Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Vitor Alves Lourenco, Willian Cezar Nadaleti, Bruno Muller Vieira, Hui Chua
Summary: The study shows that the residues of rice parboiling industries in Brazil can be used to produce biogas, increasing the sector's self-sufficiency in energy. Adding 1% glycerol in anaerobic digestion significantly boosts methane production. However, higher doses of glycerol may lead to the interruption of methanogenic activity.
RENEWABLE & SUSTAINABLE ENERGY REVIEWS
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Bao-Shan Xing, Yi Zhang, Rui-Qi Zhang, Jing Ma, Xiang-Lin Chang, Xi-Fang Tang, Yu-You Li, Xiaochang C. Wang, Rong Chen
Summary: In this study, a new type of anaerobic dynamic membrane bioreactor (AnDMBR) was designed and operated in parallel with a conventional continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) to enhance the substrate conversion efficiency and improve the reactor stability of codigestion with waste activated sludge (WAS) and food waste (FW). The results showed that the AnDMBR achieved a higher methane yield and maintained stable conditions compared to the CSTR. The dynamic membrane performance of the AnDMBR was also effective in intercepting the substrate and microorganisms during long-term periodic operation.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Marzieh Moradi, Mohsen Sadani, Abbas Shahsavani, Reza Bakhshoodeh, Nadali Alavi
Summary: The reduction of traditional fuel sources and the unpredictability of the global economy have led to a push for renewable energy alternatives. Waste recycling can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The study investigated the effects of different proportions of biochar on the efficiency of mesophilic anaerobic digestion of automotive paint sludge, and found that adding biochar increased biogas production and improved waste management.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Lagudu S. Avinash, Anumita Mishra
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the influence of moisture content on the anaerobic digestion of municipal solid waste (MSW) with the addition of different moisture sources. It was found that adding sludge with leachate and wastewater resulted in higher biogas yields, with the addition of 10% sludge providing the best outcomes. The study also determined that the optimal moisture content for MSW degradation should be greater than 75% of field capacity.
Review
Engineering, Environmental
Anahita Rabii, Ehssan Hosseini Koupaie, Saad Aldin, Yaser Dahman, Elsayed Elbeshbishy
Summary: Anaerobic codigestion (AnCoD) has advantages over conventional anaerobic digestion, and efforts are being made to develop methods for improving its efficiency through pretreatment techniques. Different pretreatment methods, including mechanical, thermal, chemical, biological, and hybrid, can influence AnCoD performance by increasing biodegradability, improving hydrolysis, reducing hydraulic retention time, and enhancing methane production. Among these methods, mechanical and biological pretreatment have the most and least application in codigestion, respectively. More research is needed on the application of biological pretreatment and cost-benefit analysis for different types of cosubstrates.
WATER ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Alicja Machnicka, Klaudiusz Grubel
Summary: The aim of this research was to explore the application of waste activated sludge (WAS) pretreatment processes in anaerobic digestion. The results showed significant reductions in pathogenic bacteria, coliphages, and parasite eggs using hydrodynamic disintegration and freezing/thawing disintegration methods. The hybrid disintegration method achieved the best results.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yongliang Wang, Xiaohui Zhou, Bin Dai, Xiaoqiang Zhu
Summary: This study proposed a new strategy of enhancing hydrolysis and acidification by rhamnolipid (RL) under thermophilic conditions to improve methane production in anaerobic co-digestion of excess sludge (ES) and plant waste (PW). Results showed that RL significantly increased the concentration of soluble chemical oxygen demand (SCOD) and volatile fatty acids (VFAs), with acetate and propionate being the main components of VFAs. This research provides valuable data support for the resource utilization of ES and PW, expanding the application field of RL.
WATER SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Jungsu Park, Roent Dune A. Cayetano, Gi-Beom Kim, Yura Jo, Yeelyung Kwon, Zhongfang Lei, Sang-Hyoun Kim
Summary: Alkaline-thermal pretreatment at 60 degrees Celsius and pH 10 for 24 hours resulted in higher methane yield and maximum net savings for WAS. Considering the degree of sludge disintegration and microbial growth are better indicators for predicting anaerobic digestibility performance.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Richard P. Taylor, Clifford L. W. Jones, Richard K. Laubscher
Summary: There is potential to anaerobically digest sludge and algal biomass from brewery effluent treatment processes to produce methane. The study evaluated the use of waste biomasses for methane production and recommended operating anaerobic digesters at specific feeding rates. Algal-fed digesters showed higher methane content and lower carbon dioxide content compared to waste activated sludge-fed digesters, making it a promising substrate for biogas production.
JOURNAL OF WATER PROCESS ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Mingting Du, Xuran Liu, Qing Xu, Qi Lu, Chenxi Li, Qizi Fu, Dandan He, Jingnan Yang, Abing Duan, Dongbo Wang
Summary: Increasing amounts of food waste with high concentrations of capsaicin are generated globally. The use of calcium peroxide can alleviate the inhibitory effect of capsaicin and promote methane production in anaerobic codigestion. Calcium peroxide enhances capsaicin degradation through O-demethylation and hydrogen abstraction, leading to the production of less toxic degradation products. The addition of calcium peroxide significantly increases the methane yield and production rate in anaerobic codigestion.
ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Aijun Zhu, Yu Qin, Jing Wu, Min Ye, Yu-You Li
Summary: The optimal performance was achieved in the thermophilic anaerobic co-digestion process of sewage sludge with paper waste at a ratio of 4:6, where the COD removal efficiency and biogas production increased significantly. The addition of paper waste had a positive impact on the competition between carbohydrate and protein degradation, with cellulolytic bacteria becoming the predominant group.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xiaoling Zhao, Min Liu, Shipeng Yang, Hui Gong, Jinyuan Ma, Caibin Li, Kaijun Wang
Summary: Temperature Staging and Biological Phasing (TSBP) is an improved anaerobic digestion technology for treating waste activated sludge. The stable operation of TSBP system showed significant biogas production and organic matter degradation. Microbial community analysis revealed the dominance of Proteobacteria and Firmicutes, and aceticlastic methanogenesis was identified as the major pathway for methane production in this system.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Meng Gao, Siqi Li, Huijing Zou, Fushan Wen, Anrong Cai, Ruilin Zhu, Wenjing Tian, Dezhi Shi, Hongxiang Chai, Li Gu
Summary: Anaerobic digestion (AD) is a sustainable method for recovering energy from organic wastes, but the efficiency for waste activated sludge (WAS) is limited due to WAS hydrolysis constraints. This study proposes a strategy to treat WAS and landfill leachate simultaneously, aiming to enhance WAS hydrolysis and organic conversion to methane. The effects of landfill leachate on the different stages of AD of WAS were investigated, showing that appropriate amounts of leachate can promote solubilization, hydrolysis, and acidogenesis, but not methanogenesis. Mechanism studies revealed the beneficial effects of humic acid in leachate on hydrolysis and acidogenesis, and the dose-dependent effects of heavy metals on the AD process. Additionally, microbial community analysis showed an increase in microbes responsible for hydrolysis and acidogenesis with the presence of landfill leachate.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Kai Zhao, Shunan Zhao, Ge Song, Chaojie Lu, Ruiping Liu, Chengzhi Hu, Jiuhui Qu
Summary: Long-term pilot experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of ultrasonication pretreatment on anaerobic digestion performance. The study found that ultrasonication increased biogas production and improved energy efficiency. However, it was not effective in inactivating pathogens and antibiotic resistance genes, limiting its ability to control these harmful components in the digestion process.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Teklit Gebregiorgis Ambaye, Eldon R. Rene, Abdul-Sattar Nizami, Capucine Dupont, Mentore Vaccari, Eric D. van Hullebusch
Summary: Food waste generation due to population increase is a global issue, with traditional disposal methods being inefficient. Anaerobic digestion technology, with the addition of biochar, has shown promise in improving production yields and optimizing critical parameters, yet challenges exist.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Cristian Arenas, Ana Sotres, Raul M. Alonso, Judith Gonzalez-Arias, Antonio Moran, Xiomar Gomez
Summary: This study explores the feasibility of using pyrolysed almond shells as low-cost anodes in microbial electrolysis cell systems, and compares them with traditional carbon felt anodes. The results show that the pyrolysed almond shell anodes have microbial populations similar to those of traditional anodes.
BIOMASS CONVERSION AND BIOREFINERY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Diogo Pereira, Luciana S. Rocha, Maria Gil, Marta Otero, Nuno J. O. Silva, Valdemar Esteves, Vania Calisto
Summary: This study successfully produced a waste-based magnetic activated carbon for efficient removal of carbamazepine from wastewater, showing excellent adsorption performance and fast adsorption rates with equilibrium achieved in less than an hour. The material exhibited promising removal efficiency in both ultrapure water and wastewater, demonstrating its potential application in wastewater treatment.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Erika Sousa, Luciana Rocha, Guilaine Jaria, Maria Gil, Marta Otero, Valdemar Esteves, Vania Calisto
Summary: This study successfully produced activated carbon using microwave-assisted technology and demonstrated its feasibility for efficient removal of antibiotics from water through optimizing production conditions.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Luciana S. Rocha, Erika M. L. Sousa, Maria Gil, Joao A. B. P. Oliveira, Marta Otero, Valdemar Esteves, Vania Calisto
Summary: This study explored the potential of producing magnetic activated carbon (MAC) through intercalation of ferromagnetic metal oxide nanoparticles in powder activated carbon (PAC) to adsorb pharmaceuticals from aqueous media. A fractional factorial design (FFD) was used to assess the effect of significant variables on MACs. The main factor affecting the responses was determined to be the PAC to iron salts mass ratio, leading to the differentiation of four MAC types through a quadratic linear regression model.
