Anaerobic digestion of processed municipal solid waste using a novel high solids reactor: Maximum solids levels and mixing requirements

Summary Novel, laboratory-scale, high solids reactors operated under mesophilic conditions were used to study the anaerobic fermentation of processed municipal solid waste (MSW) to methane. The anaerobic digestion consortium was introduced to high solids levels through gradual adaptation. The maximum sludge solids level for stable anaerobic fermentation performance was identified as approximately 36% wt/wt. Recovery of the anaerobic consortium, following dilution of inhibitory high solids levels, was swift. Reactor mixing requirements were also studied. No significant difference in fermentation performance was observed between agitator speeds of 1 and 25 rpm. Preliminary fermentation performance tests showed that solids loading rates as high as 9.5 g VS (volatile solids) feed/L sludge^.d, at 32% solids within the reactor, were possible. Under these conditions, operation was stable with an average pH of 7.8–8.0, total volatile fatty acid pools of <20 mM, and a biogas composition of 55%–60% methane.     

Development of mixed inoculum for methane enriched biogas production

Inocula were collected from four different sources such as Jajmau tannery waste treatment plant (ITW), Jajmau municipal waste treatment (IMW), Unnao distillery (IDW) and a batch reactor, in which the sludge of a field scale biogas reactor was added to cow dung slurry to develop inoculum (IBS). A combination of these mixed inocula were used for biogas production at 35°C in laboratory scale reactor (10 L capacity) and the average yield of biogas (0.547 Lg^?1 volatile solid (VS)) and methane (0.323 Lg^?1VS) in 41 d was higher in case of mixed inoculum IMW ₁ (IMW+IBS), with maximum methane content in biogas (68% during 27–30 d), as compared to other mixed inocula as well as control i.e. ITW ₁ (ITW+IBS), IDW₁ (IDW+IBS) and IBS. The corresponding yields of gas were biogas (0.505, 0.536 and 0.456 Lg^?1VS), methane (0.288, 0.305, and 0.245 Lg^?1VS) where as, the corresponding maximum methane content in biogas was 62% during 29–33d, 64% during 29–33 d and 62% during 27–29 d in ITW₁, IDW₁ and IBS.     

Treatment of coffee waste by slurry-state anaerobic digestion

Slurries containing 20% (w/v) coffee waste solids were treated anaerobically in one- and two-phase thermophilic methane fermentation systems (53°C) with or without pH control. In one-phase methane fermentation using a roller bottle reactor, the maximum gas evolution rate of 0.87 l/l·d was achieved during treatment for 91 d. However, this one-phase methane fermentation did not yield reproducible data. In a two-phase methane fermentation system consisting of a completely stirred tank reactor type (CSTR-type) liquefaction reactor without pH control and an anaerobic fluidized bed type gasification reactor, three-repetitions of treatment were conducted. Each treatment was very stable and the average gas evolution rate per volume of the gasification reactor was about 2.4 l/l·d. Two-repetitions of treatment were then done while controlling pH in the liquefaction at more than 6. The average gas evolution rate per volume of gasification reactor was found to have increased to 10.2 l/l·d, a value which corresponded to 0.84 l/l·d per total volume, including the liquefaction reactor. It was observed that treatment in a two-phase methane fermentation could be repeated in a stable fashion even in the closed system without discharging anything but the coffee waste residues.     

