Review
Energy & Fuels
KeChrist Obileke, Helen Onyeaka, Nwabunwanne Nwokolo
Summary: The article reviews various materials used for the construction of biogas digesters and provides information on the challenges associated with each material. Most biogas digesters are constructed with bricks and cement, while soft bag digesters may serve as an alternative in areas where logistics are challenging.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENERGY RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Johannes Sappl, Matthias Harders, Wolfgang Rauch
Summary: In this study, a novel Temporal Fusion Transformer model was calibrated based on six years of data to predict biogas production in wastewater treatment plants. The model provides accurate and stable forecasts, making it a valuable tool for operational management.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Barkatullah Kandhro, Abdul Razaque Sahito, Jonathan Daniel Nixon, Mohammad Aslam Uqaili, Nayyar Hussain Mirjat, Khanji Harijan, Rafi O. Zaman, Laveet Kumar
Summary: This study investigates the seasonal variations in biogas production, biogas composition, and loss of volatile solid and methane potential of digestate slurry in a reinforced concrete dome biogas plant. The results show that the plant can produce adequate amount of biogas to fulfill the domestic requirements during both warm and cold months in Pakistan.
BIOMASS CONVERSION AND BIOREFINERY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Zhuoying Wu, Duc Nguyen, Shilva Shrestha, Lutgarde Raskin, Samir Kumar Khanal, Po-Heng Lee
Summary: We introduced a concept called "nanaerobic digestion", which refers to the enhanced methane production in animal rumen and engineered digesters that is associated with the co-occurrence of methanogens and nanaerobes in a unique ecological niche with very low levels of dissolved oxygen. We analyzed meta-omic datasets and found that animal rumen shares similarities with oxygenated digesters, suggesting that trace levels of oxygen play a role in efficient digestion in ruminants. Prevotellaceae, a bacterial family abundant in rumen, contains many nanaerobes that contribute to efficient methane generation by performing nanaerobic respiration using cytochrome bd oxidase.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
A. S. M. Younus Bhuiyan Sabbir, Chayan Kumer Saha, Rajesh Nandi, Md Forid Uz Zaman, Md Monjurul Alam, Shiplu Sarker
Summary: The study found that the temperature variations in fixed-dome digesters in different seasons can affect biogas production, with higher methane concentrations in autumn and higher CO2 and H2S concentrations in winter leading to reduced electricity generation.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Hassan Erraji, Mohamed Elamin Afilal, Abdeslam Asehraou, Khalid Azim
Summary: Food waste, rich in biodegradable materials, is a major environmental concern due to its negative impact. This study focused on assessing biogas production from food waste and the effects of liquid digestate on open field crops. The results showed promising biogas production and beneficial effects of liquid digestate on plant growth.
BIOMASS CONVERSION AND BIOREFINERY
(2021)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Amit K. Singh, Praveen K. Srivastava, Akhoury S. K. Sinha, Gopal N. Tiwari
Summary: Bio-methane, a major component of biogas, produces heat when combusted. The optimal production of biogas occurs at a temperature range of 30-40 degrees Celsius, decreasing with higher temperatures. To address the decreased biogas production and energy needs in cold climates, a photovoltaic thermal compound parabolic concentrator (PVT-CPC) integrated digester system has been proposed, which can simultaneously produce heat, electricity, and bio-methane. This system, capable of meeting the daily energy needs of a family, has been evaluated in numerical simulations under cold climatic conditions, showing a 72.8% increase in bio-methane production compared to a non-heated digester. The integrated system generates 13% electrical energy, 67% thermal energy, and 20% chemical energy (bio-methane). (c) 2023 IAgrE. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
BIOSYSTEMS ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
N. Papastefanakis, I. N. Daliakopoulos, A. E. Maragkaki, C. Tsompanidis, N. Zotos, D. F. Lekkase, T. Manios, M. S. Fountoulakis
Summary: The effect of solar-dried food waste and a mixture of food waste with olive mill wastewater on the anaerobic digestion of liquid pig manure and cow manure was examined for the first time. The addition of solar dried feedstocks increased the biogas production by 1.7 times. The estimated biodegradability of the mixtures was over 50%, while the volatile solids removal was 23% for maximum biogas production.
Article
Thermodynamics
B. Stoppacher, T. Sterniczky, S. Bock, V. Hacker
Summary: Chemical looping hydrogen processes have the potential to convert biogas into high-purity hydrogen. A study conducted in Austria combined a fixed-bed chemical looping system with a biogas digester, providing insights for potential future industrial systems. The study analyzed the influence of process parameters on hydrogen purity and efficiency, and demonstrated that the system could produce fuel cell grade hydrogen from biogenic and agricultural residuals.
ENERGY CONVERSION AND MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Reza Salehi, Qiuyan Yuan, Sumate Chaiprapat
Summary: In this study, two data-driven models, k-nearest neighbours (k-NN) and support vector machine (SVM), were proposed to predict biogas production from anaerobic digestion. The results showed that the Gaussian-based SVM model performed slightly better than the k-NN model in predicting biogas production. These findings suggest that SVM modeling is a reliable technique for predicting biogas production in anaerobic digestion processes.
