scholarly journals Strategies to Optimize Microalgae Conversion to Biogas: Co-Digestion, Pretreatment and Hydraulic Retention Time

Molecules ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (9) ◽  
pp. 2096 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Solé-Bundó ◽  
Humbert Salvadó ◽  
Fabiana Passos ◽  
Marianna Garfí ◽  
Ivet Ferrer

This study aims at optimizing the anaerobic digestion (AD) of biomass in microalgal-based wastewater treatment systems. It comprises the co-digestion of microalgae with primary sludge, the thermal pretreatment (75 °C for 10 h) of microalgae and the role of the hydraulic retention time (HRT) in anaerobic digesters. Initially, a batch test comparing different microalgae (untreated and pretreated) and primary sludge proportions showed how the co-digestion improved the AD kinetics. The highest methane yield was observed by adding 75% of primary sludge to pretreated microalgae (339 mL CH4/g VS). This condition was then investigated in mesophilic lab-scale reactors. The average methane yield was 0.46 L CH4/g VS, which represented a 2.9-fold increase compared to pretreated microalgae mono-digestion. Conversely, microalgae showed a low methane yield despite the thermal pretreatment (0.16 L CH4/g VS). Indeed, microscopic analysis confirmed the presence of microalgae species with resistant cell walls (i.e., Stigioclonium sp. and diatoms). In order to improve their anaerobic biodegradability, the HRT was increased from 20 to 30 days, which led to a 50% methane yield increase. Overall, microalgae AD was substantially improved by the co-digestion with primary sludge, even without pretreatment, and increasing the HRT enhanced the AD of microalgae with resistant cell walls.

2011 ◽  
Vol 64 (4) ◽  
pp. 967-973
Author(s):  
S. Koyunluoglu-Aynur ◽  
R. Riffat ◽  
S. Murthy

The objective of the present work was to evaluate the effect of hydraulic retention time (HRT) on hydrolysis and acidogenesis for the pretreatment processes: acid phase digestion (APD) and autothermal thermophilic aerobic digestion (ATAD) using blended municipal sludge. The effect of the different pretreatment steps on mesophilic anaerobic digestion (MAD) was evaluated in terms of methane yield, keeping the operating conditions of the MAD the same for all systems. Best operating conditions for both APD and ATAD were observed for 2.5 d HRT with high total volatile fatty acids (tVFA), and the highest methane yield observed for MAD. No significant difference was observed between the two processes in terms of overall volatile solids (VS) reduction with same total HRT. The autothermal process produced heat of 14,300 J/g VS removed from hydrolytic and acetogenic reactions without compromising overall methane yields when the HRT was 2.5 d or lower and the total O2 used was 0.10 m3 O2/g VS added or lower. However, the process needs the input of oxygen and engineering analysis should balance these differences when considering the relative merits of the two pretreatment processes. This is the first study of its kind directly comparing these two viable pretreatment processes with the same sludge.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Umme Sharmeen Hyder

Primary Sludge (PS) from wastewater treatment plants contains high biodegradable organic matter and therefore can be used to produce Volatile Fatty Acids (VFAs). The produced VFAs can be utilized in biological nitrogen and phosphorus removal processes as an external carbon source. The objective of this research was to investigate the effect of pH and hydraulic retention time (HRT) on the production of VFAs from PS through the anaerobic fermentation process. The experiments were conducted in both batch and semi-continuous flow regimes using bench scale fermenters under the mesophilic temperature. The Design of experiments included the HRT of 1 – 3 days and pH range of 4.5 - 11.0 for batch and 4.5 - 6.5 for semi-continuous modes. According to the obtained results, the VFAs production increased with an increase in HRT from 1 to 3 days. For the batch study, the pH range for maximum VFAs yield was pH 6.5 –10.0 achieved at HRT of 3 days. For the semi-continuous study, the maximum amount of VFAs production was observed at a pH of 6.5 and HRT of 3 days.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Umme Sharmeen Hyder

