Comparison of laboratory-scale thermophilic biofilm and activated sludge processes integrated with a mesophilic activated sludge process

A combined thermophilic-mesophilic wastewater treatment was studied using a laboratory-scale thermophilic activated sludge process (ASP) followed by mesophilic ASP or a thermophilic suspended carrier biofilm process (SCBP) followed by mesophilic ASP, both systems treating diluted molasses (dilution factor 1:500 corresponding GF/A-filtered COD (COD(filt)) of 1900+/-190 mgl(-1)). With hydraulic retention times (HRTs) of 12-18 h the thermophilic ASP and thermophilic SCBP removed 60+/-13% and 62+/-7% of COD(filt), respectively, with HRT of 8 h the removals were 48+/-1% and 69+/-4%. The sludge volume index (SVI) was notably lower in the thermophilic SCBP (measured from suspended sludge) than in …

Comparative study of laboratory-scale thermophilic and mesophilic activated sludge processes.

Laboratory-scale mesophilic (20-35 degrees C) and thermophilic (55 degrees C) activated sludge processes (ASPs) treating diluted molasses wastewater were compared in effluent quality, removal of different COD fractions, sludge yield, floc size, and sludge settleability. The effect of polyaluminium chloride (PAC) with high cationic charge on sludge settleability and effluent quality was also studied. In the ASPs, the hydraulic retention time was 12h in both processes, corresponding to a volumetric loading rate of 3.2+/-1.0 kg COD(filt) m(-3)d(-1). The mesophilic ASP gave 79+/-18% and 90+/-2% and the thermophilic ASP gave 50+/-6% and 67+/-11% total COD (COD(tot)) and GF/A-filtered COD (COD(fi…

Biogas production from boreal herbaceous grasses – Specific methane yield and methane yield per hectare

Abstract The objective of this study was to determine the specific methane yields of four grass species (cocksfoot, tall fescue, reed canary grass and timothy) cultivated under boreal conditions as well as how harvesting time and year of cultivation affects the specific methane yields per ha. The specific methane yields of all grasses and all harvests varied from 253 to 394 Nl CH4/kg volatile solids (VS) added. The average specific methane yield of the 1st harvest of all grasses was higher than the 2nd harvests. In this study the methane and energy yields from different harvest years were ranged from 1200 to 3600 Nm3 CH4/ha/a, corresponding from 12 to 36 MWh CH 4 /ha/a. The methane yield pe…

Batch dark fermentative hydrogen production from grass silage: The effect of inoculum, pH, temperature and VS ratio

Abstract The potential for fermentative hydrogen (H2) production from grass silage was evaluated in laboratory batch assays. First, two different inocula (from a dairy farm digester and digested sewage sludge) were studied with and without prior heat treatment and pH adjustment. Only the inoculum from the dairy farm digester produced H2 from grass silage. Without heat treatment, methane (CH4) was mainly produced, but heat treatment efficiently inhibited CH4 production. pH adjustment to 6 further increased H2 production. The effects of initial pH (4, 5 and 6), temperature (35, 55 and 70 ∘ C ) and the substrate to inoculum volatile solids (VS) ratio (henceforth VS ratio) (1:1; 1.5:1 and 2:1) …

Anaerobic digestion of grass silage in batch leach bed processes for methane production.

Abstract Anaerobic digestion of grass silage in batch leach bed reactors, with and without a second stage upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor, was evaluated. Sixty six percent of the methane potential in grass was obtained within the 55 days solids retention time in the leach bed–UASB process without pH adjustment, whereas in the one-stage leach bed process 20% of the methane potential in grass was extracted. In two-stage operation, adjustment of the pH of influent to the leach bed reactor to 6 with HCl led to inhibition of both hydrolysis/acidogenesis and methanogenesis. In the leach bed–UASB process 39% of the carbohydrates and 58% of the acid soluble lignin were solubilised wi…

Storing energy crops for methane production: Effects of solids content and biological additive

The effect of storage on chemical characteristics and CH4 yield (taking into account loss of VS during storage) of a mixture of grasses and ryegrass, ensiled as such (low solids content) and after drying (medium and high solids) with and without biological additive, were studied in field and laboratory trials. Up to 87% and 98% of CH4 yield was preserved with low solids grass (initial TS 15.6%) and high solids ryegrass (initial TS 30.4%), respectively, after storage for 6months, while under suboptimal conditions at most 37% and 52% of CH4 yield were lost. Loss in CH4 yield was mainly due to VS loss, presumably caused by secondary fermentation as also suggested by increasing pH during storag…

Development of microbial populations in the anaerobic hydrolysis of grass silage for methane production

Six batch leach bed (LB) reactors, installed in parallel and connected to a common upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor, were fed with grass silage and operated at 35 (+/-1) degrees C. The development and distribution of microorganisms, which firmly and loosely attached to solid materials, and presented in the leachate in the LB reactors, were investigated by 16S rRNA gene-based terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism and clone library analyses. The phylotypes and their relative abundance changed in the respective bacterial community throughout the 49-day run and showed differences between the communities. Large numbers of phylotypes were detected from day 10 onwards. On day 17…

