Evaluation of batch mesophilic anaerobic digestion of raw and trampled llama and dromedary dungs: methane potential and kinetic study

This research was carried out with the aim to evaluate the anaerobic digestion (AD) of llama and dromedary dungs (both untreated and trampled) in batch mode at mesophilic temperature (35 °C). The biochemical methane potential (BMP) tests with an inoculum to substrate ratio of 2:1 (as volatile solids (VS)) were carried out. The methane yield from trampled llama dung (333.0 mL CH4 g−1 VSadded) was considerably higher than for raw llama, raw and trampled dromedary dungs (185.9, 228.4, 222.9 mL CH4 g−1 VSadded, respectively). Therefore, trampled llama dung was found to be the best substrate for methane production due to its high content of volatile solids as well as its high nitrogen content (2.1%) and more appropriate C/N ratio (23.6) for AD. The experimental data was found to be in accordance with both first-order kinetic and transference function mathematical models, when evaluating the experimental methane production against time. By applying the first-order kinetic model, the hydrolysis rate constants, kh, were found to be 19% and 11% higher for trampled dungs in comparison with the raw dung of dromedary and llama, respectively. In addition, the maximum methane production rate (Rm) derived from the transference function model for trampled llama dung (22.0 mL CH4 g−1 VS d−1) was 83.3%, 24.4% and 22.9% higher than those obtained for raw llama manure and for raw and trampled dromedary dungs, respectively.

Mesophilic and Thermophilic Anaerobic Digestion of Wheat Straw in a CSTR System with ‘Synthetic Manure’: Impact of Nickel and Tungsten on Methane Yields, Cell Count, and Microbiome

Lignocellulosic residues, such as straw, are currently considered as candidates for biogas production. Therefore, straw fermentations were performed to quantitatively estimate methane yields and cell counts, as well as to qualitatively determine the microbiome. Six fully automated, continuously stirred biogas reactors were used: three mesophilic (41 °C) and three thermophilic (58 °C). They were fed every 8 h with milled wheat straw suspension in a defined, buffered salt solution, called ‘synthetic manure’. Total reflection X-ray fluorescence spectrometry analyses showed nickel and tungsten deficiency in the straw suspension. Supplementation of nickel and subsequently tungsten, or with an increasing combined dosage of both elements, resulted in a final concentration of approximately 0.1 mg/L active, dissolved tungsten ions, which caused an increase of the specific methane production, up to 63% under mesophilic and 31% under thermophilic conditions. That is the same optimal range for pure cultures of methanogens or bacteria found in literature. A simultaneous decrease of volatile fatty acids occurred. The Ni/W effect occurred with all three organic loading rates, being 4.5, 7.5, and 9.0 g volatile solids per litre and day, with a concomitant hydraulic retention time of 18, 10, or 8 days, respectively. A maximum specific methane production of 0.254 m3 CH4, under standard temperature and pressure per kg volatile solids (almost 90% degradation), was obtained. After the final supplementation of tungsten, the cell counts of methanogens increased by 300%, while the total microbial cell counts increased by only 3–62%. The mesophilic methanogenic microflora was shifted from the acetotrophic Methanosaeta to the hydrogenotrophic Methanoculleus (85%) by tungsten, whereas the H2-CO2-converter, Methanothermobacter, always dominated in the thermophilic fermenters.

Anaerobic co-digestion of swine manure and forage at two harvesting ages

ABSTRACT: The co-digestion of swine manure with vegetable waste is an alternative that can increase the production of biogas and methane generated by the isolated digestion of manure. However, recommendations that are based on the best ratio between manure and forage, as well as the age of harvest, are still scarce in the literature. This study was conducted to evaluate inclusions (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100%) of the total solids (TS) of Elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum) harvested at two ages medium age (MA) at 45 days of growth and advanced age (AA) at 90 days in co-digestion with swine manure, using an entirely randomized design in a 5x2 factorial scheme. Batch digesters were used and biogas production was monitored for 12 weeks. There was influence of forage age (P <0.05) on the degradation of solids and neutral detergent fiber, with higher values for the substrates containing MA forage. The highest CH4 yields were obtained by the substrates containing MA forage in the inclusion of 27.7 and 31.6%, being 253.7 and 222.2 L of CH4 per Kg of total or volatile solids. The age of the forages influenced the onset and persistence of biogas production, being advantageous only in the inclusion of 25% of MA forage. The AA forage inclusion is not recommended for co-digestion with swine manure.

