Potential for methane production from anaerobic co-digestion of swine manure with winery wastewater

This work examines the methane production potential for the anaerobic co-digestion of swine manure (SM) with winery wastewater (WW). Batch and semi-continuous experiments were carried out under mesophilic conditions. Batch experiments revealed that the highest specific methane yield was 348 mL CH₄ g⁻¹ COD added, obtained at 85.4% of WW and 0.7 g COD g⁻¹ VS. Specific methane yield from SM alone was 27 mL CH₄ g⁻¹ COD added d⁻¹. Furthermore, specific methane yields were 49, 87 and 107 mL CH₄ g⁻¹ COD added d⁻¹ for the reactors co-digesting mixtures with 10% WW, 25% WW and 40% WW, respectively. Co-digestion with 40% WW improved the removal efficiencies up to 52% (TCOD), 132% (SCOD) and 61% (VSS) compared to SM alone. These results suggest that methane can be produced very efficiently by the co-digestion of swine manure with winery wastewater.     

Single-Phase and Two-Phase Anaerobic Co-Digestion of Residues from the Treatment Process of Waste Vegetable Oil and Pig Manure

The co-digestion of residues from the pre-treatment process of waste vegetable oil (OW) and pig manure (PM) was performed under different OW/PM feed ratios (1:0, 1:1 and 1:3 v/v) and at organic loading rates ranging from 0.25 to 3.1 kg VS m^?3 day^?1 in lab-scale single-phase (SP) and two-phase (TP) systems. From the experiments, it was observed that digestion of OW alone was inhibitory for the anaerobic degradation. Mixing OW with PM neutralized the negative effects of lipids accumulation and high VS removal efficiencies were realized in both systems (63 and 71 % in SP system and 69 and 72 % in TP system, at 1:1 and 1:3 OW/PM mixtures, respectively). Under the same operational conditions, the methane yield was 0.30 and 0.22 m³ CH₄ kg^?1 VS removed for the SP anaerobic digester and 0.30 and 0.27 m³ CH₄ kg^?1 VS removed for the TP configuration. Additionally, TP digestion presented more stable operation and higher treatment capacity.     

Batch anaerobic co-digestion of cow manure and waste milk in two-stage process for hydrogen and methane productions

Anaerobic co-digestion of cow manure (CM) and waste milk (WM), produced by sick cows during treatment with antibiotics, was evaluated in two-stage process under thermophilic condition (55 °C) to determine the effect of WM addition on hydrogen (H₂) and methane (CH₄) production potentials, volatile solids (VS) removal, and energy recovery. Six CM to WM VS ratios of 100:0, 90:10, 70:30, 50:50, 30:70, and 10:90 were examined using 1-L batch digesters. The WM VS ratio of 30 % was found to be the minimum limit for significant increases in specific H₂ and CH₄ yields, and VS removal as compared to digestion of manure alone (P < 0.05). The highest specific H₂ and CH₄ yields, VS removal and energy yield were 38.2 mL/g VS, 627.6 mL/g VS, 78.4 % and 25,459.8 kJ/kg VS, respectively, in CM:WM 30:70. Lag phases to H₂ and CH₄ productions were observed in CM–WM mixtures, increased with increasing the amount of WM in the feedstock and were greater than 72 h in CM:WM 50:50 and 30:70. The digestion system failed in CM:WM 10:90. The results suggest that CM:WM 30:70 was optimum, however, due to limited amount of WM usually generated and long lag phase at this ratio which may make the process uneconomical, CM:WM 70:30 is recommended in practice.     

Enhanced methane and hydrogen production from municipal solid waste and agro-industrial by-products co-digested with crude glycerol

The effects of crude glycerol on the performance of single-stage anaerobic reactors treating different types of organic waste were examined. A reactor treating the organic fraction of municipal solid waste produced 1400 mL CH₄/d before the addition of glycerol and 2094 mL CH₄/d after the addition of glycerol. An enhanced methane production rate was also observed when a 1:4 mixture of olive mill wastewater and slaughterhouse wastewater was supplemented with crude glycerol. Specifically, by adding 1% v/v crude glycerol to the feed, the methane production rate increased from 479 mL/d to 1210 mL/d. The extra glycerol-COD added to the feed did not have a negative effect on the reactor performance in either case. Supplementation of the feed with crude glycerol also had a significant positive effect on anaerobic fermentation reactors. Hydrogen yield was 26 mmole H₂/g VS added and 15 mmole H₂/g VS added in a reactor treating the organic fraction of municipal solid waste and a 1:4 mixture of olive mill and slaughterhouse wastewater. The addition of crude glycerol to the feed enhanced hydrogen yield at 2.9 mmole H₂/g glycerol added and 0.7 mmole H₂/g glycerol added.     

