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Chavez-Rico VS, Bodelier PLE, van Eekert M, Sechi V, Veeken A, Buisman C. Producing organic amendments: Physicochemical changes in biowaste used in anaerobic digestion, composting, and fermentation. Waste Manag 2022; 149:177-185. [PMID: 35749983 DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2022.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2022] [Revised: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Organic amendments (OAs) produced via composting, anaerobic digestion, or lactic acid fermentation, can be used to replenish soil carbon. Not all OAs production technologies preserve C and nutrients in the same way. In this study, we compared the influence of these technologies (i.e., treatments) on C and nutrient preservation and OAs chemical composition after production. We produced compost, digestate, and lactic-acid fermentation product using the same biowaste-resembling model substrate using three reactors under laboratory conditions. We compared the chemical conversions and end-products using mass balances over C, N, and P. Overall results show that losses are minimal under reducing production conditions. Fermentation and digestion conserved 99% and 64% of C; and 93% and 100% of N, respectively. While compost conservation of nutrients was limited to 25% of C and 38% of N. Digestate had the highest concentrations of C, N, and P in the water-soluble phase, enabling their accessibility for soil microbes. Concentrations in the fermentation product were one order of magnitude lower but still higher than in compost. The treatments also influence the final availability of C, N, and P, which could potentially improve the fertilising and soil-improving properties of produced OAs. Our results show that under reducing conditions, losses of C, N, and P can be decreased while increasing OAs applications in terms of sources for soil-microbial development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vania Scarlet Chavez-Rico
- Wetsus, European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology, P.O. Box 1113, 8900CC Leeuwarden, the Netherlands; Department of Environmental Technology, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 17, 6700AA Wageningen, the Netherlands.
| | - Paul L E Bodelier
- Department of Microbial Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), P.O. Box 50, 6700AB Wageningen, the Netherlands.
| | - Miriam van Eekert
- Department of Environmental Technology, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 17, 6700AA Wageningen, the Netherlands.
| | - Valentina Sechi
- Wetsus, European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology, P.O. Box 1113, 8900CC Leeuwarden, the Netherlands.
| | - Adrie Veeken
- Attero, P.O. Box 40047, 7300 AX Apeldoorn, the Netherlands.
| | - Cees Buisman
- Wetsus, European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology, P.O. Box 1113, 8900CC Leeuwarden, the Netherlands; Department of Environmental Technology, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 17, 6700AA Wageningen, the Netherlands.
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Korkakaki E, Mulders M, Veeken A, Rozendal R, van Loosdrecht MCM, Kleerebezem R. PHA production from the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW): Overcoming the inhibitory matrix. Water Res 2016; 96:74-83. [PMID: 27019467 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2016.03.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2015] [Revised: 03/02/2016] [Accepted: 03/13/2016] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Leachate from the source separated organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) was evaluated as a substrate for polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) production. Initially, the enrichment step was conducted directly on leachate in a feast-famine regime. Maximization of the cellular PHA content of the enriched biomass yielded to low PHA content (29 wt%), suggesting that the selection for PHA-producers was unsuccessful. When the substrate for the enrichment was switched to a synthetic volatile fatty acid (VFA) mixture -resembling the VFA carbon composition of the leachate-the PHA-producers gained the competitive advantage and dominated. Subsequent accumulation with leachate in nutrient excess conditions resulted in a maximum PHA content of 78 wt%. Based on the experimental results, enriching a PHA-producing community in a "clean" VFA stream, and then accumulating PHA from a stream that does not allow for enrichment but does enable a high cellular PHA content, such as OFMSW leachate, makes the overall process much more economically attractive. The estimated overall process yield can be increased four-fold, in comparison to direct use of the complex matrix for both enrichment and accumulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanouela Korkakaki
- Department of Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology, Julianalaan 67, 2628 BC, Delft, The Netherlands.
| | - Michel Mulders
- Department of Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology, Julianalaan 67, 2628 BC, Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Adrie Veeken
- Attero BV, Vamweg 7, 9418 TM, Wijster, The Netherlands
| | - Rene Rozendal
- Paques BV, T. de Boerstraat 24, 8561 EL, Balk, The Netherlands
| | - Mark C M van Loosdrecht
- Department of Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology, Julianalaan 67, 2628 BC, Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Robbert Kleerebezem
- Department of Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology, Julianalaan 67, 2628 BC, Delft, The Netherlands
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Veeken A, de Wilde V, Woelders H, Hamelers B. Advanced bioconversion of biowaste for production of a peat substitute and renewable energy. Bioresour Technol 2004; 92:121-131. [PMID: 14693444 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2003.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Traditional composting systems for biowaste generally produce low quality composts that may endanger recycling. A pilot-scale bioconversion process yielding quality compost and renewable energy was designed and tested. The process consisted of a set of wet physical separation units, composting and anaerobic digestion. Biowaste was divided in four streams by physical separation: (1) organic fraction >2 mm, (2) inorganic fraction 0.05-2 mm, (3) residual fraction composed of organics 0.05-2 mm and the fraction <0.05 mm and (4) a fraction solubilised in the washing water. The organic fraction >2 mm was composted and the compost, high in organic matter and low in EC and heavy metals, aimed at replacing peat in horticulture. The inorganic fraction 0.05-2 mm was completely made up of sand and can be used as a construction material. Solubilised organic matter in the washing water was converted to CH(4) by anaerobic digestion. The residual fraction can be used as landfill cover material.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrie Veeken
- Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Systems Technology, Wageningen Agricultural University, P.O. Box 8129, Wageningen 6700 EV, The Netherlands.
