0000000000116305
AUTHOR
Prasad Kaparaju
Alkaline pretreatment to enhance one-stage CH4 and two-stage H2/CH4 production from sunflower stalks: Mass, energy and economical balances
Abstract Biological production of second generation biofuels such as biohydrogen (H2) or methane (CH4) represents a promising alternative to fossils fuels. Alkaline pretreatments of lignocellulosic biomass are known to enhance the accessibility and the bioconversion of hollocelluloses during anaerobic digestion and dark fermentation processes. In the present study, four different configurations were investigated: one-stage CH4 continuous and two-stage H2 batch/CH4 continuous process with and without alkaline pretreatment of sunflower stalks (55 °C, 24 h, 4 g NaOH/100 g TS). The results showed that two stage H2/CH4 (150 ± 3.5 mL CH4 g−1 VS) did not improve methane yields compared to one stag…
Effect of additives on process stability of mesophilic anaerobic monodigestion of pig slaughterhouse waste
The effect of two additives on anaerobic monodigestion of pig slaughterhouse waste was studied in three laboratory scale continuously stirred tank reactors (CSTRs) operated for 242-284 days at 35°C. A higher organic loading rate (OLR), namely 2.25 kg volatile solids (VS)/m(3)d with a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 30 d was feasible with an additive containing Fe, HCl and trace elements while an OLR of 1.5 kg VS/m(3)d (HRT 30 d) led to instabilities in CSTR with an additive consisting of Fe and HCl and in CSTR without additives. Methane yields of ca. 700 dm(3) CH(4)/kg VS(fed) were obtained in all reactors under stable conditions. Both additives decreased H(2)S concentration of the biogas…
Effects of temperature on post-methanation of digested dairy cow manure in a farm-scale biogas production system.
A post-methanation process that could be adopted at farm-scale, operating at temperatures prevailing in farm manure digester post-storage tanks, was evaluated. Digested manure samples from a farm digester (35 degrees C) and post-storage tank (5-10 degrees C) were incubated in parallel batches at 5-20 degrees C and as reference at 35 and 55 degrees C. Specific methane yields (kg(-1) volatile solids (VS)(added waste)) were 0.20-0.26 m3 at 35-55 degrees C and 0.085-0.09 m3 at 10-20 degrees C for digester material (345 days of incubation) and 0.16-0.21 m3 at 35-55 degrees C, 0.053-0.087 kg(-1) VS(added waste) m3 at 15-20 degrees C and 0.026 m3 at 10 degrees C for post-storage tank material (250…
Effect of macro and micro nutrients addition during anaerobic mono-digestion of grass silage in leach-bed reactors
The effect of macro- (NH4Cl) (set I) and micro-nutrients (Fe, Ni, Co and Mo) (set II) addition on chemical oxygen demand (COD) solubilisation during anaerobic mono-digestion of grass silage was investigated in two sets of leach bed reactor experiments at 35°C. Results showed that addition of NH4Cl and micro-nutrients improved COD solubilisation by 18% (0.56 g SCOD g−1 volatile solids) and 7% (0.45 g SCOD g−1 VS), respectively than control. About 20–50% of the added micro-nutrients were bioavailable in the produced leachates, while the rest (50–80%) were adsorbed onto the grass silage. Results of biological methane potential assays showed that, specific methane yields of grass silage were im…
Methane potential of sterilized solid slaughterhouse wastes.
Abstract The aim of the current study was to determine chemical composition and methane potential of Category 2 and 3 solid slaughterhouse wastes rendering products (SSHWRP) viz. melt, decanter sludge, meat and bone meal (MBM), technical fat and flotation sludge from wastewater treatment. Chemical analyses showed that SSHWRP were high in protein and lipids with total solids (TS) content of 96–99%. Methane yields of the SSHWRP were between 390 and 978 m3 CH4/t volatile solids (VS)added. Based on batch experiments, anaerobic digestion of SSHWRP from the dry rendering process could recover 4.6 times more primary energy than the energy required for the rendering process. Estonia has technologic…
Hydrogen and methane yields of untreated, water-extracted and acid (HCl) treated maize in one- and two-stage batch assays
Abstract In the present study, two-stage H 2 and CH 4 production was compared with one-stage CH 4 production from maize subjected to water extraction and acid (HCl) treatment. In addition, the effect of duration (2 and 14 days) of the first-stage H 2 process on the H 2 yields and subsequent CH 4 yields from the second-stage was also investigated. Results showed that the average H 2 yields from untreated maize were 5.6 and 9.9 ml/g volatile solids added (VS added ) after 2 and 14 days, respectively. On the other hand, H 2 yields from water-extracted and HCl-treated maize were 18.0 and 20.5 ml/gVS added (14 d), respectively. On comparison to one-stage CH 4 assays, the average increase in CH 4…
Mesophilic co-digestion of dairy manure and lipid rich solid slaughterhouse wastes: process efficiency, limitations and floating granules formation.