Feasibility of biogas production from anaerobic co-digestion of herbal-extraction residues with swine manure

The objective of this work was to examine the feasibility of biogas production from the anaerobic co-digestion of herbal-extraction residues with swine manure. Batch and semi-continuous experiments were carried out under mesophilic anaerobic conditions. Batch experiments revealed that the highest specific biogas yield was 294 mL CH₄ g⁻¹ volatile solids added, obtained at 50% of herbal-extraction residues and 3.50 g volatile solids g⁻¹ mixed liquor suspended solids. Specific methane yield from swine manure alone was 207 mL CH₄ g⁻¹ volatile solid added d⁻¹ at 3.50 g volatile solids g⁻¹ mixed liquor suspended solids. Furthermore, specific methane yields were 162, 180 and 220 mL CH₄ g⁻¹ volatile solids added d⁻¹ for the reactors co-digesting mixtures with 10%, 25% and 50% herbal-extraction residues, respectively. These results suggested that biogas production could be enhanced efficiently by the anaerobic co-digestion of herbal-extraction residues with swine manure.     

Biohydrogen and methane production by co-digestion of cassava stillage and excess sludge under thermophilic condition

Thermophilic anaerobic hydrogen and methane production by co-digestion of cassava stillage (CS) and excess sludge (ES) was investigated in this study. The improved hydrogen and subsequent methane production were observed by co-digestion of CS with certain amount of ES in batch experiments. Compared with one phase anaerobic digestion, two phase anaerobic digestion offered an attractive alternative with more abundant biogas production and energy yield, e.g., the total energy yield in two phase obtained at VS_CS/VS_ES of 3:1 was 25% higher than the value of one phase. Results from continuous experiments further demonstrated that VS_CS/VS_ES of 3:1 was optimal for hydrogen production with the highest hydrogen yield of 74 mL/g total VS added, the balanced nutrient condition with C/N ratio of 1.5 g carbohydrate-COD/g protein-COD or 11.9 g C/g N might be the main reason for such enhancement. VS_CS/VS_ES of 3:1 was also optimal for continuous methane production considering the higher methane yield of 350 mL/g total VS added and the lower propionate concentration in the effluent.     

A comparison study on the high-rate co-digestion of sewage sludge and food waste using a temperature-phased anaerobic sequencing batch reactor system

Assessing contemporary anaerobic biotechnologies requires proofs on reliable performance in terms of renewable bioenergy recovery such as methane (CH₄) production rate, CH₄ yield while removing volatile solid (VS) effectively. This study, therefore, aims to evaluate temperature-phased anaerobic sequencing batch reactor (TPASBR) system that is a promising approach for the sustainable treatment of organic fraction of municipal solid wastes (OFMSW). TPASBR system is compared with a conventional system, mesophilic two-stage anaerobic sequencing batch reactor system, which differs in operating temperature of 1st-stage. Results demonstrate that TPASBR system can obtain 44% VS removal from co-substrate of sewage sludge and food waste while producing 1.2 m³CH₄/m³_system/d (0.2 m³CH₄/kgVS_added) at organic loading rate of 6.1 gVS/L/d through the synergy of sequencing-batch operation, co-digestion, and temperature-phasing. Consequently, the rapid and balanced anaerobic metabolism at thermophilic stage makes TPASBR system to afford high organic loading rate showing superior performance on OFMSW stabilization.     