Anaerobic Digestion for Biogas Production from Municipal Sewage Sludge: A Comparative Study between Fine Mesh Sieved Primary Sludge and Sedimented Primary Sludge

Two different types of primary sewage sludge have been used as feedstock for production of biogas through anaerobic digestion (AD): the one type was sludge from a typical primary clarifier (PC), while the other type of sludge produced by a rotating belt filter, commonly called microsieve (MS). Initially the main physicochemical characteristics of the sludges, such as total solids (TS), volatile solids (VS), VS/TS, pH and carbon to nitrogen ratio (C/N) were determined, for MS: 37.86 ± 0.08%, 83.00 ± 0.41%, 0.83 ± 0.00, 6.67 ± 0.08 and 19.68 ± 0.69, respectively, and for PC: 2.61 ± 0.08%, 78.77 ± 1.91%, 0.79 ± 0.02, 6.61 ± 0.10 and 14.46 ± 1.23, respectively. Then, calculated amounts of the sludges were inserted into airtight vials and were inoculated using anaerobic sludge. The daily biogas production was measured over a period of 30 days. PC sludge maximized the daily biogas production (44.20 mlbiogas/gvsd) 11 days after inoculation, while the MS sludge reach a peak (37.74 mlbiogas/gvsd) 14 days after inoculation. The cumulative biogas production over the 30 days of AD was in the same laver (442.29 mlbiogas/gvs for PC versus 434.73 mlbiogas/gvs for MS). However, PC sludge indicated higher daily biogas production, compared to MS sludge, while the opposite was observed for the period following the peak point. The Volatile Solids Reduction for PC and MS sludges was recorded as 46.06% and 32.39%, respectively.

Assessment of Petroleum-Based Plastic and Bioplastics Degradation Using Anaerobic Digestion

Bioplastics have emerged as a viable alternative to traditional petroleum-based plastic (PET). Three of the most common bioplastic polymers are polyhydroxybutyrate-valerate (PHBV), polylactide (PLA), and cellulose-based bioplastic (CBB). This study assessed biodegradation through anaerobic digestion (AD) of these three bioplastics and PET digested with food waste (FW) at mesophilic (35 °C) and thermophilic (55 °C) temperatures. The four plastic types were digested with FW in triplicate batch reactors. Additionally, two blank treatments (inoculum-only) and two PHBV treatments (with FW + inoculum and inoculum-only) were digested at 35 and 55 °C. The PHBV treatment without FW at 35 °C (PHBV-35) produced the most methane (CH4) normalized by the volatile solids (VS) of the bioplastics over the 104-day experimental period (271 mL CH4/g VS). Most bioplastics had more CH4 production than PET when normalized by digester volume or gram substrate added, with the PLA-FW-55 (5.80 m3 CH4/m3), PHBV-FW-55 (2.29 m3 CH4/m3), and PHBV-55 (4.05 m3 CH4/m3) having 848,275 and 561%, respectively, more CH4 production than the PET treatment. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed full degradation of PHBV pellets after AD. The results show that when PHBV is used as bioplastic, it can be degraded with energy production through AD.

Analysis of the physicochemical process in the production of biogas from equine manure

The present research aims to evaluate the physicochemical variables involved in the anaerobic digestion process to produce methane from manure on an agricultural farm; the farm has 2 equines that generate 12 Kg of manure per day. A manure sample was collected, and the following physicochemical parameters were determined: total solids, volatile solids, chemical oxygen demand, and pH. A tubular household biodigester was then implemented, consisting mainly of a polyethylene geomembrane that stores the organic matter and in which anaerobic digestion takes place. The performance of the biodigester was determined by the removal of organic matter quantified by volatile solids and chemical oxygen demand in the biodigester influent and digestate, of which removal of 82% of volatile solids and 74% of chemical oxygen demand was achieved. The average biogas production was 0.5 m3/day, and its lower heating value was 26,000 kJ/m3. The pH level of the biodigester was within the range of 6-7, in order to keep the methanogenic bacteria active, in charge of carrying out physicochemical process that guarantees anaerobic digestion and thus, the production of biogas.

Renewable energy potential of anaerobic mono- and co-digestion of chicken manure, goat manure, potato peels and maize pap in South Africa

The energy sector is an essential part of a country’s economy – it drives innovation and advances in industrialisation. Coal is the primary source of energy in South Africa. Coal contributes 95% of energy production; coal-fired power also contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, and is thus a hazard to human health and the environment. This calls for an energy mix that is renewable, sustainable, and affordable and that is carbon neutral (climate action). We investigated the potential of anaerobic mono-and co-digestion of goat manure, chicken manure, potato peels, maize pap, and cow manure inoculum for mesophilic recovery of renewable energy using the biomethane potential test. The substrates were characterised through proximate and ultimate analyses to determine the composition preferable for mono- and co-digestion. The key considerations in the determination of both the yield and production rate of methane from digestion of biomass are the substrate composition and characterisation. A high percentage of volatile solids favoured optimum biomethane production as highly volatile components provide microbes with balanced nutrients that enhance metabolic processes to produce biomethane. The mono-digestion process produced lower biomethane than did co-digestion. Higher production of biomethane by co-digestion was due to the balance of the micronutrients and macronutrients that favoured microbial metabolism and regulation of pH.