Anaerobic co-digestion: Current status and perspectives

Effect of external acetate on lactate-based carboxylate platform: Shifted lactate overloading limit and hydrogen co-production

Chain elongation is an anaerobic biotechnological process that converts short chain carboxylates and an electron donor (e.g. ethanol, lactate) into more valuable medium chain carboxylates. Caproate production in lactate-based chain elongation is gaining popularity, however, the relation between lactate (electron donor) and acetate (electron acceptor) has not yet been fully elucidated. Herein, for the first time, the effect of an external acetate on the lactate-based chain elongation in a continuously-fed bioreactor was tested to verify how the external acetate would affect the product spectrum, gas production, as well as stability and efficiency of carboxylates production. Periodic fluctuations in caproate production were observed in bioreactor continuously fed with lactate as a sole carbon source due to the lack of an electron acceptor (acetate) and low chain elongation performance. The recovery of stable caproate production (68.9 ± 2.2 mmol C/L/d), total lactate consumption, and high hydrogen co-production (748 ± 76 mL_H2/d) was observed as an effect of the addition of an external acetate. The lactate conversion with the external acetate in the second bioreactor ensured stable and dominant caproate production from the beginning of the process. Moreover, despite the continuous lactate overloading in the process with external acetate, stable caproate production was achieved (71.7 ± 2.4 mmol C/L/d) and previously unobserved hydrogen production occurred (213 ± 30 mL_H2/d). Thus, external electron acceptor addition (i.e. acetate) was proposed as an effective method for stable lactate-based caproate production. Microbiological analysis showed the dominance of microbes closely related to Ruminococcaceae bacterium CPB6 and Acinetobacter throughout the process. Co-occurrence networks based on taxon abundances and process parameters revealed microbial sub-networks responding to lactate concentrations.

Anaerobic co-digestion of various organic wastes: Kinetic modeling and synergistic impact evaluation

Anaerobic mono- and co-digestion of coffee pulp (CP), cattle manure (CM), food waste (FW) and dewatered sewage sludge (DSS), were assessed using biochemical methane potential tests. The effects of two different inocula, anaerobically digested cattle manure (ADCM) and anaerobically digested waste activated sludge (ADWAS), and five different co-feedstock ratios for CP:CM and FW:DSS (1:0, 4:1, 2:1, 4:3, and 0:1) on specific methane yields were also evaluated. Mono-digestions of both CP and FW yielded the highest methane yield compared to the co-digestion ratios examined. Furthermore, no synergistic or antagonistic effect was observed for any of the co-digestion ratios tested. Nine different kinetic models (five conventional mono-digestion models and four co-digestion models) were compared and evaluated for both mono- and co-digestion studies. For CP:CM, cone and modified Gompertz with second order equation models were the best-fit for mono- and co-digestion systems, respectively, while for FW:DSS, superimposed model showed the best-fit for all systems.

A review on anaerobic digestion with focus on the role of biomass co-digestion, modelling and optimisation on biogas production and enhancement

The status, recent trends and future perspectives in modelling and optimisation of anaerobic co-digestion is investigated. Areas that can be focused on and those which need further research towards enhancing biogas production are pointed out. Co-digestion, modelling and optimisation of anaerobic digestion as well as techno-economic aspects are reviewed in this paper. It was noted that co-digestion requires more research into a variety of bio-resources and their specific blend proportions. Modelling and optimisation of co-digestion with substrate seasonal fluctuations has not been addressed in previous studies. Controlling key process factors including temperature, pH, and carbon to nitrogen ratio is critical in improving biogas yield. Biogas hybridisation is yet to be explored in depth. The majority of researches are focused on mono-digestion, feedstock co-digestion, modelling, and optimisation of anaerobic digestion needs significant further investigations. A multi-objective approach taking all technical and economic parameters in the modelling and optimization is essential.

Links between carbon/nitrogen ratio, synergy and microbial characteristics of long-term semi-continuous anaerobic co-digestion of food waste, cattle manure and corn straw

Links between carbon/nitrogen (C/N) ratio, synergy and microbial characteristics of anaerobic co-digestion of food waste (FW), cattle manure (CS) and corn straw (CS) were investigated. Digesters with 100% CS, 25% FW + 75% CS, 25% CM + 75% CS suffered acid inhibition, in close association with unbalanced C/N and the resulting recessions of Syntrophomonadaceae and Methanosaeta. Co-digestion overcame C/N imbalance and achieved multiple synergies. Process performance had a positive correlation with Syntrophomonadaceae. Digester with 75% FW + 25% CS had most Syntrophomonadaceae (26.7%) and methane yield (467.3-507.6 mL/g VS) among co-digestion trials. Synergy was greater under higher load and exhibited a good correlation with C/N ratio. Co-digestion of FW, CM and CS (2:2:1) with suitable C/N ratio (20.79) obtained the greatest synergistic rate (14.6%). Unstable systems were improved by adjusting C/N ratio to 30 via urea, which stimulated Methanosarcina growth therefore enhanced methanogenic pathway diversity and ensured powerful methanogenic functions.