Lipid and protein rich solid slaughterhouse wastes are attractive co-substrates to increase volumetric biogas production in co-digestion with dairy manure. Addition of decanter sludge (DS), containing 42.2% of lipids and 35.8% of proteins (total solids basis), up to 5% of feed mixture resulted in a stable process without any indication of long chain fatty acids (LCFA) or free ammonia (NH3) inhibition and in 3.5-fold increase of volumetric biogas production. Contrary, only lipids addition as technical fat (TF) at over 2% of feed mixture resulted in formation of floating granules (FG) and process efficiency decrease. Formed FG had low biodegradability and its organic part was composed of lipi…
Two-stage anaerobic digestion of tomato, cucumber, common reed and grass silage in leach-bed reactors and upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactors
Abstract Anaerobic digestion of tomato, cucumber, common reed and grass silage was studied in four separate two-stage reactor configuration consisting of leach bed reactor (LBR) and upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor (UASB). LBR studies showed that COD solubilization for cucumber and grass silage was higher (50%) than tomato (35%) and common reed (15%). Results also showed that 31–39% of initial TKN present in tomato and cucumber was solubilized in the leachates and 47–54% of the solubilized TKN was converted to NH4-N. The corresponding values for common reed and grass silage were 38–50% and 18–36%, respectively. Biomethanation of the leachates in UASB reactors resulted in methane yiel…
Hydrogen and methane production in extreme thermophilic conditions in two-stage (upflow anaerobic sludge bed) UASB reactor system
Abstract Two-stage hydrogen and methane production in extreme thermophilic (70 °C) conditions was demonstrated for the first time in UASB-reactor system. Inoculum used in hydrogen and methane reactors was granular sludge from mesophilic internal circulation reactor and was first acclimated for extreme thermophilic conditions. In hydrogen reactor, operated with hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 5 h and organic loading rate (OLR) of 25.1 kg COD/m 3 /d, hydrogen yield was 0.73 mol/mol glucose added . Methane was produced in second stage from hydrogen reactor effluent. In methane reactor operated with HRT of 13 h and OLR of 7.8 kg COD/m 3 /d, methane yield was 117.5 ml/g COD added . These resul…
Co-digestion of sewage sludge and sterilized solid slaughterhouse waste: Methane production efficiency and process limitations
The rendering product of Category 2 and 3 Animal By-Products is known as sterilized mass (SM) and it is mainly composed of fat and proteins, making it interesting substrate for anaerobic digestion. Batch and semi-continuous laboratory experiments were carried out to investigate the effect of SM addition in co-digestion with sewage sludge on methane production and possible process limitations. Results showed that SM addition in the feed mixture up to 5% (w/w), corresponding to 68.1% of the organic loading, increased methane production 5.7 times, without any indication of process inhibition. Further increase of SM addition at 7.5% (w/w) caused methane production decrease and volatile solids r…
Thermophilic Anaerobic Digestion of Industrial Orange Waste
Thermophilic anaerobic digestion of industrial orange waste (pulp and peel) with subsequent aerobic post-treatment of the digestate was evaluated. Methane production potential was first determined in batch assays and the effects of operational parameters such as hydraulic retention times (HRT) and organic loading rates (OLR) on process performance were studied through semi-continuous digestion. In batch assays, methane production potential of about 0.49 m(3) kg(-1) volatile solids (VS)(added waste) was achieved. In semi-continuous digestion, loading at 2.8 kgVS m(-3) d(-1) (2.9 kg total solids (TS) m(-3) d(-1)) and HRT of 26 d produced specific methane yields of 0.6 m(3) kg(-1) VS (added wa…
Co-digestion of energy crops and industrial confectionery by-products with cow manure: batch-scale and farm-scale evaluation.