Optimization of biogas production from co-digestion of whey and cow manure

Anaerobic co-digestion is effective and environmentally attractive technology for energy recovery from organic waste. Organic, agricultural and industrial wastes are good substrates for anaerobic co-digestion because they contain high levels of easily biodegradable materials. In this paper enhancement of biogas production from codigestion of whey and cow manure was investigated in a series of batch experiments. The influence of whey ratio on specific biogas production in a mixture with cow manure was analyzed at 35 and 55°C, for different initial pH values and for different concentrations of supplemental bicarbonate in experiments carried out over 12 days. Good biogas production (6.6 dm³/dm³), methane content (79.4%) in a biogas mixture and removal efficiencies for total solids (16%) were achieved at optimum process conditions (temperature of 55°C, 10% v/v of whey and 5 g/dm³ NaHCO₃ in the initial mixture). In order to validate optimized conditions for co-digestion of whey and cow manure in the one-stage batch process, the experiments were performed within 45 days. The high biogas production (21.8 dm³/dm³), a good methane content (78.7%) in a biogas mixture as well as maximum removal efficiencies for total solids (32.3%), and chemical oxygen demand (56.3%), respectively indicate that whey could be efficiently degraded to biogas in a onestage batch process when co-digested with cow manure.     

Acclimation Strategy of a Biohydrogen Producing Population in a Continuous‐Flow Reactor with Carbohydrate Fermentation

Poor startup of biological hydrogen production systems can cause an ineffective hydrogen production rate and poor biomass growth at a high hydraulic retention time (HRT), or cause a prolonged period of acclimation. In this paper a new startup strategy was developed in order to improve the enrichment of the hydrogen‐producing population and the efficiency of hydrogen production. A continuously‐stirred tank reactor (CSTR) and molasses were used to evaluate the hydrogen productivity of the sewage sludge microflora at a temperature of 35 °C. The experimental results indicated that the feed to microorganism ratio (F/M ratio) was a key parameter for the enrichment of hydrogen producing sludge in a continuous‐flow reactor. When the initial biomass was inoculated with 6.24 g of volatile suspended solids (VSS)/L, an HRT of 6 h, an initial organic loading rate (OLR) of 7.0 kg chemical oxygen demand (COD)/(m³ × d) and an feed to microorganism ratio (F/M) ratio of about 2–3 g COD/(g of volatile suspended solids (VSS) per day) were maintained during startup. Under these conditions, a hydrogen producing population at an equilibrium state could be established within 30 days. The main liquid fermentation products were acetate and ethanol. Biogas was composed of H₂ and CO₂. The hydrogen content in the biogas amounted to 47.5 %. The average hydrogen yield was 2.01 mol/mol hexose consumed. It was also observed that a special hydrogen producing population was formed when this startup strategy was used. It is supposed that the population may have had some special metabolic pathways to produce hydrogen along with ethanol as the main fermentation products.     

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.     

Evaluation of Integrated Anaerobic Digestion and Hydrothermal Carbonization for Bioenergy Production

Lignocellulosic biomass is one of the most abundant yet underutilized renewable energy resources. Both anaerobic digestion (AD) and hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) are promising technologies for bioenergy production from biomass in terms of biogas and HTC biochar, respectively. In this study, the combination of AD and HTC is proposed to increase overall bioenergy production. Wheat straw was anaerobically digested in a novel upflow anaerobic solid state reactor (UASS) in both mesophilic (37 °C) and thermophilic (55 °C) conditions. Wet digested from thermophilic AD was hydrothermally carbonized at 230 °C for 6 hr for HTC biochar production. At thermophilic temperature, the UASS system yields an average of 165 L_CH4/kg_VS (VS: volatile solids) and 121 L _CH4/kg_VS at mesophilic AD over the continuous operation of 200 days. Meanwhile, 43.4 g of HTC biochar with 29.6 MJ/kg_{dry_biochar} was obtained from HTC of 1 kg digestate (dry basis) from mesophilic AD. The combination of AD and HTC, in this particular set of experiment yield 13.2 MJ of energy per 1 kg of dry wheat straw, which is at least 20% higher than HTC alone and 60.2% higher than AD only.     