Effects of thermo-chemical pre-treatment of grass silage on methane production by anaerobic digestion

Dried grass silage (GS) was pre-treated at different NaOH loading rates (1%, 2.5%, 5% and 7.5% by volatile solids (VS) mass in grass silage) and temperatures (20 °C, 60 °C, 100 °C and 150 °C) to determine effects on its bio-degradability in terms of the hydrolysis yield and degradation of ligno-cellulosic materials for biogas production. At 100 °C and the four NaOH loadings, up to 45% of the total COD was solubilised and up to 65.6%, 36.1% and 21.2% of lignin, hemicellulose and cellulose were removed, respectively; biological methane production potentials obtained were 359.5, 401.8, 449.5 and 452.5 ml CH?/g VS added, respectively, being improved by 10-38.9% in comparison with untreated GS. VS removals following anaerobic digestion were 67.6%, 76.9%, 85.3%, 95.2% and 96.7% for untreated GS and GS treated at the four NaOH loadings, respectively. 100 °C and the NaOH loading rate of 5% is recommended as a proper GS pre-treatment condition.     

Effect of the solid content on anaerobic digestion of meat and bone meal

The effect of the solid content on anaerobic digestion of meat and bone meal (MBM) was investigated in batch reactors at MBM solid contents of 1%, 2%, 5% and 10%. There was no significant difference in the specific methane (CH₄) production potential with respect to the total volatile MBM solids (TVS) applied at these solid contents, which ranged from 351 to 381 ml CH₄/g TVS. However, the highest CH₄ yield with respect to the removed volatile MBM solids (RVS) was 482 ml CH₄/g RVS at the MBM solid content of 5%; the CH₄ yields were 384–448 ml CH₄/g RVS at the other MBM solid contents. The lag time of CH₄ production rose with the increase in the solid content. The longer lag time at MBM solid contents of 5% and 10% was due to inhibition caused by high concentrations of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) and free ammonia in the reactors, but the inhibition was reversible. The production of VFAs during the digestion varied with solid contents: at the solid content of 1%, only acetic acid was detected; at 2%, both acetic and propionic acids were detected; and at 5% and 10%, acetic, propionic, butyric and valeric acids were detected. After 93-day digestion, the volatile MBM solid reduction was 92%, 91%, 79% and 80% at MBM solid contents of 1%, 2%, 5% and 10%, respectively.     

Biochemical methane potential (BMP) test for thickened sludge using anaerobic granular sludge at different inoculum/substrate ratios

The biochemical methane potential (BMP) test for thickened sludge was evaluated at three different inoculum/substrate (I:S) ratios. The cumulative methane yield was 51.4 mL CH₄/g VS_added at an I:S ratio of 1:1, 76.3 mL CH₄/g VS_added at an I:S ratio of 1:3, and 21.9 mL CH₄/g VS_added at an I:S ratio of 1:8. The greatest ultimate methane yield and methane production rate constant were achieved at an I:S ratio of 1:3, whereas the least was obtained at an I:S ratio of 1:8. The maximum methane production rate constant was 0.38/day and the minimum methane production rate constant was 0.0016/day. For the case of a lower I:S ratio, the biomass activity may be affected due to the low substrate concentration. On the other hand, for the case of higher I:S ratios, anaerobic digestion of thickened sludge was inhibited by higher concentrations of volatile fatty acids and lower pH.     

Digestion of sand-laden manure slurry in an upflow anaerobic solids removal (UASR) digester

Studies on the performance of a laboratory scale upflow anaerobic solids removal (UASR) digester were carried out using sand-laden cow manure slurries having total solids (TS) concentration as 50 and 100 g/l. Hydraulic retention time (HRT) was maintained as 32.4 days, which resulted in the volatile solids (VS) loading rates of 1 and 1.64 g/l d. The UASR system was designed to remove sand from the manure slurry, while anaerobically digesting biodegradable solids inside a single reactor. To enhance the contact of microorganisms and substrate, the liquor from the top of the digester was recirculated through the bed of settled solids at its bottom. Volatile solids reduction through this process was observed to be 62% and 68% in the case of feed slurries having TS concentration as 50 and 100 g/l (referred in the text as 5% and 10% feed slurries), respectively. The methane production rates were observed to be 0.22 and 0.38 l/l d, while methane yield was 0.21 and 0.27 l CH₄/g VS loaded, for 5% and 10% feed slurries, respectively. This indicates that the increase in the VS loading had a positive impact on methane production rate and methane yield. It would be of interest to study the performance of a UASR digester at higher solids loadings and with longer solids retention times. Nonetheless, the presented study showed that sand-laden manure slurries can be successfully digested in a UASR digester producing methane energy equivalent to 4 kW h per m³ of digester volume per day.     

