Biochemical Methane Potential of Swine Slaughter Waste, Swine Slurry, and Its Codigestion Effect

The codigestion of slaughter waste with animal manure can improve its methane yield, and digestion parameters; however, limited studies are available for the effectiveness of anaerobic codigestion using swine slaughter waste (SSW) and swine slurry (SS). Hence, this study was conducted to determine the characteristics of SSW and the effect of anaerobic codigestion with (SS) and explored the potential of CH4 production (Mmax), the lag phase period (λ), and effective digestion time (Teff). SSW contains fat and protein contents of 54% and 30% dry weight within 18.2% of solid matters, whereas SS showed only 6% and 28% within 4.1% of solid matters, respectively. During sole anaerobic digestion, SSW produced a high Mmax (711 Nml CH4/g VSadded) but had a long duration λ (~9 days); whereas SS produced a low Mmax (516 Nml CH4/g VSadded) but had a shorter duration λ (1 day). Codigestion increased the Mmax from 22–84% with no significant Teff compared to sole SS digestion. However, the low Mmax of SS and high Mmax of SSW, resulted in a 7–32% decrease in Mmax at codigestion compared to SSW sole digestion. Codigestion improved the digestion efficiency as it reduced λ (3.3–8.5 days shorter) and Teff (6.5–9.1 days faster) compared to SSW sole digestion. The substrate-to-inoculum ratio of 0.5 was better than 1; the volatile solid and micronutrient availability may be attributed to improved digestion. These results can be used for the better management of SSW and SS for bio-energy production on a large scale.

Methane Production from Slaughterhouse Waste and Wheat Straw: Influence of Concentration

The indiscriminate generation of slaughterhouse waste and agricultural waste can present pollution problems in the environment. An alternative to counteract these problems is the anaerobic digestion of waste through the production of biogas and methane as clean and renewable energy. In this sense, this study aimed to optimize methane production from anaerobic codigestion of slaughterhouse waste from cattle and wheat straw. The treatments were evaluated using anaerobic sludge as inoculum from the wastewater treatment plant of the city of Ibarra. The tests were carried out under mesophilic conditions (38°C) in digesters with a useful volume of 186 ml. The influence of the substrate concentration was evaluated by anaerobically digesting 45 samples at different concentrations (5, 10 and 15 g VS/l) with a substrate/inoculum ratio of 1:2. The highest accumulated methane yield occurred in the digesters composed of 15 g VS/l. The maximum methane production was 320.48 Nml/g VS. The kinetics of the tests were adjusted with the cone model, where there were correlations greater than 99%. Keywords: biogas, methane, codigestion, synergy, inoculum, kinetics. Resumen La generación indiscriminada de residuos de matadero y desechos agrícolas pueden presentar problemas de contaminación en el medio ambiente. Una alternativa para contrarrestar estos problemas es la digestión anaeróbica de los desechos mediante la produción de biogás y metano como energía limpia y renovable. En este sentido el objetivo de este estudio es la optimización de la producción de metano a partir de la codigestión anaeróbica de residuos de matadero de ganado vacuno y paja de trigo. Los tratamientos se evaluaron empleando como inóculo lodo anaerobio de la planta de tratamiento de aguas residuales de la ciudad de Ibarra. Los ensayos se realizaron en condiciones mesofílicas (38°C) en digestores de 186 ml de volumen útil. La influencia de la concentración del sustrato se evaluó digiriendo anaeróbicamente 45 muestras a diferentes concentraciones (5, 10 y 15 g SV/l) con una relación sustrato/inóculo de 1:2. El mayor rendimiento acumulado de metano se produjo en los digestores compuestos por 15 g SV/l. La producción máxima de metano fue de 320,48 Nml/g SV. La cinética de los ensayos se ajustó con el modelo del cono, donde se tuvo correlaciones superiores al 99%. Palabras Clave: biogás, metano, codigestión, sinergia, inóculo, cinética.

