Article
Agricultural Engineering
Donghai Yang, Qiuhong Chen, Rui Liu, Liang Song, Yue Zhang, Xiaohu Dai
Summary: This review highlights the importance of ammonia recovery technologies in reducing nitrogen pollution, conserving energy, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The mechanisms, influencing factors, mass transfer processes, and economic analysis of ammonia recovery are critically reviewed.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Fanny Rivera, Raul Munoz, Pedro Pradanos, Antonio Hernandez, Laura Palacio
Summary: Ammonia recovery from synthetic and real anaerobic digestates was achieved using hydrophobic flat sheet membranes operated with H2SO4 solutions. The recovery process was influenced by membrane material, flow rate, and pH of the digestate. NH3 recovery followed first order kinetics and fouling caused changes in membrane surface morphology and pore size.
Review
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Advait Palakodeti, Samet Azman, Barbara Rossi, Raf Dewil, Lise Appels
Summary: Anaerobic digestion is a mature technology that converts organic waste into biogas, but the released ammonia may have inhibitory effects, necessitating its recovery. Gas-liquid stripping is a technology to recover ammonia, but research on its application to anaerobic digestate of organic wastes is limited. Further research could focus on the effect of digestate composition on ammonia recovery and the impact of stripping gas on ammonia removal.
RENEWABLE & SUSTAINABLE ENERGY REVIEWS
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Alejandro Moure Abelenda, Kirk T. Semple, Alfonso Jose Lag-Brotons, Ben M. J. Herbert, George Aggidis, Farid Aiouache
Summary: This study evaluated the use of low-pollutant biomass bottom ash as an adsorbent to decrease the availability and the losses of carbon and nutrients in anaerobic digestate. Acidification of the digestate-ash blend with hydrochloric acid increased the amount of ammonia in the blend. Hydrochloric acid was found to be the best option for preparing the ash as a sorbent and enhancing the dehydration of the blend.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Anthoula Karanasiou, Kleio Angistali, Konstantinos V. Plakas, Margaritis Kostoglou, Anastasios J. Karabelas
Summary: This study systematically investigates the application of Vacuum Membrane Distillation (VMD) for recovering ammonia after phosphates precipitation, aiming to develop a sustainable process for utilizing anaerobic-fermentation liquid-digestates. Batch tests and targeted experiments with industrial digestate samples were conducted to determine the optimal conditions for ammonia recovery. Under specific conditions of low TAN concentration, modest temperature and driving force, VMD achieved high ammonia removal fraction with fair selectivity. The study also proposes an approach for realistic preliminary design of a continuous VMD-based process.
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Kevin D. Orner, Sarah J. Smith, Hanna M. Breunig, Corinne D. Scown, Kara L. Nelson
Summary: The diversion of organic waste through anaerobic digestion presents an opportunity to recover valuable nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus, with municipal sewage sludge being the largest potential source for recovery. The nutrient recovery rates vary for different end products, with liquid fertilizer, struvite, and compost contributing to offsetting synthetic fertilizer demand in California to different extents. In a profitable build-out scenario for anaerobic digestion facilities, recovered nutrients could offset a significant portion of the state's synthetic fertilizer demand.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yun Peng, Lei Li, Qin Dong, Pingjin Yang, Hengyi Liu, Wenjie Ye, Di Wu, Xuya Peng
Summary: The feasibility of using food waste anaerobic digestate-derived biochar (FWDB) to mitigate ammonia toxicity in an anaerobic digester was evaluated. The optimal conditions for preparing and adding the activated FWDB were explored using response surface experiments. The long-term effects of adding activated FWDB on digester performance under optimum conditions were verified in semi-continuous experiments.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Miriam Hyman, Qichen Wang, Alan E. Wilson, Sushil Adhikari, Brendan T. Higgins
Summary: The study found that digestate-grown Chlorella sorokiniana can be used as a feed for Daphnia, leading to higher population growth. Chlorella sorokiniana contains high levels of sterols and alpha-linolenic acid, which are often limiting nutrients for Daphnia diets.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Ester Scotto di Perta, Raffaele Grieco, Stefano Papirio, Giovanni Esposito, Elena Cervelli, Marco Bovo, Stefania Pindozzi