Biogas production from energy crops and crop residues

Energiantuotantoa varten viljellyt energiakasvit ja erilaiset kasvintuotannon sivutuotteet ja jätteet eli peltobiomassat tarjoavat puhtaan ja kotimaisen uusiutuvan energialähteen. Kasvibiomassa voidaan hyödyntää energiana useilla eri tavoilla, joista yksi on biokaasun tuotanto. Biokaasua voidaan hyödyntää lämmön- ja sähköntuotannossa tai liikenteen polttoaineena fossiilisten polttoaineiden sijasta.Annimari Lehtomäki tutki mahdollisuuksia hyödyntää energiakasveja ja kasvijätteitä biokaasun tuotannossa pohjoisissa oloissa. Tutkimuksessa kartoitettiin Suomen oloissa menestyviä, biokaasun tuotantoon mahdollisesti soveltuvia kasvilajeja, sekä määritettiin niiden kemiallinen koostumus ja biokaasu…

Screening boreal energy crops and crop residues for methane biofuel production

Abstract The purpose of the study was to screen potential boreal energy crops and crop residues for their suitability in methane production and to investigate the effect of harvest time on the methane production potential of different crops. The specific methane yields of crops, determined in 100–200 d methane potential assays, varied from 0.17 to 0.49 m 3  CH 4  kg −1 VS added (volatile solids added) and from 25 to 260 m 3  CH 4  t ww −1 (tonnes of wet weight). Jerusalem artichoke, timothy-clover grass and reed canary grass gave the highest potential methane yields of 2900–5400 m 3  CH 4  ha −1 , corresponding to a gross energy yield of 28–53 MWh ha −1 and ca. 40,000–60,000 km ha −1 in pas…

Impact of crop species on bacterial community structure during anaerobic co-digestion of crops and cow manure

The bacterial communities in three continuously stirred tank reactors co-digesting cow manure with grass silage, oat straw, and sugar beet tops, respectively, were investigated by 16S rRNA gene-based fingerprints and clone libraries. The analyses revealed both clearly distinct and similar phylotypes in the bacterial communities between the reactors. The major groups represented in the three reactors were Clostridia, unclassified Bacteria, and Bacteroidetes. Phylotypes affiliated with Bacilli or Deltaproteobacteria were unique to the sugar beet and straw reactor, respectively. Unclassified Bacteria dominated in sugar beet reactor while in the straw and grass reactor Clostridia was the domina…

Biogas from energy crops--optimal pre-treatments and storage, co-digestion and energy balance in boreal conditions.

The objective of this research was to evaluate the biogas production from crops in boreal conditions, focusing on the optimal pre-treatment and storage methods, co-digestion and energy balance of farm-scale crop based biogas plants. Alkaline treatments offered some potential for improving the methane yield from grass and sugar beet tops. The results show that the CH4 yield of energy crops can be maintained by appropriate ensiling conditions for even after 11 months in ambient conditions. The CH4 yield was best preserved with wet grass mixture without additives. Co-digestion of manure and crops was shown to be feasible with feedstock volatile solids (VS) containing up to 40% of crops. The hi…

Biokaasusta energiaa maatalouteen : raaka-aineet, teknologiat ja lopputuotteet

Laboratory investigations on co-digestion of energy crops and crop residues with cow manure for methane production: Effect of crop to manure ratio

Abstract Anaerobic co-digestion of grass silage, sugar beet tops and oat straw with cow manure was evaluated in semi-continuously fed laboratory continuously stirred tank reactors (CSTRs). Co-digestion of manure and crops was shown to be feasible with feedstock volatile solids (VS) containing up to 40% of crops. The highest specific methane yields of 268, 229 and 213 l CH4 kg−1 VSadded in co-digestion of cow manure with grass, sugar beet tops and straw, respectively, were obtained with 30% of crop in the feedstock, corresponding to 85–105% of the methane potential in the substrates as determined by batch assays. Including 30% of crop in the feedstock increased methane production per digeste…

Co-digestion of grass silage and cow manure in a CSTR by re-circulation of alkali treated solids of the digestate.

Three laboratory, continuously stirred tank reactors (CSTRs) co-digesting grass silage and cow manure (forming 30% and 70% of substrate volatile solids (VS), respectively) were operated to evaluate the effects of re-circulating an alkali-treated and untreated solid fraction of the digestate back to the reactors. The CSTRs were operated at an organic loading rate (OLR) of 2 kg VS m(-3) day(-1) and hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 20 days with a semi-continuous mode of feeding. The feasibility of co-digestion with substrate VS containing 30% VS of crop was reinforced, resulting in average specific methane yield of about 180-185 1 CH4 kg(-1) VS. Re-circulation of the solid fraction of digesta…