Effect of replacing grass silage with maize silage in the diet on bovine milk fatty acid composition

Even though extensive research has examined the role of nutrition on milk fat composition, there is less information on the impact of forages on milk fatty acid (FA) composition. In the current study, the effect of replacing grass silage (GS) with maize silage (MS) as part of a total mixed ration on animal performance and milk FA composition was examined using eight multiparous mid-lactation cows in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square with 28-day experimental periods. Four treatments comprised the stepwise replacement of GS with MS (0, 160, 334 and 500 g/kg dry matter (DM)) in diets containing a 54 : 46 forage : concentrate ratio on a DM basis. Replacing GS with MS increased (P < 0.001) the DM intake, milk yield and milk protein content. Incremental replacement of GS with MS in the diet enhanced linearly (P < 0.001) the proportions of 6:0-14:0, decreased (P < 0.01) the 16:0 concentrations, but had no effect on the total milk fat saturated fatty acid content. Inclusion of MS altered the distribution of trans-18:1 isomers and enhanced (P < 0.05) total trans monounsaturated fatty acid and total conjugated linoleic acid content. Milk total n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) content decreased with higher amounts of MS in the diet and n-6 PUFA concentration increased, leading to an elevated n-6 : n-3 PUFA ratio. Despite some beneficial changes associated with the replacement of GS with MS, the overall effects on milk FA composition would not be expected to substantially improve long-term human health. However, the role of forages on milk fat composition must also be balanced against the increases in total milk and protein yield on diets containing higher proportions of MS.     

Effect of enzyme additions on methane production and lignin degradation of landfilled sample of municipal solid waste

Operation of waste cells as landfill bioreactors with leachate recirculation is known to accelerate waste degradation and landfill gas generation. However, waste degradation rates in landfill bioreactors decrease with time, with the accumulation of difficult to degrade materials, such as lignin-rich waste. Although, potential exists to modify the leachate quality to promote further degradation of such waste, very little information is available in literature. The objective of this study was to determine the viability of augmenting leachate with enzymes to increase the rate of degradation of lignin-rich waste materials. Among the enzymes evaluated MnP enzyme showed the best performance in terms of methane yield and substrate (lignin) utilization. Methane production of 200 mL CH₄/g VS was observed for the MnP amended reactor as compared to 5.7 mL CH₄/g VS for the control reactor. The lignin reduction in the MnP amended reactor and control reactor was 68.4% and 6.2%, respectively.     

Optimization of thermal-dilute sulfuric acid pretreatment for enhancement of methane production from cassava residues

In this study, the pretreatment of cassava residues by thermal-dilute sulfuric acid (TDSA) hydrolysis was investigated by means of a statistically designed set of experiments. A three-factor central composite design (CCD) was employed to identify the optimum pretreatment condition of cassava residues for methane production. The individual and interactive effects of temperature, H₂SO₄ concentration and reaction time on increase of methane yield (IMY) were evaluated by applying response surface methodology (RSM). After optimization, the resulting optimum pretreatment condition was 157.84 °C, utilizing 2.99% (w/w TS) H₂SO₄ for 20.15 min, where the maximum methane yield (248 mL/g VS) was 56.96% higher than the control (158 mL/g VS), which was very close to the predict value 56.53%. These results indicate the model obtained through RSM analysis is suit to predict the optimum pretreatment condition and there is great potential of using TDSA pretreatment of cassava residues to enhance methane yield.     

The influence of grass silage-to-maize silage ratio and concentrate composition on methane emissions,performance and milk composition of dairy cows