Summary: This study investigates the feasibility of ammonia stripping (AS) before and after anaerobic digestion (AD) of livestock manure in two different farms in southern Italy. The results show that combining AD with AS can result in a higher reduction in total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) compared to AS treatment alone. The efficiency of AS removal depends on the characteristics, mainly the intermediate alkalinity (IA), of the treated matrix.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
F. Granzotto, C. Aita, D. D. Silveira, F. D. Mayer, S. B. Pujol, J. A. Pinas, R. Hoffmann
Summary: Anaerobic digestion proved to be an efficient method for treating organic wastes from university restaurants, achieving high removal rates of pollutants and producing biogas and digestate for potential use as organic fertilizer.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2021)
Review
Engineering, Chemical
Fabio Rizzioli, Davide Bertasini, David Bolzonella, Nicola Frison, Federico Battista
Summary: The unsustainable environmental impact of fossil derived fertilizers and the depletion of raw materials for their production make the research of alternative sources for fertilizers production one of the main priorities of the international agenda. Different technologies for nutrient recovery from agricultural digestate, such as ammonia stripping and struvite precipitation, pressure-driven membrane technologies, ion exchange, adsorption, evaporation, and electrodialysis, are discussed in this paper. Their robustness, yields, and costs are evaluated to determine their potential for large-scale applications.
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Lili Li, Kun Wang, Wangyang Mei, Qingwei Gao, Qingliang Zhao, Huimin Zhou, Junqiu Jiang
Summary: This study focused on the rheology-dependent mass diffusion characteristics of high-solids anaerobic co-digestion systems of food waste and sewage sludge. The results showed that as the total solids content increased, the effective diffusion coefficient of the digestate decreased. Higher solids content led to increased viscosity, consistency index, critical modulus, and energy of cohesion, while the flow behavior index decreased. The increase in surface water content in the high solids digestate explained the decrease in the effective diffusion coefficient and deterioration of rheological properties.
BIOCHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Alessandro Abba, Marta Domini, Marco Baldi, Roberta Pedrazzani, Giorgio Bertanza
Summary: The study examined the performance and energy consumption of a full-scale ammonia-stripping plant without the use of alkaline reagents. Results demonstrated that anaerobic digestion coupled with stripping can effectively remove up to 81% of ammonium without external energy input or reagent dosage.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Shuang Song, Jun Wei Lim, Jonathan T. E. Lee, Jia Chin Cheong, Sherilyn H. Hoy, Qiang Hu, Jonathan K. N. Tan, Zhongyu Chiam, Srishti Arora, Tiffany Q. H. Lum, Ee Yang Lim, Chi-Hwa Wang, Hugh T. W. Tan, Yen Wah Tong
Summary: This study found that dilution and biochar filtration of anaerobic digestate can enhance its agronomic performance as a fertilizer, making it a sustainable substitute for commercial fertilizer. The processed digestate showed comparable results to commercial fertilizer in vegetable cultivation experiments.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Kayla Rude, Cody Yothers, Tyler J. Barzee, Serena Kutney, Ruihong Zhang, Annaliese Franz
Summary: Microalgae strains can be successfully cultivated on ammonia-rich food waste permeate, supporting similar or higher growth compared to synthetic media. Different strains have varying nutrient remediation efficiencies.
ALGAL RESEARCH-BIOMASS BIOFUELS AND BIOPRODUCTS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
C. Gurd, R. Villa, B. Jefferson
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2020)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Thomas Denis Collin, Rachel Cunningham, Mohammed Qasim Asghar, Raffaella Villa, Jitka MacAdam, Bruce Jefferson
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2020)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Catherine A. Rolph, Bruce Jefferson, Adam Brookes, Francis Hassard, Raffaella Villa
Review
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Raffaella Villa, Lelia Ortega Rodriguez, Cecilia Fenech, Ogemdi Chinwendu Anika
RENEWABLE & SUSTAINABLE ENERGY REVIEWS
(2020)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Thomas Collin, Rachel Cunningham, Melani Deb, Raffaella Villa, Jitka MacAdam, Bruce Jefferson
Summary: The study calculated the amount of fats, oils, and grease (FOG) produced by households annually, revealing potential for biodiesel production and energy recovery in the UK. However, most of the household FOG is currently not recovered, indicating a need for schemes tailored to household routines to maximize collection rates.