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Abstract
In the Netherlands, the heavy metal content of biowaste-compost frequently exceeds the legal standards for heavy metals. In order to assess heavy metal removal technologies a physico-chemical fractionation scheme was developed to gain insight into the distribution of heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn) over the physical entities of biowaste and to determine the binding strength of heavy metals to these physical entities. The scheme was based on a particle fractionation on size and density followed by sequential chemical extraction of the fractions. The organic fraction >1 mm contributed to 40% of the mass of biowaste and this fraction met the legal standards for compost after composting. About 28% of biowaste was composed of sand, which can be reused in road and building construction as the heavy metal content is very low. The heavy metals were concentrated in the organic particles from 0.05-1 mm and the organo-mineral fraction <0.05 mm. The heavy metal content has to be reduced to reach the legal standards for compost. The extractability from the inorganic organic and organo-mineral fractions showed the order Cd>>Zn>Pb>Cu. The order of extractability for Pb and that for Zn were sometimes reversed most probably because the extraction is not only determined by the adsorption strength but also by the accessibility of adsorbed metals. The results of sequential chemical extraction showed that the amount of heavy medals available for extraction was sufficient. Citric acid turned out to be the best option for the removal of heavy metals from solid organic waste streams.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Veeken
- Department of Environmental Technology, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 8129, 6700 EV Wageningen, The Netherlands
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Abstract
Biowaste, the separately collected organic fraction of municipal solid waste, can be reused for soil conditioning after composting. In this way, environmentally harmful waste management strategies, such as landfilling or incineration, can be reduced. However, frequent application of composts to soil systems may lead to the accumulation of heavy metals in soils, and therefore legal criteria were laid down in a decree to guarantee the safe use of composts. The heavy metal content of biowaste-composts frequently exceeds the legal standards, and thus raises a conflict between two governmental policies: the recycling of solid waste on the one hand, and the protection of natural ecosystems and public health on the other hand. In this study, the heavy metal content (Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn) of biowaste was compared with the natural background content of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn in the different constituents of biowaste. For this, the physical entities of biowaste were physically fractionated by wet-sieving and subsequent water-elutriation. In this way, organic and inorganic fractions of different particle sizes were obtained and the content of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn and the organic matter content of the different fractions were determined. On the basis of particle size, density and visual appearance, the particle-size fractions were assigned to various indoor and outdoor origins of the biowaste. It was found that a large amount of biowaste was not organic, but over 50% was made up of soil minerals due to the collection of biowaste constituents from gardens. The heavy metal content of the various fractions in biowaste was compared with the natural background contents of heavy metals in the constituents of biowaste, i.e. food products, plant material, soil organic matter and soil minerals, by collecting literature data. The heavy metal content in the fractionated physical entities of biowaste corresponded with the natural background concentration of its constituents and indicated that biowaste was not contaminated by other sources. However, the natural background content of biowaste constituents will result in heavy metal contents for biowaste-compost that will exceed the legal standards. It is advised that the legal standards for composts should be critically re-examined. The protection of soil systems could be better guaranteed if the input of heavy metals was evaluated for all inputs of fertilisers and soil conditioners, i.e. animal manures, various types of compost and artificial fertilisers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrie Veeken
- Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Systems Technology, Wageningen University, PO Box 8129, 6700 de Wageningen, The Netherlands.
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Kalyuzhnyi S, Veeken A, Hamelers B. Two-particle model of anaerobic solid state fermentation. Water Sci Technol 2000; 41:43-50. [PMID: 11382007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
A structured mathematical model of anaerobic solid state fermentation (ASSF) has been developed. Since a stable ASSF requires addition of significant quantities of methanogenic seed sludge and mass-transfer limitation becomes important, the model postulates the existence of two different types of particles inside the fermenting solid mass--so-called "seed" particles with low biodegradability and high methanogenic activity and so-called "waste" particles with high biodegradability and low methanogenic activity. Any particle is assumed to be a completely mixed reactor and mass transfer of solutes between the particles is brought about by diffusion. The model includes multiple-reaction stoichiometry, microbial growth kinetics, material balances, liquid-gas interactions and liquid phase equilibrium chemistry. The theoretical model agrees on the qualitative level with existing experimental studies of ASSF. Hypothetical computer simulations are presented to illustrate the influence of biodegradability and mass transfer intensity on the stability of ASSF. On this basis, possible measures are proposed to prevent accumulation of volatile fatty acids inside the "seed" particles beyond their assimilative methanogenic capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Kalyuzhnyi
- Department of Chemical Enzymology, Chemistry Faculty, Moscow State University, 119899 Moscow, Russia
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