Recent trends and developments on integrated biochemical conversion process for valorization of dairy waste to value added bioproducts: A review

In this review article, discuss the many ways utilized by the dairy sector to treat pollutants, emphasizing their influence on the quality and efficiency with which contamination is removed. It focuses on biotechnology possibilities for valorizing dairy waste in particular. The findings revealed that dairy waste may be treated using physicochemical, biological, and biotechnological techniques. Notably, this article highlighted the possibility of dairy waste being used as a feedstock not only for the generation of biogas, bioethanol, biohydrogen, microbial fuel cells, lactic acid, and fumaric acid via microbial technology but also for the production of biooil and biochar by pyrolysis. In addition, this article critically evaluates the many treatment techniques available for recovering energy and materials from dairy waste, their combinations, and implementation prospects. Valorization of dairy waste streams presents an opportunity to extend the dairy industry's presence in the fermented functional beverage sector.

Recovery of Household Waste by Generation of Biogas as Energy and Compost as Bio-Fertilizer—A Review

Nowadays, organic waste and especially household waste represents a significant global issue due to population growth. The anaerobic digestion (AD) process is an essential operation contributing powerfully to the valorization of organic waste including food waste in terms of renewable energy generation (biogas) and the rich-nutrient residue that can be utilized as bio-fertilizer. Thus, this process (AD) allows for good recovery of household waste by generating biogas and compost. However, the AD operation has been affected by several key factors. In this paper, we aim to involve different critical parameters influencing the AD process, including temperature, pH, organic loading rate (OLR), carbon to nitrogen ratio (C/N), and total solid content (TS(%)). Further, the paper highlights the inhibition caused by the excessive accumulation of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) and ammoniac, which exhibits the positive effects of co-digestion, pretreatment methods, and mixing techniques for maintaining process stability and enhancing biogas production. We analyze some current mathematical models explored in the literature, such as distinct generic, non-structural, combined, and kinetic first-order models. Finally, the study discusses challenges, provides some possible solutions, and a future perspective that promises to be a highly useful resource for researchers working in the field of household waste recovery for the generation of biogas.

A combined anaerobic digestion system for energetic brewery spent grain application in co-digestion with a sewage sludge

In the present study, a combined technology for energetic brewery spent grain (BSG) use in co-digestion with sewage sludge (SS) was presented. A holistic approach that includes the impact of co-substrates and their carriers on the anaerobic digestion (AD) process, and the energetic aspects, was involved. Prior to AD, BSG was pretreated involving the hydrodynamic cavitation (HC); two different carriers were applied: MPW (municipal pre-settled wastewater) and mature landfill leachate (MLL). An orifice plate with a conical concentric hole of 3/10 mm (inlet/outlet diameter) was applied as cavitation device. The initial pressure was 7 bar and the number of recirculation passes through the cavitation zone was 30. The AD experiments were performed in semi-flow reactors, under mesophilic conditions at HRT of 20 and 21 d. In both co-digestion series, the constant co-substrate dose of 6% v/v was adopted. In the presence of cavitated BSG and MPW, a significant increase in biogas/methane production was provided as compared to SS mono-digestion, with the related improvement in kinetic constant by 3.5%. The average biogas yield was 0.48 ± 0.03 m³ kg^-1 VS added, while in the control run 0.41 ± 0.03 m³ kg^-1 VS added. Using cavitated BSG and MLL, such a beneficial effect was not observed. In both co-digestion series, slightly lower VS removal (as for the control) and stable process performance occurred. Moreover, the improved energy balance was provided. Due to the technological aspects, only co-digestion of cavitated BSG and MPW with SS is recommended for implementation into a full-scale.

Anaerobic digestion beyond biogas

Anaerobic digestion (AD) is a matured technology for waste (water) remediation/stabilization and bioenergy generation in the form of biogas. AD technology has several inherent benefits ranging from generating renewable energy, remediating waste (water), and reducing greenhouse gas emission to improving health/hygiene and the overall socio-economic status of rural communities in developing nations. In recent years, there has been a paradigm shift in applications of AD technology beyond biogas. This special issue (SI) entitled, "Anaerobic Digestion Beyond Biogas (ADBB-2021)," was conceptualized to incorporate some of the recent advances in AD in which the emphasis is beyond biogas, such as anaerobic biorefinery, chain elongation, treatment of micropollutants, toxicity and system stability, digestate as biofertilizer, bio-electrochemical systems, innovative bioreactors, carbon sequestration, biogas upgrading, microbiomes, waste (water) remediation, residues/waste pre-treatment, promoter addition, and modeling, process control, and automation, among others. This VSI: ADBB-2021 contains 53 manuscripts (14 critical reviews and 39 research). The key findings of each manuscript are briefly summarized here, which can serve as a valuable resource for AD researchers to learn of major advances in AD technology and identify future research directions.