WATER AND ENVIRONMENT JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ildefonso Rocamora, Stuart T. Wagland, Raffaella Villa, Edmon W. Simpson, Oliver Fernandez, Yadira Bajon-Fernandez
Summary: This study investigated the impact of inoculum to substrate ratio (I:S) and the addition of water and percolate on inhibition in dry batch anaerobic digestion of organic fraction municipal solid waste (OFMSW). The results showed that adjusting the I:S ratio and adding water or percolate can increase methane production, but inhibition of methanogenic archaea may still occur in the presence of acidification. Further research on percolate composition during batch digestion is needed to optimize nutrient recirculation and balance microbial communities.
WASTE AND BIOMASS VALORIZATION
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Elizabeth K. Court, Roy R. Chaudhuri, Rahul Kapoore, Raffaella X. Villa, Jagroop Pandhal, Catherine A. Biggs, Graham P. Stafford
Summary: This study focused on isolating highly lipolytic bacteria directly from FOG blockage sites in the UK and selecting the most lipolytic strains for potential use in FOG treatment within wastewater networks. Molecular characterization of microbial communities at these sites showed diversity and evidence related to the isolated strains, providing a proof of concept for targeting Fatberg sites for bioremediation.
Article
Environmental Sciences
R. Villa, J. Jantova-Patel, Y. Bajon Fernandez
Summary: Addition of enzymes to anaerobic digesters can improve the hydrolytic step of the process, increase biogas production, and reduce energy requirements. The mode of enzyme addition and operational changes can impact the effectiveness of enzymes and their stabilizing effect on continuous systems.
WASTE AND BIOMASS VALORIZATION
(2022)
Review
Environmental Sciences
M. J. Whelan, C. Linstead, F. Worrall, S. J. Ormerod, I Durance, A. C. Johnson, D. Johnson, M. Owen, E. Wiik, N. J. K. Howden, T. P. Burt, A. Boxall, C. D. Brown, D. M. Oliver, D. Tickner
Summary: The study explored the claim that river water quality in Great Britain is better now than at any time since the Industrial Revolution. Data and evidence were reviewed for seven categories of water pollutants. The findings suggest that water quality in many rivers downstream of urban centers has improved in sanitary terms, but emerging contaminants and intensive agriculture remain significant challenges. Better identification and prioritization of multiple stressors are needed to enable continued recovery.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Ildefonso Rocamora, Stuart T. Wagland, Francis Hassard, Raffaella Villa, Miriam Peces, Edmon W. Simpson, Oliver Fernandez, Yadira Bajon-Fernandez
Summary: Inhibitory pathways in dry anaerobic digestion are underexplored, and current knowledge on wet processes does not easily apply. This study induced instability in pilot-scale digesters by operating at short retention times to understand inhibition pathways over long-term operation. The first sign of inhibition at high total ammonia concentrations was propionic accumulation due to elevated headspace hydrogen levels. The combined inhibitory effect of propionic and ammonia accumulation resulted in increased hydrogen partial pressures and n-butyric accumulation. Methanosarcina increased while Methanoculleus decreased during digestion deterioration. It was hypothesized that high ammonia, total solids, and organic loading rate inhibited syntrophic acetate oxidizers, leading to their washout and a shift towards acetoclastic methanogenesis.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Ildefonso Rocamora, Stuart T. Wagland, Monica Rivas Casado, Francis Hassard, Raffaella Villa, Miriam Peces, Edmon W. Simpson, Oliver Fernandez, Yadira Bajon-Fernandez
Summary: Dry anaerobic digestion often leads to inhibitors accumulation, which can be solved by adapting operation. This study investigates the impacts of different strategies on stability in two full-scale dry AD plants. The addition of compost reduces volatile fatty acids but decreases methane flow when the compost constitutes more than 10.1% of the incoming feedstock. In batch dry AD, methane yields increase with percolate recirculation but decrease with higher volumes, possibly due to pile compaction and inhibitors accumulation.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
L. A. G. Blair, Y. Bajon-Fernandez, R. Villa
Summary: In the UK, an estimated 28,114 tonnes of waste is generated annually from menstrual products, with approximately 4% being flushed into the environment. Disposable pads are the main contributors to menstrual waste volumes, producing around 21,094 tonnes per year and emitting approximately 6,600 tCO(2) eq. of greenhouse gases. Replacing disposable menstrual management products with reusable ones could reduce waste production by approximately 22,907 tonnes per year and avoid about 7,900 tCO(2) eq. of greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, implementing better waste management processes, such as thermal treatment, could further reduce emissions by approximately 5,000 tCO(2) eq. of greenhouse gases and generate around 5,500 MKh of electricity through incineration and 18,000 MKh through gasification.