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Lili Li, Kun Wang, Qingliang Zhao, Qingwei Gao, Huimin Zhou, Junqiu Jiang, Wangyang Mei
Summary: Biogas from anaerobic digestion is an important alternative to fossil fuels, contributing to energy recovery and environmental sustainability. Mixing plays a critical role in biogas production, with intermittent mixing preferred for maximum biogas production. Local experimental techniques are simple and cost-effective for arbitrarily sized digesters, while global experimental techniques relying on computer systems are gaining attention for their applications in anaerobic digestion flow fields. Further research is needed to develop new experimental techniques that overcome the limitations of digestate opacity and industrial reactor geometries, and compartmental models based on computational fluid dynamics show promise for greater implementation of CFD applications.
REVIEWS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND BIO-TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Magnus Galfalk, Soren Nilsson Paledal, Robert Sehlen, David Bastviken
Summary: This study assessed CH4 and N2O emissions from a wastewater treatment plant and an adjacent biogas production facility in Sweden using novel remote sensing technology, revealing that emissions may have been underestimated and highlighting the importance of discovering new potential sources.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Bojie Yan, Yaxing Li, Yanfang Qin, Wenjiao Shi, Jingjie Yan
Summary: Biogas production from agricultural waste is crucial for reducing environmental pollution and alleviating energy shortage in rural China. However, the effect of ground temperature on biogas production has been rarely studied, particularly in relation to increasing the temperature of biogas digesters in the cold season. In this study, we investigate the spatial-temporal distribution of biogas production from agricultural waste and analyze its correlation with ground temperature in rural China. We also propose a solution to increase the temperature of biogas digesters based on energy utilization. The findings provide valuable insights for biogas production, greenhouse gas emission reduction, and energy utilization in rural China.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Mohd Amran Bin Mohd Yusof, Yi Jing Chan, Chien Hwa Chong
Summary: This study evaluates and compares the performances of in-ground lagoon anaerobic digesters in four different biogas plants located in Malaysia. The results show that all plants are functioning well with satisfactory methane yields and COD removal efficiencies. Factors such as organic loading rate, temperature, and recirculation ratio have significant effects on COD removal and biogas production.
ASIA-PACIFIC JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Thermodynamics
Sebastian Bock, Bernd Stoppacher, Karin Malli, Michael Lammer, Viktor Hacker
Summary: The study identified fixed-bed chemical looping as an efficient and economically viable option for high-purity hydrogen production from biogas in decentralized systems. Through thermodynamic evaluation, pinch analysis, and economic feasibility study, key parameters and system efficiency were determined, showing competitiveness in economically sustainable biogas conversion.
ENERGY CONVERSION AND MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Jaime Jaimes-Estevez, German Zafra, Jaime Marti-Herrero, Guillermo Pelaz, Antonio Moran, Alejandra Puentes, Christian Gomez, Liliana del Pilar Castro, Humberto Escalante Hernandez
Summary: Most biogas plants in the world operate under psychrophilic conditions and are run by small and medium farmers. A research was conducted to evaluate a psychrophilic, low-cost, tubular digester operated for eight years, showing stable anaerobic digestion and higher biogas production than expected.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Frederik R. Dalby, Sasha D. Hafner, Soren O. Petersen, Andrew C. VanderZaag, Jemaneh Habtewold, Kari Dunfield, Martin H. Chantigny, Sven G. Sommer
Summary: This review focuses on the methane emission from liquid manure, highlighting the importance of management practices and environmental conditions, and the necessity of including a microbial component in models to accurately calculate CH4 emission. It is suggested that manipulating key variables through management procedures can reduce methane production.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Frederik R. Dalby, Sasha D. Hafner, Soren O. Petersen, Andrew Vanderzaag, Jemaneh Habtewold, Kari Dunfield, Martin H. Chantigny, Sven G. Sommer
Summary: Existing models are limited in predicting the effects of temperature on methane production, prompting the development of a new model incorporating multiple methanogenic groups for more accurate predictions. Research suggests that frequent emptying of slurry pits can reduce methane emissions by washing out active methanogens.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Muhammad Tahir Ashraf, Lars Yde, Jin Mi Triolo, Henrik Wenzel
Summary: Ex-situ biomethanation in a biotrickling filter is a technology that converts CO2 to CH4 using hydrogenotrophic methanogens in a biofilm. Nutrient supply, particularly ammonium and iron, is crucial for maintaining an active biofilm. Thoroughly wetting the biofilm with nutrient media periodically is essential for stable operation, despite temporary reductions in conversion rates.
BIOCHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Henrik B. Moller, Peter Sorensen, Jorgen E. Olesen, Soren O. Petersen, Tavs Nyord, Sven G. Sommer
Summary: Anaerobic digestion can reduce greenhouse gas emissions from livestock manure and produce biogas as a substitute for fossil energy. Different scenarios show reductions in GHG emissions ranging from 65 to 105 kg CO2-eq ton(-1) biomass.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sven G. Sommer, Martin N. Hansen
Summary: Ammonia volatilization following land application can account for up to 70% of the ammonium content in deep litter. Soil incorporation, such as plowing and harrowing, significantly reduce this volatilization.
ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT-X
(2022)
Article
Thermodynamics
J. Villarroel-Schneider, Lena Hoglund-Isaksson, Brijesh Mainali, J. Marti-Herrero, Evelyn Cardozo, Anders Malmquist, Andrew Martin
Summary: This study proposes integrated solutions for sustainable development in Latin American dairy farms through waste-to-energy approach, including using cow manure to produce biogas as the main energy conversion pathway, and meeting the energy demands of farms through biogas digesters, power generators, and combined heat and power systems, while also providing organic fertilizers.
ENERGY CONVERSION AND MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Sven G. Sommer, Sasha D. Hafner, Johannes Laubach, Tony J. van der Weerden, April B. Leytem, Andreas Pacholski
Summary: Ammonia emissions from agriculture have significantly increased, and agriculture is now the main source of ammonia in the atmosphere. Existing methods for calculating national emissions do not consider regional variations. Researchers have proposed a simple model that takes into account various factors to accurately calculate emissions, without requiring extensive input data.
BIOSYSTEMS ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Vicente Sebastian Espinoza, Javier Fontalvo, Paola Ramirez, Jaime Marti-Herrero, Margarita Mediavilla
Summary: This paper aims to analyze the energy transition pathway for a fossil fuel rich developing country, taking into consideration national and international oil availability. The results indicate that without taking action, energy scarcity is inevitable by 2040, leading to economic decline. However, the increasing use of fossil fuels can be partially reduced through policies promoting energy efficiency and renewable energy. Nonetheless, it is crucial to implement ambitious policies in the short term to mitigate the effects of replacing oil as an energy and income source.
Article
Thermodynamics
Vicente Sebastian Espinoza, Javier Fontalvo, Jaime Marti-Herrero, Luis Javier Miguel, Margarita Mediavilla
Summary: The aim of this paper is to develop a system dynamics model to assess the energy future up to 2050 for Ecuador considering its condition of oil producing country. Three scenarios have been developed with different assumptions regarding national and global oil availability under a Business-As-Usual narrative. The study finds that restricted availability of oil might significantly pressure final demand, leading to a downfall in economic activity.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yihuai Hu, Tobias Pape Thomsen, Owen Fenton, Sven Gjedde Sommer, Wenxuan Shi, Wenjing Cui
Summary: Globally, there is a need to replace chemical fertilizers with bio-based fertilizers to ensure food security. This study developed a pre-screening tool to evaluate greenhouse gas emissions from bio-waste used as fertilizers. The results showed that biochar effectively mitigated nitrous oxide emissions and the impact of emissions varied with different soil types.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
C. Tavera-Ruiz, J. Marti-Herrero, O. Mendieta, J. Jaimes-Estevez, P. Gauthier-Maradei, U. Azimov, H. Escalante, L. Castro
Summary: This research focuses on the development of biogas sector in Colombia, a developing country. The study finds that Colombian research mostly concentrates on agricultural waste substrates, inocula, and co-digestion, while full-scale digesters' performance research is lacking. A survey reveals that 79% of the installed digesters in Colombia are psychrophilic low-cost tubular digesters. The existing regulations for biogas in Colombia are not suitable for low-cost digesters and are borrowed from developed countries, disregarding the national context. The research presents five case studies analyzing the barriers and opportunities for AD technology, driven slowly by national networks comprising farmers, NGOs, and academia.
RENEWABLE & SUSTAINABLE ENERGY REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Zamir Sanchez, Jaime Marti-Herrero, Humberto Escalante, Liliana Castro
Summary: This study conducted a techno-economic evaluation of anaerobic digestion technology in a laboratory scale, showing the feasibility of low-cost mesophilic biogas plants. However, the implementation is limited by land availability and cost structure.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Theresa Merl, Yihuai Hu, Johanna Pedersen, Silvia E. E. Zieger, Marie Louise Borno, Azeem Tariq, Sven Gjedde Sommer, Klaus Koren
Summary: Agricultural nitrogen application to soils is the main source of atmospheric ammonia, which has negative impacts on the environment. NH3 emissions are affected by spatiotemporal heterogeneities of soil parameters. Soil oxygen and pH are key parameters controlling the N cycle. We propose the use of optical chemical sensors in and above soils to better understand biogeochemical soil processes.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE-ADVANCES
(2023)
Review
Food Science & Technology
Yihuai Hu, Olha Khomenko, Wenxuan Shi, Angel Velasco-Sanchez, S. M. Ashekuzzaman, Nadia Bennegadi-Laurent, Karen Daly, Owen Fenton, Mark G. Healy, J. J. Leahy, Peter Sorensen, Sven G. Sommer, Arezoo Taghizadeh-Toosi, Isabelle Trinsoutrot-Gattin
Summary: Worldwide dairy processing plants produce dairy processing sludge that can be converted into valuable secondary derivatives, meeting new technical regulations for fertilizing materials in the European Union. Further research is needed to examine production costs and environmental impacts of these bio-based fertilizers.
FRONTIERS IN SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS
(2021)