The Energetic Aspect of Organic Wastes Addition on Sewage Sludge Anaerobic Digestion: A Laboratory Investigation

One of the possibilities to achieve energy neutrality of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) is the implementation of the anaerobic co-digestion strategy. However, a key factor in its successful implementation on the technical scale is the application of components with complementary composition to sewage sludge (SS). In the 7resent study, the influence of adding various co-substrates on the energy balance of anaerobic digestion was evaluated. The following organic wastes were used as additional components to SS: organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) and distillery spent wash (DW) applied in two- and three-component systems. The experiments were performed in semi-flow anaerobic reactors with the volume of 40 L under mesophilic conditions (35 °C) at hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 20, 18, and 16 d. The application of substrates to SS resulted in enhancements of methane yields as compared to SS mono-digestion. The statistically significant differences were observed in tertiary mixtures at both HRT of 18 and 16 d. Therein, average values were 0.20 and 0.23 m3 kg−1VSadd at HRT of 18 and 16 d, respectively. Among all co-digestion series, the most beneficial effect on energy balance was found in 20% v/v DW presence in both two- and three-component systems at HRT of 16 d.

Bioenergy Production through Mono and Co-Digestion of Tomato Residues

The agro-industry of tomato generates three types of residues: ripe rotten tomato (unfit for consumption) (RT), green (unripe) tomato (GT), and tomato branches including leaves and stems (TB). These materials are commonly wasted or used as feed for livestock. Energy production through anaerobic digestion is an alternative way to manage and simultaneously valorise these materials. Initially, the operating conditions of mono anaerobic digestion were investigated using RT. Thus, a design of experiments based on a two-level fractional factorial design with resolution V was performed to determine the factors that affect biochemical methane potential (BMP). The substrate to inoculum ratio (SIR), total volatile solids concentration (VSt), working volume (WV), presence of nutrients (Nu), and the pre-incubation of the inoculum (Inc) were investigated. The results showed that SIR is the most important factor. The maximum BMP for RT was 297 NmLCH4/gVS with SIR = 0.5; tVS = 20 g/L; WV = 20%; no pre-incubation and the presence of nutrients. Using these optimum operating conditions, co-digestion was investigated through a mixture design approach. The substrates RT and GT presented similar BMP values, whereas TB led to a significantly lower BMP. Indeed, when high concentrations of TB were used, a significant decrease in methane production was observed. Nonetheless, the highest BMP was achieved with a mixture of 63% RT + 20% GT + 17% TB, with a production of 324 NmLCH4/gVS, corresponding to a synergetic co-digestion performance index of about 1.20. In general, although the substrate RT generates the highest BMP, the mixture with GT did not impair the methane yield. Overall, the co-digestion of tomato residues must be conducted with SIR close to 0.5 and the content of tomato branches in the reaction mixture should be kept low (up to 20%).

Estimating the Methane Potential of Energy Crops: An Overview on Types of Data Sources and Their Limitations

As the anaerobic digestion of energy crops and crop residues becomes more widely applied for bioenergy production, planners and operators of biogas plants, and farmers who consider growing such crops, have a need for information on potential biogas and methane yields. A rich body of literature reports methane yields for a variety of such materials. These data have been obtained with different testing methods. This work elaborates an overview on the types of data source available and the methods that are commonly applied to determine the methane yield of an agricultural biomass, with a focus on European crops. Limitations regarding the transferability and generalisation of data are explored, and crop methane values presented across the literature are compared. Large variations were found for reported values, which can only partially be explained by the methods applied. Most notably, the intra-crop variation of methane yield (reported values for a single crop type) was higher than the inter-crop variation (variation between different crops). The pronounced differences in reported methane yields indicate that relying on results from individual assays of candidate materials is a high-risk approach for planning biogas operations, and the ranges of values such as those presented here are essential to provide a robust basis for estimation.

Optimizing anaerobic co-digestion of goat manure and cotton gin trash using biochemical methane potential (BMP) test and mathematical modeling

Anaerobic co-digestion is widely adopted to enhance process efficacy by balancing the C/N ratio of the feedstock while converting organic wastes to biomethane. Goat manure (GM) and cotton gin trash (CGT) were anaerobically co-digested in triplicate batch bioreactors. The process was optimized and evaluated utilizing mathematical equations. The liquid fraction of the digestate was analyzed for nitrate and phosphate. The co-digestions with 10 and 20% CGT having the C/N ratios of 17.7 and 19.8 yielded the highest and statistically similar 261.4 ± 4.8 and 262.6 ± 4.2 mL/gvs biomethane, respectively. The biodegradability (BD) of GM and CGT was 94.5 ± 2.7 and 37.6 ± 0.8%, respectively. The BD decreased proportionally with an increase in CGT percentage. The co-digestion having 10% CGT yielded 80–90% of biomethane in 26–39 d. The modified Gompertz model-predicted and experimental biomethane values were similar. The highest synergistic effect index of 15.6 ± 4.7% was observed in GM/CGT; 30:70 co-digestion. The concentration of nitrate and phosphate was lower in the liquid fraction of digestate than the feedstocks, indicating that these nutrients stay in the solid fraction. The results provide important insights in agro-waste management, further studies determining the effects of effluent application on plants need to be conducted.