CLEANER ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Proceedings Paper
Automation & Control Systems
Mehdi Pazhoohesh, Mohammad Sadegh Javadi, Mehdi Gheisari, Saddam Aziz, Raffaella Villa
Summary: This paper focuses on exploring suitable data imputation methods to handle missing data within the smart building context, with a particular emphasis on lift systems. The study investigates the statistical and modeled impact of different imputation techniques, including machine learning algorithms, on performance evaluation. The findings from this research can inform the selection of appropriate imputation techniques not only within lift datasets but also in the broader smart building environment.
IECON 2021 - 47TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE IEEE INDUSTRIAL ELECTRONICS SOCIETY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
M. J. Whelan, A. Ramos, R. Villa, I Guymer, B. Jefferson, M. Rayner
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE-PROCESSES & IMPACTS
(2020)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Xiaojian Liu, Bei Wang, Yayun Ma, Xiangyang Zhou, Juan Yang, Yuehui He, Jingjing Tang, Fanyun Su, Wan Yang
Summary: This study proposes a combined process of reduction roasting of herb-medicine residue and oxalic acid leaching to improve the recovery efficiency of lithium from spent lithium-ion batteries. By utilizing the reducing gas produced from the pyrolysis of herb-medicine residue, the layered structure of the cathode powder is destroyed and converted into Li2CO3, Ni, Co, and MnO. Additionally, selective extraction of lithium is achieved using oxalic acid, and the efficiency and kinetics of lithium extraction are improved under the combined action of herb-medicine residue and oxalic acid.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Muxina Konarova, Nuno Batalha, Gabriel Fraga, Mohamed H. M. Ahmed, Steven Pratt, Bronwyn Laycock
Summary: This study presents a proof of concept for a technology that integrates PET recovery from mixed plastic waste and plastic pyrolysis. By depolymerizing PET into TPA using a low volatility oil as medium, it achieves low-pressure operation and a selective separation and recovery of TPA from the product mix. Full PET conversion and high TPA recovery were achieved, making it an effective solution for processing mixed waste streams and improving the yield and quality of liquid product from thermal pyrolysis compared to untreated feedstock.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Zhenhua Sun, Jing Li, Xuejiang Wang, Siqing Xia, Jianfu Zhao
Summary: This study investigated the influence of in-situ formed MgFe2O4 on the hydrothermal treatment of swine manure. The results showed that the in-situ formation of MgFe2O4 improved the dehydration and decarboxylation of organic components in swine manure, thereby improving its carbonization degree. Furthermore, it enhanced the stabilization of heavy metals and the retention of phosphorus. MgFe2O4 modified hydrochars exhibited remarkable adsorption capacity for Pb(II) and Cu(II) without any leaching of heavy metals.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yijing Jiang, Boyang Leng, Jingxin Xi
Summary: The increased generation of municipal solid waste has had a significant impact on the economy, environment, and public health. The current waste treatment process has limitations. By developing a comprehensive social costing model, this study assesses the impacts of municipal solid waste management throughout its life cycle and provides policymakers with best practices and feasibility information.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Marina Hernandes de Paula e Silva, Ricardo Coser Mergulha, Jose Geraldo Vidal Vieira, Andrea Brasco Pampanelli, Rodrigo Salvador, Diogo Aparecido Lopes Silva
Summary: This study developed and implemented a self-assessment tool to assist companies in decision-making processes for establishing circular flows based on Lean Manufacturing and Circular Economy principles. The tool utilized a maturity model and was applied to nine companies of varying characteristics. The findings revealed that certain companies showed higher maturity in water-waste and chemical-emissions management, with larger enterprises focusing on these strategies. However, many companies lacked sufficient training and employee awareness prior to seeking cleaner alternatives, and comprehensive actions to manage the product lifecycle were lacking. To address these gaps, the tool provided tailored recommendations for each company to improve their processes, products, and value chain.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Gamze Dogdu, Turgay Pekdemir, Sanaz Lakestani, Seyda Karabork, Osman Cavus
