Investigation of Anaerobic Digestion of the Aqueous Phase from Hydrothermal Carbonization of Mixed Municipal Solid Waste

In 2017, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reported that Americans generated over 268 million tons of municipal solid waste (MSW). The majority (52%) of this waste ends up in landfills, which are the third largest source of anthropogenic methane emissions. Improvements in terms of waste management and energy production could be solved by integrating MSW processing with hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) and anaerobic digestion (AD) for converting organic carbon of MSW to fuels. The objectives of this study were to (a) investigate HTC experiments at varying temperatures and residence times (b) evaluate aqueous phase and solids properties, and (c) perform AD bench scale bottle test on the aqueous phase. A mixture of different feedstock representing MSW was used. HTC at 280 °C and 10 min yielded the highest total organic carbon (TOC) of 8.16 g/L with biogas yields of 222 mL biogas/g TOC. Results showed that AD of the aqueous phase from a mixed MSW feedstock is feasible. The integrated approach shows organic carbon recovery of 58% (hydrochar and biogas). This study is the first of its kind to investigate varying temperature and times for a heterogeneous feedstock (mixed MSW), and specifically evaluating HTC MSW aqueous phase anaerobic biodegradability.

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Hydrothermal carbonization coupled with anaerobic digestion for the valorization of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste

Bioresource Technology ◽

10.1016/j.biortech.2020.123734 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 314 ◽

pp. 123734 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Michela Lucian ◽

Maurizio Volpe ◽

Fabio Merzari ◽

Dominik Wüst ◽

Andrea Kruse ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Anaerobic Digestion ◽

Municipal Solid Waste ◽

Solid Waste ◽

Hydrothermal Carbonization ◽

Organic Fraction

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Characterization and Leachability Behaviour of Geopolymer Cement Synthesised from Municipal Solid Waste Incinerator Fly Ash and Volcanic Ash Blends

Recycling ◽

10.3390/recycling3040050 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 3 (4) ◽

pp. 50 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Sylvain Tome ◽

Marie-Annie Etoh ◽

Jacques Etame ◽

Kumar Sanjay

Keyword(s):

Fly Ash ◽

Municipal Solid Waste ◽

Solid Waste ◽

Environmental Protection Agency ◽

Volcanic Ash ◽

The United States ◽

Waste Incinerator ◽

Municipal Solid Waste Incinerator ◽

Geopolymer Cement ◽

Solid Waste Incinerator

Municipal solid waste incinerator fly ash (MSWI-FA) was used synergistically with volcanic ash (VA) to synthesize Geopolymer cement. The effects of the incorporation of 0%, 30%, and 50% of VA and the alkalinity of activating solution on the structure and properties were studied by using the X-ray diffractometer (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), field emission gun scanning electron microscopy (FEG-SEM), and mechanical testing. The encapsulation efficiency of the cements was carried out by using a toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP). The geopolymerization of MSWI-FA promoted the formation of new minerals such as Thernadite (Na2SO4), Hydrocalumite (Ca4Al2O6(CO3)0.67(SO3)0.33), C-S-H, and Faujasite-Na(Na2Ca)0.075(Al0.3Si0.7)O2(H2O)0.22. The Geopolymer cement synthesized with the addition of 50% of VA at 6M NaOH concentration, which exhibited the most compact microstructure. This was the highest strength with the best encapsulation ability. The microstructure analysis of the MSWI-FA-VA system revealed the coexistence of C-S-H and N-A-S-H phases as the main cementitious binders. The TCLP results of cement vis a vis raw MSWI-FA showed the leaching of metals reduced to a great extent. This was much lower than the permissible limit fixed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) for the toxicity characteristic. Furthermore, an attempt was made to correlate the microstructure with mechanical properties.

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Resource Recovery from Organic Fraction of Municipal Solid Waste Using Anaerobic Digestion and Hydrothermal Carbonization

Bioresource Utilization and Bioprocess ◽

10.1007/978-981-15-1607-8_2 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 13-25

Author(s):

Hari Bhakta Sharma ◽

Sagarika Panigrahi ◽

Brajesh K. Dubey ◽

Satyanarayan Narra

Keyword(s):

Anaerobic Digestion ◽

Municipal Solid Waste ◽

Solid Waste ◽

Resource Recovery ◽

Hydrothermal Carbonization ◽

Organic Fraction

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Downstream augmentation of hydrothermal carbonization with anaerobic digestion for integrated biogas and hydrochar production from the organic fraction of municipal solid waste: A circular economy concept

The Science of The Total Environment ◽

10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135907 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 706 ◽

pp. 135907 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Hari Bhakta Sharma ◽

Sagarika Panigrahi ◽

Ajit K. Sarmah ◽

Brajesh K. Dubey

Keyword(s):

Anaerobic Digestion ◽

Municipal Solid Waste ◽

Solid Waste ◽

Circular Economy ◽

Hydrothermal Carbonization ◽

Organic Fraction

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EFFECT OF HYDRAULIC RETENTION TIME ON THERMOPHILIC ANAEROBIC DIGESTION OF PAPER-CONTAINING ORGANIC FRACTION OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE

Journal of Japan Society of Civil Engineers Ser G (Environmental Research) ◽

10.2208/jscejer.74.iii_195 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 74 (7) ◽

pp. III_195-III_203

Author(s):

Aijun ZHU ◽

Jing WU ◽

Yu QIN ◽

Toshimasa HOJO ◽

Yu-You LI

Keyword(s):

Anaerobic Digestion ◽

Municipal Solid Waste ◽

Solid Waste ◽

Retention Time ◽

Hydraulic Retention Time ◽

Organic Fraction ◽

Thermophilic Anaerobic Digestion

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Environmental impact assessment of organic fraction of municipal solid waste treatment by anaerobic digestion in Sri Lanka

Waste Management & Research ◽

10.1177/0734242x211013405 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 0734242X2110134

Author(s):

Rasangika Thathsaranee Weligama Thuppahige ◽

Sandhya Babel

Keyword(s):

Anaerobic Digestion ◽

Sri Lanka ◽

Environmental Impact ◽

Municipal Solid Waste ◽

Solid Waste ◽

Resource Scarcity ◽

Policy Formation ◽

Ozone Formation ◽

Organic Fraction ◽

Management Options

The management of organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) has continued to be a significant challenge in Sri Lanka. Anaerobic digestion is one of the management options of OFMSW. However, it generates unavoidable environmental impacts that should be addressed. The present study focuses to assess the environmental impact of a full-scale anaerobic digestion plant in Sri Lanka from a life cycle perspective. The inventory data were obtained from direct interviews and field measurements. Environmental burdens were found to be in terms of global warming potential (230 kg CO2 eq) ozone formation on human health (6.15 × 10−6 kg NO x eq), freshwater eutrophication (2.92 × 10−3 kg P eq), freshwater ecotoxicity (9.27 × 10−5 kg 1,4 DCB eq), human carcinogenic toxicity (3.98 × 10−4 kg 1,4 DCB eq), land use (1.32 × 10−4 m2 a crop eq) and water consumption (2.23 × 10−2 m3). The stratospheric ozone depletion, fine particulate matter formation, ozone formation on terrestrial ecosystems, terrestrial acidification, marine eutrophication, ecotoxicity (terrestrial and marine), human non-carcinogenic toxicity, mineral resource scarcity and fossil resource scarcity, were avoided due to electricity production. Results show that the direct gaseous emissions and digestate generation should be addressed in order to reduce the burdens from the anaerobic digestion plant. Finally, the results of the study could help in policy formation and decision-making in selecting future waste management systems in Sri Lanka.

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