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Janesch E, Neubauer P, Junne S. Effect of phase-separation and thin-slurry recirculation on flexible biogas production from maize silage and bedding straw. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2025; 430:132491. [PMID: 40252707 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2025.132491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2025] [Revised: 04/04/2025] [Accepted: 04/05/2025] [Indexed: 04/21/2025]
Abstract
This study investigates a two-stage anaerobic digestion (AD) process to enhance methane production from lignocellulosic biomass, in this case bedding straw, co-fed with maize silage. The system combines phase separation and double thin-slurry recirculation under mesophilic conditions. The first hydrolysis-acidogenesis stage produced over 10 g L-1 short-chain carboxylic acids (SCCA) at an organic loading rate of 1.3-3.0 g (L d)-1 when fed with a content of 50 wt% straw. The subsequent methanogenesis stage achieved a maximum methane yield of 260 mL CH4 gCOD-1, with 50 % variation in methane production within 24 h. Thin-slurry recirculation was shown to improve the methane content by 20 %. Cell activity and quick recovery of gas production was proven after fasting periods of several weeks. The approach demonstrates the potential for flexible, efficient processing of bedding straw in AD without further treatment beyond cutting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eike Janesch
- Technische Universität Berlin, Institute of Biotechnology, Chair of Bioprocess Engineering, D-13355 Berlin, Germany
| | - Peter Neubauer
- Technische Universität Berlin, Institute of Biotechnology, Chair of Bioprocess Engineering, D-13355 Berlin, Germany
| | - Stefan Junne
- Technische Universität Berlin, Institute of Biotechnology, Chair of Bioprocess Engineering, D-13355 Berlin, Germany; Aalborg University Esbjerg, Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, DK-6700 Esbjerg, Denmark.
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2
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Liu Y, Wu R, Wu J, Li J, Zhang Q, Wang S, Sheng G. Improving the shock resistance of anaerobic digestion under demand-oriented biogas production mode by using converter steel slag powder. WASTE MANAGEMENT & RESEARCH : THE JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOLID WASTES AND PUBLIC CLEANSING ASSOCIATION, ISWA 2025:734242X251333692. [PMID: 40298885 DOI: 10.1177/0734242x251333692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/30/2025]
Abstract
Introducing flexible biogas production (FB) can result in instantaneous high-shock loads for anaerobic digestion system, posing risks to the system's stable operation. Steel slag, a typical metallurgical solid waste, has been demonstrated to enhance the buffering capacity of digestion systems, thereby increasing methane production and achieving 'waste treatment using waste'. However, its efficacy under high-shock loads in FB is uncertain. Pulse feeding experiments simulating FB were conducted to analyse the system's impact resistance with steel slag addition and investigate its enhancement mechanisms. The addition of steel slag improved the methane production rate under various shock conditions, with a particularly notable enhancement under concentration shock. This scenario also saw a significant increase in the generation of soluble chemical oxygen demand and its utilization by microorganisms. This can be attributed to the enrichment of hydrolytic bacterial phyla (Firmicutes) and genera (Gelria), with functional gene analysis revealing an increase in genes associated with Fe(III) reduction and CO2-to-methane pathways. The study results indicate that the role of steel slag as an alkaline, iron-rich material enhances system alkalinity, reduces inhibition from H2 partial pressure and boosts hydrogenotrophic methanogen activity, making it suitable as an exogenous enhancer for demand-oriented anaerobic digestion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiyun Liu
- School of Energy and Environment, Anhui University of Technology, Maanshan, China
- Engineering Research Center of Biofilm Water Purification and Utilization Technology Ministry of Education, Maanshan, China
| | - Rongqi Wu
- School of Energy and Environment, Anhui University of Technology, Maanshan, China
| | - Jun Wu
- School of Energy and Environment, Anhui University of Technology, Maanshan, China
| | - Jianjun Li
- School of Energy and Environment, Anhui University of Technology, Maanshan, China
| | - Qin Zhang
- School of Energy and Environment, Anhui University of Technology, Maanshan, China
- Engineering Research Center of Biofilm Water Purification and Utilization Technology Ministry of Education, Maanshan, China
| | - Shisheng Wang
- School of Energy and Environment, Anhui University of Technology, Maanshan, China
- Engineering Research Center of Biofilm Water Purification and Utilization Technology Ministry of Education, Maanshan, China
| | - Guanghong Sheng
- School of Energy and Environment, Anhui University of Technology, Maanshan, China
- Engineering Research Center of Biofilm Water Purification and Utilization Technology Ministry of Education, Maanshan, China
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Liu Y, Wu J, Wu R, Li J, Zhang Q, Sheng G. Nitrogen-doped activated carbon-based steel slag composite material as an accelerant for enhancing the resilience of flexible biogas production process against shock loads: Performance, mechanism and modified ADM1 modeling. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 366:121874. [PMID: 39025014 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.121874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2024] [Revised: 06/25/2024] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024]
Abstract