Summary: This paper presents data on food waste associated with mini size food packaging services, highlighting the difficulties in emptying the food and consumer wastefulness as the main causes. These findings have significant implications for the sustainability of food and relevant packaging.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Qingxia Li, Xin Kong, Yuxin Chen, Jianan Niu, Jia Jing, Jin Yuan, Yifeng Zhang
Summary: This study investigates how to enhance methane production from food waste after hydrothermal pretreatment. The results demonstrate a significant increase in methane yield when zero-valent iron and magnetite are used together, and high organic loading is favorable for methane production. Microbial diversity analysis further reveals the dominant pathways and metabolic processes involved in methane generation.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
D. H. H. Sim, I. A. W. Tan, L. L. P. Lim, E. T. Lau, B. H. Hameed
Summary: The development of controlled-release fertilizer formulation is important for preventing environmental pollution caused by nutrient leaching and volatilization. This study combined biochar-based fertilizer with encapsulation technology to improve the nutrient release mechanism. Optimal conditions for synthesizing urea-impregnated biochar (UIB) were determined using central composite design, and the release of nitrogen was described by mathematical models. Results showed that encapsulated UIB (EUIB) achieved complete release of nitrogen in water and exhibited improved water retention in sandy-textural soil. Therefore, EUIB derived from peppercorn waste has the potential to be used as a sustainable controlled-release fertilizer for agriculture.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yuchuan Wang, Neslihan Akdeniz
Summary: Incorporating biochar into composting systems can increase compost temperatures. This study developed a heat transfer model for a biochar-amended co-composting system and found that biochar increased thermal conductive losses but also enhanced microbial activity, resulting in an overall increase in total heat unit. When biochar was applied on the surface, it mainly functioned as an insulator.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
George Tsalis, Birger Boutrup Jensen, Jessica Aschemann-Witzel
Summary: This paper empirically explores the relationship between retail price promotions and household food waste. The results show that households with a higher proportion of discount food purchases and environmental awareness tend to waste less food, while larger households and those lacking food handling skills tend to waste more food.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Lukas Friederici, Arne Koch, Patrick Martens, Jana Pantzke, Sebastiano Di Bucchianico, Thorsten Streibel, Christopher P. Rueger, Ralf Zimmermann
Summary: The increasing demand for lightweight materials has led to a rise in fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) production. However, the properties and compositional range of FRPs pose challenges to recycling strategies. Pyrolysis has emerged as a promising method for separating the fibers from the polymer matrix. This study investigated the pyrolysis process using thermal analysis and high-resolution mass spectrometry, and also assessed the toxicity of the recovered fibers using an in vitro model.
Review
Engineering, Environmental
Devika Kannan, Shakiba Khademolqorani, Nassibeh Janatyan, Somaieh Alavi
Summary: This paper introduces Smart Waste Management (SWM) that applies Industry 4.0 technologies in waste management. A framework called SWM4.0 is developed, which highlights the importance of smart people, smart cities, smart enterprises, and smart factories in achieving successful waste management. The paper also suggests future research directions and managerial implications.