Anaerobic Co-digestion of Swine Manure and Microalgae <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chlorella</Emphasis> sp.: Experimental Studies and Energy Analysis

Integration of algae production with livestock waste management has the potential to recover energy and nutrients from animal manure, while reducing discharges of organic matter, pathogens, and nutrients to the environment. In this study, microalgae Chlorella sp. were grown on centrate from anaerobically digested swine manure. The algae were harvested for mesophilic anaerobic digestion (AD) with swine manure for bioenergy production. Low biogas yields were observed in batch AD studies with algae alone, or when algae were co-digested with swine manure at ≥43 % algae (based on volatile solids [VS]). However, co-digestion of 6–16 % algae with swine manure produced similar biogas yields as digestion of swine manure alone. An average methane yield of 190 mL/g VS_fed was achieved in long-term semi-continuous co-digestion studies with 10?±?3 % algae with swine manure. Data from the experimental studies were used in an energy analysis assuming the process was scaled up to a concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) with 7000 pigs with integrated algae-based treatment of centrate and co-digestion of manure and the harvested algae. The average net energy production for the system was estimated at 1027 kWh per day. A mass balance indicated that 58 % of nitrogen (N) and 98 % of phosphorus (P) in the system were removed in the biosolids. A major advantage of the proposed process is the reduction in nutrient discharges compared with AD of swine waste without algae production.     

Enzymatic pre-hydrolysis and anaerobic degradation of wastewaters with high fat contents

Dairy wastewaters containing elevated fat and grease levels (868 mg l^–1) were treated in an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor (UASB) and resulted in effluents of high turbidity (757 nephelometric turbidity units), volatile suspended solids up to 944 mg l^–1 and COD removal below 50%. When the same dairy wastewater was pre-treated with 0.1% (w/v) of fermented babassu cake containing Penicillium restrictum lipases, turbidity and volatile suspended solids were decreased by 75% and 90%, respectively, and COD removal was as high as 90%.     

Comparative evaluation of biogas production from dairy manure and co‐digestion with maize silage by CSTR and new anaerobic hybrid reactor

This study aimed to investigate potential methane production through anaerobic digestion of dairy manure and co‐digestion with maize silage. Two different anaerobic reactor configurations (single‐stage continuously stirred tank reactor [CSTR] and hybrid anaerobic digester) were used and biogas production performances for each reactor were compared. The HR was planned to enable phase separation in order to improve process stability and biogas production under higher total solids loadings (≥4%). The systems were tested under six different organic loading rates increased steadily from 1.1 to 5.4 g VS/L.d. The CSTR exhibited lower system stability and biomass conversion efficiency than the HR. The specific biogas production of the hybrid system was between 440 and 320 mL/gVS with 81–65% volatile solids (VS) destruction. The hybrid system provided 116% increase in specific biogas production and VS destruction improved by more than 14%. When MS was co‐digested together with dairy manure, specific biogas production rates increased about 1.2‐fold. Co‐digestion was more beneficial than mono‐material digestion. The hybrid system allowed for generating methane enriched biogas (>75% methane) by enabling phase separation in the reactor. It was observed that acidogenic conditions prevailed in the first two compartments and the following two segments as methanogenic conditions were observed. The pH of the acidogenic part ranged between 4.7 and 5.5 and the methanogenic part was between 6.8 and 7.2.     

Effect of ammonia content in the biodegradability of the salmon industry wastes

Lately, efforts put into solving the serious environmental problems caused by the accumulation of liquid, gaseous or solid industrial residues, have been greatly increased, being solid wastes the last ones to be considered. This work studies the anaerobic biodegradation of salmon waste produced by death in the farming process. The results obtained: 61.99% degradation (expressed in volatile solids abatement), with a methane productivity of 535.66?l?CH₄/kg_d.k. in studies done to samples with 1%?w/v of dry residue, show that the anaerobic technology is adequate to treat these wastes. Runs performed with higher solid contents (7, 13 and 20%?w/v) showed an ammonia accumulation, coming from protein degradation. They represent an upper limit of the system studied at a maximum value of ammonia nitrogen of 3.5?g/l attained, amount which hinders the further increase of solid matter in the tests. With the results obtained during this study, two inhibition models were analyzed (the Luong model and one proposed by the authors), which allow the prediction of the performance of the system studied.     