Anaerobic digestion for flexible biogas production can lead to digestion inhibition under high shock loads. While steel slag addition has shown promise in enhancing system buffering, its limitations necessitate innovation. This study synthesized the nitrogen-doped activated carbon composite from steel slag to mitigate intermediate product accumulation during flexible biogas production. Material characterization preceded experiments introducing the composite into anaerobic digestion systems, evaluating its impact on methane production efficiency under hydraulic and concentration sudden shocks. Mechanistic insights were derived from microbial community and metagenomic analyses, facilitating the construction of the modified Anaerobic Digestion Model No. 1 (ADM1) to quantitatively assess the material's effects. Results indicate superior resistance to concentration shocks with substantial increment of methane production rate up to 33.45% compared with control group, which is mediated by direct interspecies electron transfer, though diminishing with increasing shock intensity. This study contributes theoretical foundations for stable flexible biogas production and offers an effective predictive tool for conductor material reinforcement processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiyun Liu
- School of Energy and Environment, Anhui University of Technology, Maanshan, 243002, 243002, China; Engineering Research Center of Biofilm Water Purification and Utilization Technology Ministry of Education, Maanshan, 243002, 243002, China
| | - Jun Wu
- School of Energy and Environment, Anhui University of Technology, Maanshan, 243002, 243002, China
| | - Rongqi Wu
- School of Energy and Environment, Anhui University of Technology, Maanshan, 243002, 243002, China
| | - Jianjun Li
- School of Energy and Environment, Anhui University of Technology, Maanshan, 243002, 243002, China
| | - Qin Zhang
- School of Energy and Environment, Anhui University of Technology, Maanshan, 243002, 243002, China; Engineering Research Center of Biofilm Water Purification and Utilization Technology Ministry of Education, Maanshan, 243002, 243002, China
| | - Guanghong Sheng
- School of Energy and Environment, Anhui University of Technology, Maanshan, 243002, 243002, China; Engineering Research Center of Biofilm Water Purification and Utilization Technology Ministry of Education, Maanshan, 243002, 243002, China.
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Liu Y, Huang J, Wang W, Sheng G, Wang S, Wu J, Li J. Evaluating the sustainability of demand oriented biogas supply programs under different flexible hierarchies: A suggested approach based on the triple bottom line principle. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 895:165047. [PMID: 37355136 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 05/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/26/2023]
Abstract
In this paper, a decision-making approach based on the triple bottom line concept is presented for evaluating the sustainability of demand-oriented biogas supply (DOBS) programs with regard to their environmental, economic, and social impacts. For the assessment, an indicator system was developed, whose main parameters were quantified by integrating emergy analysis, economic benefit assessment, and a proposed social risk accounting method. The Charnes-Cooper-Wei-Huang (CCWH) model with constrained cone was adopted to calculate the comprehensive sustainability via the synthesis of the economic, environmental, and social indicators, in which eight scenarios were set according to the flexibility hierarchy of biogas supplied for load demand, biogas production mode, and feeding substrates. The evaluation results show that the DOBS scenario of supplying for real-time varying power demand by using straw and livestock manure has the highest sustainability score in our case study. Based on the results, corresponding managerial implications are proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiyun Liu
- School of Energy and Environment, Anhui University of Technology, Maanshan 243002, China.
| | - Jingjing Huang
- University of Stuttgart, Institute for Sanitary Engineering, Water Quality and Solid Waste Management, Bandtäle 2, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Wei Wang
- School of Energy and Environment, Anhui University of Technology, Maanshan 243002, China
| | - Guanghong Sheng
- School of Energy and Environment, Anhui University of Technology, Maanshan 243002, China
| | - Shisheng Wang
- School of Energy and Environment, Anhui University of Technology, Maanshan 243002, China
| | - Jun Wu
- School of Energy and Environment, Anhui University of Technology, Maanshan 243002, China
| | - Jianjun Li
- School of Energy and Environment, Anhui University of Technology, Maanshan 243002, China
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Wehner M, Kleidorfer I, Whittle I, Bischof D, Bockreis A, Insam H, Mueller W, Hupfauf S. Decentralised system for demand-oriented collection of food waste - Assessment of biomethane potential, pathogen development and microbial community structure. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2023; 376:128894. [PMID: 36931445 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2023.128894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Enormous amounts of food waste (FW) are produced worldwide, requiring efficient disposal strategies, both economically and ecologically. Anaerobic digestion to produce biomethane is among the most promising strategies, but requires proper solutions for storage and delivery of the waste material. Here, a decentralized system for demand-oriented FW storage and its practical usability was assessed. FW was stored under batch and fed-batch strategies at 5 °C, 20 °C and 30 °C for 28 days. The results showed that FW can be stored without cooling since bacterially produced lactic acid rapidly stabilized the material and inactivated pathogens. While FW storage worked well under all storage conditions and strategies, 16S analysis revealed a distinct microbiota, which was highly characteristic for each storage temperature. Moreover, FW storage had no negative impact on methane yield and stored FW contained readily degradable substances for demand-oriented biogas production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Wehner
- Unit of Environmental Engineering, Department of Infrastructure, Universität Innsbruck, Technikerstraße 13, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