Primary Sludge (PS) from wastewater treatment plants contains high biodegradable organic matter and therefore can be used to produce Volatile Fatty Acids (VFAs). The produced VFAs can be utilized in biological nitrogen and phosphorus removal processes as an external carbon source. The objective of this research was to investigate the effect of pH and hydraulic retention time (HRT) on the production of VFAs from PS through the anaerobic fermentation process. The experiments were conducted in both batch and semi-continuous flow regimes using bench scale fermenters under the mesophilic temperature. The Design of experiments included the HRT of 1 – 3 days and pH range of 4.5 - 11.0 for batch and 4.5 - 6.5 for semi-continuous modes. According to the obtained results, the VFAs production increased with an increase in HRT from 1 to 3 days. For the batch study, the pH range for maximum VFAs yield was pH 6.5 –10.0 achieved at HRT of 3 days. For the semi-continuous study, the maximum amount of VFAs production was observed at a pH of 6.5 and HRT of 3 days.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammed Ali Abdullah Khan

Waste-derived volatile fatty acids (VFAs) is an important carbon substrate for microorganisms engaged in the production of bioenergy, biodegradable plastics, and biological nutrient removal process. In this project, the generation and applications of waste-derived VFA were examined. Three solid wastes were used Primary sludge (PS), thickened waste activated sludge (TWAS) which were collected from Ashbridges Bay and source separated organics (SSO) that was collected from Disco Road facility. All the water quality analyses such as pH, TCOD, SCOD, TVFA, TSS, VSS, NH3 and, alkalinity were monitored. The results of this study showed that with increasing the Hydraulic retention time (HRT), the percentage of acidification increased. Furthermore, the results showed that alkaline pH was better than the acid pHs. Keywords: Total Volatile Fatty Acids, Soluble Chemical Oxygen Demand, Primary Sludge, Thickened Waste Activated Sludge, Source Separated Organics.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammed Ali Abdullah Khan

Waste-derived volatile fatty acids (VFAs) is an important carbon substrate for microorganisms engaged in the production of bioenergy, biodegradable plastics, and biological nutrient removal process. In this project, the generation and applications of waste-derived VFA were examined. Three solid wastes were used Primary sludge (PS), thickened waste activated sludge (TWAS) which were collected from Ashbridges Bay and source separated organics (SSO) that was collected from Disco Road facility. All the water quality analyses such as pH, TCOD, SCOD, TVFA, TSS, VSS, NH3 and, alkalinity were monitored. The results of this study showed that with increasing the Hydraulic retention time (HRT), the percentage of acidification increased. Furthermore, the results showed that alkaline pH was better than the acid pHs. Keywords: Total Volatile Fatty Acids, Soluble Chemical Oxygen Demand, Primary Sludge, Thickened Waste Activated Sludge, Source Separated Organics.


2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 333-339 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dongwon Ki ◽  
Prathap Parameswaran ◽  
Sudeep C. Popat ◽  
Bruce E. Rittmann ◽  
César I. Torres

Control of hydraulic retention time and pH of the anode chamber in a flat-plate microbial electrolysis cell can improve Coulombic recovery and sludge stabilization.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vidhya Prabhudessai ◽  
Bhakti Salgaonkar ◽  
Judith Braganca ◽  
Srikanth Mutnuri

This study evaluated the possibility of pretreating selected solid fraction of an anaerobic digester treating food waste to lower the hydraulic retention time and increase the methane production. The study investigated the effect of different pretreatments (thermal, chemical, thermochemical and enzymatic) for enhanced methane production from cottage cheese. The most effective pretreatments were thermal and enzymatic. Highest solubilisation of COD was observed in thermal pretreatment, followed by thermochemical. In single enzyme systems, lipase at low concentration gave significantly higher methane yield than for the experiments without enzyme additions. The highest lipase dosages decreased methane yield from cottage cheese. However, in case of protease enzyme an increase in concentration of the enzyme showed higher methane yield. In the case of mixed enzyme systems, pretreatment at 1 : 2 ratio of lipase : protease showed higher methane production in comparison with 1 : 1 and 2 : 1 ratios. Methane production potentials for different pretreatments were as follows: thermal 357 mL/g VS, chemical 293 mL/g VS, and thermochemical 441 mL/g VS. The average methane yield from single enzyme systems was 335 mL/g VS for lipase and 328 mL/g VS for protease. Methane potentials for mixed enzyme ratios were 330, 360, and 339 mL/g VS for 1 : 1, 1 : 2, and 2 : 1 lipase : protease, respectively.


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