Effect of reactor configuration on biogas production from wheat straw hydrolysate

The potential of wheat straw hydrolysate for biogas production was investigated in continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) and up-flow anaerobic sludge bed (UASB) reactors. The hydrolysate originated as a side stream from a pilot plant pretreating wheat straw hydrothermally (195 °C for 10–12 min) for producing 2nd generation bioethanol [Kaparaju, P., Serrano, M., Thomsen, A.B., Kongjan, P., Angelidaki, I., 2009. Bioethanol, biohydrogen and biogas production from wheat straw in a biorefinery concept. Bioresource Technology 100 (9), 2562–2568]. Results from batch assays showed that hydrolysate had a methane potential of 384 ml/g-volatile solids (VS)_added. Process performance in CTSR and UASB reactors was investigated by varying hydrolysate concentration and/or organic loading rate (OLR). In CSTR, methane yields increased with increase in hydrolysate concentration and maximum yield of 297 ml/g-COD was obtained at an OLR of 1.9 g-COD/l d and 100% (v/v) hydrolysate. On the other hand, process performance and methane yields in UASB were affected by OLR and/or substrate concentration. Maximum methane yields of 267 ml/g-COD (COD removal of 72%) was obtained in UASB reactor when operated at an OLR of 2.8 g-COD/l d but with only 10% (v/v) hydrolysate. However, co-digestion of hydrolysate with pig manure (1:3 v/v ratio) improved the process performance and resulted in methane yield of 219 ml/g-COD (COD removal of 72%). Thus, anaerobic digestion of hydrolysate for biogas production was feasible in both CSTR and UASB reactor types. However, biogas process was affected by the reactor type and operating conditions.     

Influence of lignin on the methanization of lignocellulosic wastes

The effect on anaerobic digestion of reducing the lignin content of vine shoots to 1% (w/w), by treatment with sodium chlorite in an acid medium at 80°C, is reported. The yields of methane obtained were 240 ml of CH₄ g⁻¹ of VS (volatile solids) fed for untreated vine shoots, and 370 ml of CH₄ g⁻¹ of VS fed for treated vine shoots. A mathematical model was used to calculate the kinetic parameters H and μ, and the increased biodegradability of the substrate in which lignin had been removed was confirmed. A study of the mass balances of the process under optimum conditions (temperature = 35°C; loading rate of 1 g litre⁻¹ digester day⁻¹) enabled the percentage of degraded cellulose to be calculated (35·5% for untreated vine shoots, 81·5% for the treated vine shoots), as were the volumes of biogas and methane produced per gram of VS introduced (VS₁) and degraded. The blocking effect of lignin on the methanization process was confirmed.     

Characterization of food waste as feedstock for anaerobic digestion

Food waste collected in the City of San Francisco, California, was characterized for its potential for use as a feedstock for anaerobic digestion processes. The daily and weekly variations of food waste composition over a two-month period were measured. The anaerobic digestibility and biogas and methane yields of the food waste were evaluated using batch anaerobic digestion tests performed at 50 degrees C. The daily average moisture content (MC) and the ratio of volatile solids to total solids (VS/TS) determined from a week-long sampling were 70% and 83%, respectively, while the weekly average MC and VS/TS were 74% and 87%, respectively. The nutrient content analysis showed that the food waste contained well balanced nutrients for anaerobic microorganisms. The methane yield was determined to be 348 and 435 mL/gVS, respectively, after 10 and 28 days of digestion. The average methane content of biogas was 73%. The average VS destruction was 81% at the end of the 28-day digestion test. The results of this study indicate that the food waste is a highly desirable substrate for anaerobic digesters with regards to its high biodegradability and methane yield.     