Article
Thermodynamics
J. Gonzalez-Arias, X. Gomez, M. Gonzalez-Castano, M. E. Sanchez, J. G. Rosas, J. Cara-Jimenez
Summary: In this study, olive tree pruning was subjected to dry (pyrolysis and torrefaction) and wet (hydrothermal carbonization) thermal treatments to produce solid biofuels. The products were evaluated in terms of yield, quality, and energy consumption. The results showed that chars produced from pyrolysis and torrefaction were coal-like with high heating values, while torrefaction had higher carbon content and energy content per kilogram of char produced, making it more profitable. The study also suggested potential improvements in energy balance by valorising gas and liquid phases in addition to the solid phase.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jose Garcia-Cascallana, Daniela Carrillo-Pena, Antonio Moran, Richard Smith, Xiomar Gomez
Summary: The energy balance of lean-burn turbocharged engines using biogas as fuel was studied, showing that a global efficiency of 88% can be achieved at a specific operating point. Adding co-substrates such as cheese whey can increase self-sufficiency in electricity generation.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
S. Rodriguez, A. Capa, R. Garcia, D. Chen, F. Rubiera, C. Pevida, M. Gil
Summary: This study demonstrates the hydrogen production process of bio-oil/biogas blends using sorption enhanced steam reforming (SESR) technology. Under appropriate temperature, steam/carbon molar ratio, and pressure conditions, SESR effectively reform the blends and enhances hydrogen yield and purity.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ruben Gonzalez, Daniela Carrillo Pena, Xiomar Gomez
Summary: This article reviews the main co-substrates used in anaerobic digestion, highlighting their characteristics in terms of methane production, kinetic models commonly used and the synergistic effects described in the literature. The main process parameters and their influence on digestion performance are presented, as well as the current lines of research dedicated to improving biogas yields.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2022)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Ruben Gonzalez, Ivan Orlando Cabeza, Miguel Casallas-Ojeda, Xiomar Gomez
Summary: Hydrogen, as a main energy carrier, holds a crucial role in the future decarbonization of economy, yet its transport and storage pose challenges. The conversion of hydrogen into methane through anaerobic digestion is a viable option to facilitate storage and transport, with thermophilic systems and reactors proving to be effective in enhancing conversion rates and methane productivity. Pressurization plays a significant role in improving hydrogen solubility and enables the consideration of underground hydrogen storage along with biological methanation, allowing for the integration of sequestered carbon dioxide as a substrate.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Ruben Gonzalez, Jose Garcia-Cascallana, Xiomar Gomez
Summary: In this study, the energy efficiency and economic feasibility of different digestion configurations were evaluated using a double turbocharged engine, Jenbacher type JGS 320 GS-BL. The centralized valorization of biogas showed the best results, followed by the transport of wastes to a centralized treatment unit. However, the decentralized configuration had the worst performance due to lower efficiency and null economic feasibility associated with the transport of biogas.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Khadija Metyouy, Ruben Gonzalez, Xiomar Gomez, Judith Gonzalez-Arias, E. Judith Martinez, Tarik Chafik, Marta E. Sanchez, Jorge Cara-Jimenez
Summary: In this study, the valorization of vegetable and fruit waste was evaluated through hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) and anaerobic digestion (AD), focusing on product characterization and energy requirements. HTC at higher temperatures and longer residence times yielded hydrochars with higher carbon contents and energy densification ratios. AD experiments showed that batch and semi-continuous reactions both produced methane, with batch experiments yielding a methane yield of 300 L CH4/kg VS and semi-continuous experiments estimating an average specific methane production of 213±32 L CH4/kg VS. Energy requirements were assessed through mass and energy balances, and it was concluded that AD was a more suitable process with a positive energy net balance, while HTC had a negative energy net balance, requiring 1.29 MJ/kg of fresh food waste. A combined HTC-AD treatment could be an efficient method to maximize the energy efficiency and value of the waste.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Elia Judith Martinez, Ruben Gonzalez, Marcos Ellacuriaga, Xiomar Gomez
Summary: Changes in daily habits and a stressful lifestyle have influenced consumer preferences and created opportunities for new market products. The valorization of high-quality waste generated by the industrial sector, such as fourth-range products, is desirable to maintain product quality. The anaerobic digestion of these wastes was studied under discontinuous and semi-continuous conditions, showing potential for efficient conversion. However, challenges such as insufficient nutrients and solid accumulation need to be addressed for a well-balanced digestion process.
FERMENTATION-BASEL
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Ruben Gonzalez, Daniel Blanco, Jose Garcia Cascallana, Daniela Carrillo-Pena, Xiomar Gomez
Summary: The anaerobic co-digestion of sheep manure and potato waste showed stable performance in producing methane under mesophilic conditions. However, increasing the OLR of semi-continuous reactors led to decreased methane yield and digestion efficiency. Techno-economic study indicated that wet fermentation system outperformed the solid-state fermentation system.
FERMENTATION-BASEL
(2021)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Marcos Ellacuriaga, Jose Garcia Cascallana, Ruben Gonzalez, Xiomar Gomez
Summary: High-solid-content anaerobic digestion technologies have high reactor productivity for waste conversion to bioenergy. However, the economic model and profitability of these plants need to be improved for sustainability and development of a low-carbon model. Recent studies have focused on strategies like percolating reactor configurations and the use of low-cost adsorbents, nanoparticles, and micro-aeration to increase productivity and reduce initial capital investment costs.