Pretreatment, Anaerobic Codigestion, or Both? Which Is More Suitable for the Enhancement of Methane Production from Agricultural Waste?

Pretreatment and codigestion are proven to be effective strategies for the enhancement of the anaerobic digestion of lignocellulosic residues. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of pretreatment and codigestion on methane production and the hydrolysis rate in the anaerobic digestion of agricultural wastes (AWs). Thermal and different thermochemical pretreatments were applied on AWs. Sewage sludge (SS) was selected as a cosubstrate. Biochemical methane potential tests were performed by mixing SS with raw and pretreated AWs at different mixing ratios. Hydrolysis rates were estimated by the best fit obtained with the first-order kinetic model. As a result of the experimental and kinetic studies, the best strategy was determined to be thermochemical pretreatment with sodium hydroxide (NaOH). This strategy resulted in a maximum enhancement in the anaerobic digestion of AWs, a 56% increase in methane production, an 81.90% increase in the hydrolysis rate and a 79.63% decrease in the technical digestion time compared to raw AWs. On the other hand, anaerobic codigestion (AcoD) with SS was determined to be ineffective when it came to the enhancement of methane production and the hydrolysis rate. The most suitable mixing ratio was determined to be 80:20 (Aws/SS) for the AcoD of the studied AWs with SS in order to obtain the highest possible methane production without any antagonistic effect.

Anaerobic Codigestion of Slaughter Residues with Agricultural Waste of Amaranth Quinoa and Wheat

The objective of this research is to experimentally evaluate the anaerobic co-digestion of slaughterhouse residues in the city of Guaranda with straw residues from agriculture, such as: amaranth, quinoa and wheat. The study was carried out on a laboratory scale using 311 ml biodigesters under mesophilic conditions of 37 °C. Anaerobic co-digestion resulted in methane yields of 407 ml CH4/g VS, with a methane content in the biogas of 77% for the mixture of slaughterhouse waste and quinoa (RM-QU (25:75)). The increase in inoculum in the mixtures composed of slaughterhouse residues and quinoa increased the biodegradability between 17 and 22%. However, in the mixtures of slaughterhouse waste and amaranth (RM-AM (0:100)), a further increase in inoculum decreased biodegradability by 5%. To predict and simulate methane production, 5 kinetic models were used: modified Gompertz, logistic equation, transfer, cone and Richards. The cone model was the one that best adjusted the experimental values ​​with those predicted with an R2 of 0.982 to 0.999 and RMSE of 0.61 to 6.92 ml CH4/g VS. The calculation of the theoretical yield was carried out by stoichiometry and elemental analysis of the samples. Theoretical yields ranged between 480-564 ml CH4/g VS for all mixtures of RM with agricultural residues.

Anaerobic codigestion of slaughter residues with agricultural waste of amaranth quinoa and wheat

The objective of this research is to experimentally evaluate the anaerobic co-digestion of slaughterhouse residues in the city of Guaranda with straw residues from agriculture, such as: amaranth, quinoa and wheat. The study was carried out on a laboratory scale using 311 ml biodigesters under mesophilic conditions of 37°C. Anaerobic co-digestion resulted in methane yields of 407 ml CH4/g VS, with a methane content in the biogas of 77% for the mixture of slaughterhouse waste and quinoa (RM-QU (25:75)). The increase in inoculum in the mixtures composed of slaughterhouse residues and quinoa increased the biodegradability between 17 and 22%. However, in the mixtures of slaughterhouse waste and amaranth (RM-AM (0:100)), a further increase in inoculum decreased biodegradability by 5%. To predict and simulate methane production, 5 kinetic models were used: modified Gompertz, logistic equation, transfer, cone and Richards. The cone model was the one that best adjusted the experimental values ​​with those predicted with an R2 of 0.982 to 0.999 and RMSE of 0.61 to 6.92 ml CH4/g VS. The calculation of the theoretical yield was carried out by stoichiometry and elemental analysis of the samples. Theoretical yields ranged between 480–564 ml CH4/g VS for all mixtures of RM with agricultural residues.