It is well-established that altering the proportion of starch and fibre in ruminant diets can alter ruminal and post-ruminal digestion, although quantitative evidence that this reduces enteric methane (CH₄) production in dairy cattle is lacking. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of varying grass-to-maize silage ratio (70 : 30 and 30 : 70 DM basis), offered ad libitum, with either a concentrate that was high in starch or fibre, on CH₄ production, intake, performance and milk composition of dairy cows. A total of 20 cows were allocated to one of the four experimental diets in a two-by-two factorial design run as a Latin square with each period lasting 28 days. Measurements were conducted during the final 7 days of each period. Cows offered the high maize silage ration had a higher dry matter intake (DMI), milk yield, milk energy output and lower CH₄ emissions when expressed per kg DMI and per unit of ingested gross energy, but there was no difference in total CH₄ production. Several of the milk long-chain fatty acids (FA) were affected by forage treatment with the most notable being an increase in 18:0, 18:1 c9, 18:2 c9 c12 and total mono unsaturated FA, observed in cows offered the higher inclusion of maize silage, and an increase in 18:3 c9 c12 c15 when offered the higher grass silage ration. Varying the composition of the concentrate had no effect on DMI or milk production; however, when the high-starch concentrate was fed, milk protein concentration and milk FAs, 10:0, 14:1, 15:0, 16:1, increased and 18:0 decreased. Interactions were observed for milk fat concentration, being lower in cows offered high-grass silage and high-fibre concentrates compared with the high-starch concentrate, and FA 17:0, which was the highest in milk from cows fed the high-grass silage diet supplemented with the high-starch concentrate. In conclusion, increasing the proportion of maize silage in the diets of dairy cows increased intake and performance, and reduced CH₄ production, but only when expressed on a DM or energy intake basis, whereas starch-to-fibre ratio in the concentrate had little effect on performance or CH₄ production.     

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

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_CH4${\text{MWh}}_{{\text{CH}}_4}$/ha/a. The methane yield per hectare of the 1st harvest was always higher than that of the 2nd harvest per hectare because of the higher dry matter yield and specific methane yield. High biomass yield per hectare, good digestibility and regrowth ability after harvesting are important factors when choosing grass species for biogas production. If 30% of fallow and the second harvest of grassland were cultivated grasses and harvested for biogas production in Finland, the energy produced could be 4.9 TWh_CH4${\text{TWh}}_{{\text{CH}}_4}$.     

Co-digestion of intermediate landfill leachate and sewage sludge as a method of leachate utilization

This study examines the co-digestion of intermediate landfill leachate and sewage sludge from a municipal wastewater treatment plant. Application of leachate as a co-fermentation component increased the concentrations of soluble organic compounds (expressed as total organic carbon), ammonium nitrogen, and alkalinity in the digester influents.The biogas yield obtained from the co-fermentation of a 20:1 sewage sludge: intermediate leachate mixture was 1.30 m³ per kg of removed volatile solids (VS), while that from a 10:1 mixture was 1.24 m³ per kg of removed VS. These values exceeded the biogas yield for the sludge alone by 13% and 8%, respectively. The leachate addition influenced the proportion of methane to a minor extent. Increased methane yields of 16.9% and 6.2% per kg of removed VS were found for the two sewage sluge:intermediate leachate mixtures, respectively.     

不同施肥处理对土壤活性有机碳和甲烷排放的影响

通过采集田间试验区连续3a施入有机肥的稻田耕层土壤,分析土壤中微生物量碳(MBC)、水溶性有机碳(DOC)、易氧化有机碳(ROC)和可矿化有机碳(readily mineralizable carbon,RMC)等活性有机碳的含量,稻田甲烷(CH_4)的排放通量,探讨施用有机肥的土壤活性有机碳变化及与CH_4排放的关系。研究结果显示:(1)施有机肥对土壤中的活性有机碳均有一定的促进作用。3a不同施肥处理土壤中DOC、ROC、MBC和RMC的平均含量分别为383.6、2501.2、640.4 mg/kg和291.7 mg/kg。3a施猪粪(猪粪+化肥,PM)、鸡粪(鸡粪+化肥,CM)和稻草(稻草+化肥,RS)的DOC的含量分别比化肥(CF)处理增加5.6%、6.7%和19.3%,ROC的含量分别比CF增加6.6%、8.4%和9.8%;MBC含量分别比CF增加5.1%、14.8%和21.5%,RMC增加6.8%、22.0%和33.9%。不同施肥处理的稻田土壤活性有机碳为分蘖期高于成熟期。(2)施肥处理显著增加稻田CH_4排放,CH_4分蘖期的排放通量是成熟期的143倍,3a PM、CM和RS处理的CH_4排放分别比CF处理增加37.0%(P0.05)、92.7%(P0.05)和99.4%(P0.05)。(3)不同施肥处理的DOC、ROC、MBC和RMC含量与CH_4排放通量均存在显著正相关关系,ROC与CH_4排放的相关系数最高,为0.754(P0.01),且4种有机碳间关系密切。稻田分蘖期土壤中的活性有机碳与稻田CH_4排放呈显著正相关关系。(4)综合分析,在4种有机碳中,土壤中ROC和MBC的含量直接影响CH_4排放。