Digestion ◽  
Volatile Solids

Aluminum sulphate (alum) and ferric chloride are commonly employed to aid phosphorus removal in wastewater treatment. Previous studies have indicated that these chemical coagulants produce sludges that adversely affect anaerobic digestion. The objective of this study was to assess the magnitude of the effects chemical coagulants have upon methane generation in anaerobic digestion. Methane production was monitored and concentrations of aluminum or iron present during batch digestion of chemically precipitated sludge were measured.Both alum and ferric chloride addition to activated sludge produced a sludge that demonstrated reduced methane production in batch anaerobic digestion. Neither metal inhibited methanogenesis of an acetate supplement, suggesting that chemical toxicity was not a likely explanation for overall reductions in methane formation. Considering the experimental results and the findings of others, reduced methane generation is most likely caused by physical isolation of degradable substrate by the coagulant floc, which causes an overall reduction in conversion of sludge volatile solids to methane.

scholarly journals The synergy of combined free nitrous acid and Fenton technology in enhancing anaerobic digestion of real sewage waste activated sludge

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Razieh Karimi ◽  
Seyed Mostafa Hallaji
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Anaerobic Digestion ◽  
Activated Sludge ◽  
Methane Production ◽  
Nitrous Acid ◽  
Waste Activated Sludge ◽  
Free Nitrous Acid ◽  
Digestion Process ◽  
Treatment Technologies ◽  
Pre Treatment

Abstract Background Recently, free nitrous acid (FNA) pre-treatment of sewage waste activated sludge has been introduced as an economically attractive and environmentally friendly technique for enhancing methane production from the anaerobic digestion process. Fenton pre-treatment of sewage sludge, as an advanced oxidation process, has also been introduced as a powerful technique for methane improvement in a couple of studies. This study, for the first time, investigates the synergy of combined FNA and Fenton pre-treatment technologies in enhancing the methane production from the anaerobic digestion process and reducing waste sludge to be disposed of. Actual secondary waste activated sludge in laboratory-scale batch reactors was used to assess the synergistic effect of the pre-treatments. The mechanisms behind the methane enhancement were also put into perspective by measuring different microbial enzymes activity and solubilisation of organic matter. Result This study revealed that the combined pre-treatments release organic matter into the soluble phase significantly more than the bioreactors pre-treated with individual FNA and Fenton. For understanding the influence of pre-treatments on solubilisation of organic matter, soluble protein, soluble polysaccharide and soluble chemical oxygen demand (SCOD) were measured before and after the treatments and it was shown that they respectively increased by 973%, 33% and 353% after the treatments. Protease and cellulose activity, as the key constituents of the microbial community presenting in activated sludge, decreased considerably within the combined pre-treatments (42% and 32% respectively) and methane production enhanced by 43-69%. Furthermore, total solids and volatile solids destruction improved by 26% and 24% at the end of anaerobic digestion, which can reduce transport costs of sludge and improve the quality of sludge for application in farms and forests. Conclusions The results obtained from the experiments corroborate the synergic effect of the combined FNA and Fenton pre-treatment technologies in degrading the organic and microbial constituents in waste activated sludge, which improved methane production accordingly. This is of paramount importance because the total costs of wastewater treatment plants operation and greenhouse gas emission from sludge treatment and disposal processes would reduce considerably, which pave the way for the implementation of these technologies.

Influence of selected biowaste materials pre-treatment on their anaerobic digestion

2012 ◽  
Vol 66 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alžbeta Takáčová ◽  
Tomáš Mackluľak ◽  
Miroslava Smolinská ◽  
Miroslav Hutňan ◽  
Petra Olejníková
Keyword(s):  
Anaerobic Digestion ◽  
Methane Production ◽  
Biogas Production ◽  
Anaerobic Treatment ◽  
Cellulolytic Enzymes ◽  
Biological Degradation ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Pleurotus Pulmonarius ◽  
Chlorella Kessleri ◽  
Pre Treatment

AbstractThe topic of this study is the pre-treatment of substrates for anaerobic digestion. Two different substrates of algae Scenedesmus subspicatus (SAG 86.81), Chlorella kessleri (LARG/1) and foliage of Prunus serrulata were subjected to anaerobic digestion. A mixture of commercially available cellulolytic enzymes (Analytical science s.r.o., Modra, Slovakia) was used for anaerobic treatment of algae while the foliage of Prunus serrulata was pre-treated by lignolytic fungi. The highest production of methane per mass of volatile solids was reached with untreated Chlorella kessleri at (0.59 ± 0.04) L g−1. The addition of cellulolytic enzymes did not increase the production of methane from the algal substrate; however, a faster substrate degradation and thus also higher speed of methane production at the beginning of cultivation was achieved. After foliage pre-treatment by fungal isolate Pleurotus pulmonarius, isolated from natural habitats, the methane production increased five times. In this way we were able to speed up the processes of biological degradation of ligno-cellulose materials and thereby to increase the production of methane. Our results show the possibility of using algae as a suitable substrate for biogas production. On the other hand, also aerobic pre-treatment of foliage (Pleurotus pulmonarius) presents a successful way for speeding up the degradation of ligno-cellulose waste leading to increased methane yields.

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