| | - Irene Kleidorfer
- Unit of Environmental Engineering, Department of Infrastructure, Universität Innsbruck, Technikerstraße 13, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Ingrid Whittle
- Department of Microbiology, Universität Innsbruck, Technikerstraße 25d, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Daniela Bischof
- Department of Microbiology, Universität Innsbruck, Technikerstraße 25d, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Anke Bockreis
- Unit of Environmental Engineering, Department of Infrastructure, Universität Innsbruck, Technikerstraße 13, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria; BioTreaT GmbH, Technikerstraße 21, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Heribert Insam
- Department of Microbiology, Universität Innsbruck, Technikerstraße 25d, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria; BioTreaT GmbH, Technikerstraße 21, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Wolfgang Mueller
- Unit of Environmental Engineering, Department of Infrastructure, Universität Innsbruck, Technikerstraße 13, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Sebastian Hupfauf
- Department of Microbiology, Universität Innsbruck, Technikerstraße 25d, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
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Yang ZM, Guo RB, Dong XH. Promoting biomethane production from propionate with Fe 2O 3@carbon nanotubes composites. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 818:151762. [PMID: 34800454 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Revised: 11/13/2021] [Accepted: 11/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Using a batch anaerobic system constructed with 60 mL serum bottles, potential of a composite material with Fe2O3 nanoparticles decorated on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) to enhance biomethane production was investigated. The composites (Fe2O3@CNTs) with well dispersed Fe2O3 nanoparticles (4.5 nm) were fabricated by a facile thermal decomposition method in a muffle furnace under nitrogen atmosphere. Compared with Fe2O3, Fe2O3@CNTs showed a large specific surface area and good electrical conductivity. Supplementation of Fe2O3@CNTs to the propionate-degrading enrichments enhanced the methane production rate, which was 10.4-fold higher than that in the control experiment without material addition. The addition of Fe2O3@CNTs also not only showed a clearly electrochemical response to flavin and cytochrome C, but also reduced the electron transfer resistance when compared to the control. Comparative analysis showed that Fe2O3 in Fe2O3@CNTs played a key role in initiating electrochemical response and triggering rapid methane production, while CNTs functioned as rapid electron conduits to facilitate electron transfer from iron-reducing bacteria (e.g., Acinetobacter, Syntrophomonas, and Geobacter) to methanogens (e.g. Methanosarcina).
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi-Man Yang
- Shandong Industrial Engineering Laboratory of Biogas Production & Utilization, Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, Shandong Province 266101, PR China; College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, PR China.
| | - Rong-Bo Guo
- Shandong Industrial Engineering Laboratory of Biogas Production & Utilization, Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, Shandong Province 266101, PR China
| | - Xiao-Huan Dong
- Shandong Industrial Engineering Laboratory of Biogas Production & Utilization, Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, Shandong Province 266101, PR China
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Abstract
The landfill is a final disposal technique to confine municipal solid waste (MSW), where organic matter is degraded generating leachate and biogas composed of methane gases (CH4), carbon dioxide (CO2) and other gases that contribute to global warming. The objective of the current research was to estimate the amount of biogas generated through the LandGEM 3.03 mathematical model to determine the amount of electrical energy generated and the number of homes that would be supplied with electrical energy from 2021 to 2144. As a result of the application, it was estimated that in the Pichacay landfill, the highest point of biogas generation in 2053 would be 76,982,177 (m3/year) that would generate 81,226,339.36 (kWh/year), and would supply 5083 homes with electricity. Similarly, in the Las Iguanas landfill, the highest point would be 693,975,228 (m3/year) of biogas that produces 73,223,5296.7 (kWh/year) and would supply electricity to 45,825 homes. Of the performed gas analyses in the Pichacay landfill in 2020, an average of 51.49% CH4, 40.35% CO2, 1.75% O2 and 17.8% H2S was presented, while in the Las Iguanas landfill, for 2020 and 2021, we obtained an average of 51.88/CH4, 36.62% CO2, 1.01% O2 and 187.58 ppm H2S. Finally, the biogas generated by being harnessed minimizes the impacts related to global warming and climate change and would contribute electricity to the nearby communities.
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8
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Kumar Khanal S, Lü F, Wong JWC, Wu D, Oechsner H. Anaerobic digestion beyond biogas. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2021; 337:125378. [PMID: 34166927 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2021.125378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samir Kumar Khanal
- Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering, University of Hawai'i at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA.
| | - Fan Lü
- College of Environmental Science and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jonathan W C Wong
- Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Di Wu
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Hans Oechsner
- State Institute of Agricultural Engineering and Bioenergy, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstraße 9, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany
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