The possible co-digestion of energy crops and industrial confectionery by-products with cow manure was evaluated firstly, through long-term batch experiments and secondly, in a farm-scale digester. In batch assays, digestion with mesophilically digested cow manure as inoculum resulted in specific methane yields (m3 kg−1 VSadded waste) of 0.35 for grass hay (particle size <1.0 cm); 0.26 for oats (0.5 cm) and 0.21 for clover (2.0 cm) harvested at vegetative stage and 0.14 (2.0 cm) for clover harvested at flowering stage. Specific methane yields (m3 kg−1 VSadded waste) for confectionery by-products were 0.37 for chocolate, 0.39 for black candy and 0.32 for confectionery raw material. Ou…
The effect of organic loading rate and retention time on hydrogen production from a methanogenic CSTR.
Abstract The possibility of shifting a methanogenic process for hydrogen production by changing the process parameters viz., organic loading rate (OLR) and hydraulic retention time (HRT) was evaluated. At first, two parallel semi-continuously fed continuously stirred tank reactors (CSTR) were operated as methanogenic reactors (M1 and M2) for 78 days. Results showed that a methane yield of 198–218 L/kg volatile solids fed (VS fed ) was obtained when fed with grass silage at an OLR of 2 kgVS/m 3 /d and HRT of 30 days. After 78 days of operation, hydrogen production was induced in M2 by increasing the OLR from 2 to 10 kgVS/m 3 /d and shortening the HRT from 30 to 6 days. The highest H 2 yield …
Mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions by adopting anaerobic digestion technology on dairy, sow and pig farms in Finland
Abstract The impact of anaerobic digestion (AD) technology on mitigating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from manure management on typical dairy, sow and pig farms in Finland was compared. Firstly, the total annual GHG emissions from the farms were calculated using IPCC guidelines for a similar slurry type manure management system. Secondly, laboratory-scale experiments were conducted to estimate methane (CH4) potentials and process parameters for semi-continuous digestion of manures. Finally, the obtained experimental data were used to evaluate the potential renewable energy production and subsequently, the possible GHG emissions that could be avoided through adoption of AD technology on th…
Long-term thermophilic mono-digestion of rendering wastes and co-digestion with potato pulp
In this study, mono-digestion of rendering wastes and co-digestion of rendering wastes with potato pulp were studied for the first time in continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) experiments at 55°C. Rendering wastes have high protein and lipid contents and are considered good substrates for methane production. However, accumulation of digestion intermediate products viz., volatile fatty acids (VFAs), long chain fatty acids (LCFAs) and ammonia nitrogen (NH4-N and/or free NH3) can cause process imbalance during the digestion. Mono-digestion of rendering wastes at an organic loading rate (OLR) of 1.5 kg volatile solids (VS)/m(3)d and hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 50 d was unstable and resu…
Generation of heat and power from biogas for stationary applications: boilers, gas engines and turbines, combined heat and power (CHP) plants and fuel cells
Biogas is produced during the anaerobic degradation of organic material. The produced biogas can be used for heat, electricity or cogeneration of heat and electricity in a combined heat and power plant (CHP). This chapter first discusses the key issues related to combustion of biogas/biomethane in different stationary equipments. It then describes the utilisation of biogas for the generation of electric power and heat in different stationary applications such as boilers, gas engines (CHP), micro turbines and fuel cells.
Enhancing methane production in a farm-scale biogas production system
Biokaasuteknologiaa pidetään maataloudessa lisääntyvässä määrin lupaavana tekniikkana tuottaa uusiutuvaa energiaa ja minimoida päästöjä ympäristöön. M.Sc. Prasad Kaparaju arvioi väitöstyössään menetelmiä, jotka tehostaisivat metaanintuottoa tilakohtaisessa biokaasuntuotantojärjestelmässä.Hyvin suunniteltu agroteollisuuden jätteiden ja sivutuotteiden käyttö lisää biokaasun tuotantoa maatilakohtaisissa biokaasulaitoksissa ja parantaa ravinteiden kierrätettävyyttä. Maatilakohtaisten prosessien metaanintuotannon maksimoimiseksi työ kohdistui erityyppisten jätemateriaalien metaanintuotannon ja prosessivaikutusten tutkimiseen. Lisäksi tutkittiin erialaisia fysikaalisia ja kemiallisia menetelmiä, …
Screening pretreatment methods to enhance thermophilic anaerobic digestion of pulp and paper mill wastewater treatment secondary sludge
Abstract The effect of hydrothermal (150 °C for 10 min and 70 °C for 40 min), enzymatic (Accelerase 1500, 0.07 g/g volatile solids (VS)), ultrasound (45 kHz for 30 min) and chemical pretreatments (HNO3 at pH 3 and NaOH at pH 12) alone or in combination on the chemical composition and methane yield of the pulp and paper mill secondary sludge was studied in batch assays at 55 °C. In total, 12 different pretreatment combinations were compared. Chemical analyses showed that all pretreatments except for HNO3 and ultrasound pretreatments improved the organic matter solubilization. Among the studied pretreatments, hydrothermal (150 °C, 10 min) pretreatment alone or in combination with enzymatic an…
Biochemical methane potential (BMP) of solid organic substrates: evaluation of anaerobic biodegradability using data from an international interlaboratory study
Background: This paper describes results obtained for different participating research groups in an interlaboratory study related to biochemical methane potential (BMP). In this research work, all experimental conditions influencing the test such as inoculum, substrate characteristics and experimental conditions were investigated. The study was performed using four substrates: three positive control substrates (starch, cellulose and gelatine), and one raw biomass material (mung bean) at two different inoculum to substrate ratios (ISR). Results: The average methane yields for starch, cellulose, gelatine and mung bean at ISR of 2 and 1 were 350 ± 33, 350 ± 29, 380 ± 42, 370 ± 36 and 370 ± 35 …
Agricultural potential of anaerobically digested industrial orange waste with and without aerobic posttreatment
The potential of anaerobically digested orange waste with (AAD) and without (AD) aerobic post-treatment for use in agriculture was evaluated through chemical analyses, short-term phytotoxicity and long-term plant assays. Chemical analyses showed that AD contained ammonia and organic acids, and aerobic post-treatment did not significantly remove these phytotoxins. The N:P2O5:K2O ratio in AD was 1:0.26:0.96 and aerobic post-treatment did not change the composition in AAD except for K2O (1:0.26:1.24). Heavy metal contents in AD and AAD were more or less the same and were below the upper limit recommended for non-sewage sludge application on agricultural soils. Short-term phytotoxicity tests sh…
Mesophilic and thermophilic anaerobic co-digestion of rendering plant and slaughterhouse wastes.
Co-digestion of rendering and slaughterhouse wastes was studied in laboratory scale semi-continuously fed continuously stirred tank reactors (CSTRs) at 35 and 55 °C. All in all, 10 different rendering plant and slaughterhouse waste fractions were characterised showing high contents of lipids and proteins, and methane potentials of 262-572 dm(3)CH(4)/kg volatile solids(VS)(added). In mesophilic CSTR methane yields of ca 720 dm(3) CH(4)/kg VS(fed) were obtained with organic loading rates (OLR) of 1.0 and 1.5 kg VS/m(3) d, and hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 50 d. For thermophilic process, the lowest studied OLR of 1.5 kg VS/m(3) d, turned to be unstable after operation of 1.5 HRT, due to ac…
Effects of solid–liquid separation on recovering residual methane and nitrogen from digested dairy cow manure
The feasibility of optimizing methane and nitrogen recovery of samples obtained from farm biogas digester (35 degrees C) and post-storage tank (where digested material is stored for 9-12 months) was studied by separating the materials into different fractions using 2, 1, 0.5 and 0.25 mm sieves. Mass-balances revealed that digested material mainly consists of0.25 mm (60-69%) and2 mm (18-27%) fractions, while fractions between 2 and 0.2 mm made the rest. Incubation of solid fractions0.25 mm of digester material at 35 degrees C resulted in specific methane yields of 0.060-0.085 m(3)kg(-1) volatile solids (VS) during initial 30-50 d and 0.16-0.18 m(3)kg(-1)VS at the end of 340 d incubation. Sim…
Effect of micro-aeration and leachate replacement on COD solubilization and VFA production during mono-digestion of grass-silage in one-stage leach-bed reactors
The effect of micro-aeration and leachate replacement with fresh water on chemical oxygen demand (COD) solubilization and volatile fatty acid (VFA) production during the mono-digestion of grass-silage in one-stage leach-bed reactors (LBRs) was investigated in four LBRs, L0 (control), L1, L2 and L3 in batch mode at 35 + or - 1 degrees Celsius for 57 days. Results showed that leachate replacement without pH adjustment (L3) resulted in 2.7 and 1.3 times more SCOD in the leachate compared to control (L0) or leachate replacement with initial pH adjustment (L1), respectively. Micro-aeration at flow rate of 1 L min(-1) (2.5 L of air) in L2 resulted in 4-fold increase in VFA production (from 2.2 to…