Advanced anaerobic bioconversion of lignocellulosic waste for bioregenerative life support following thermal water treatment and biodegradation by Fibrobacter succinogenes

The feasibility of nearly-complete conversion of lignocellulosic waste (70% food crops, 20% faecal matter and 10% green algae) into biogas was investigated in the context of a life support project. The treatment comprised a series of processes, i.e., a mesophilic laboratory scale CSTR (continuously stirred tank reactor), an upflow biofilm reactor, a fiber liquefaction reactor employing the rumen bacterium Fibrobacter succinogenes and a hydrothermolysis system in near-critical water. By the one-stage CSTR, a biogas yield of 75% with a specific biogas production of 0.37 l biogas g(-1) VSS (volatile suspended solids) added at a RT (hydraulic retention time) of 20-25 d was obtained. Biogas yields could not be increased considerably at higher RT, indicating the depletion of readily available substrate after 25 d. The solids present in the CSTR-effluent were subsequently treated in two ways. Hydrothermal treatment (T approximately 310-350 degrees C, p approximately 240 bar) resulted in effective carbon liquefaction (50-60% without and 83% with carbon dioxide saturation) and complete sanitation of the residue. Application of the cellulolytic Fibrobacter succinogenes converted remaining cellulose contained in the CSTR-effluent into acetate and propionate mainly. Subsequent anaerobic digestion of the hydrothermolysis and the Fibrobacter hydrolysates allowed conversion of 48-60% and 30%, respectively. Thus, the total process yielded biogas corresponding with conversions up to 90% of the original organic matter. It appears that particularly mesophilic digestion in conjunction with hydrothermolysis at near-critical conditions offers interesting features for (nearly) complete and hygienic carbon and energy recovery from human waste in a bioregenerative life support context.     

Impact of enzymatic pre-hydrolysis on batch activated sludge systems dealing with oily wastewaters

Dairy wastewater containing different oil and grease contents was treated in batch activated sludge systems with and without (control) an enzymatic pre-hydrolysis stage [with 0.2% (w/v) of fermented babassu cake containing Penicillium restrictum lipases]. When the oil and grease concentration in the control bioreactor was increased (400, 600 and 800 mg l^–1), the COD removal efficiency fell (86%, 75% and 0%). However, in the reactor fed with pre-hydrolysed wastewater, COD removal efficiency was maintained (93%, 92% and 82%). At an oil and grease concentration of 800 mg l^–1, the control bioreactor presented final volatile suspended solids (VSS) values ten times greater (2225 mg l^–1) than those obtained for bioreactor fed with pre-hydrolysed wastewater (200 mg l^–1).     

Terminal Reactions in the Anaerobic Digestion of Animal Waste

An anaerobic mesophilic digestor was operated using beef cattle waste (diluted to 5.75% volatile solids) as substrate; retention time was 10 days with daily batch feed. Volatile solids destruction was 36%. Daily gas production rate was 1.8 liters of gas (standard temperature and pressure) per liter of digestor contents (0.99 liters of CH₄ per liter of digestor contents). Acetate turnover was measured, and it was calculated that 68% of the CH₄ was derived from the methyl group of acetate. When the methanogenic substrates acetic acid or H₂/CO₂ were added to the digestor on a continuous basis, the microflora were able to adapt and convert them to terminal products while continuing to degrade animal waste to the same extent as without additions. The methanogenic substrates were added at a rate at least 1.5 times the microbial production rate which was measured in the absence of added substrates. Added acetate was converted directly to CH₄ by acetoclastic methanogens; H₂ addition greatly stimulated acetate production in the digestor. A method is described for the measurement of acetate turnover in batch-fed digestors.     

Microbial cleaning of waste gas containing volatile organic compounds in a bioreactor system with a closed gas circuit

The cleaning of the exhaust gases of a bioreactor containing volatile hydrocarbons in a bioreactor system with a closed gas circuit is described. The bioreactor system consisted of three different reactor types: a stirred tank which was filled with hydrocarbon-containing waste water to simulate the exhaust gases of a remediation process; a trickle-bed reactor for aerobic treatment of the exhaust gas from the stirred tank; and a photoreactor containing an algae culture which assimilated CO₂ from the trickle-bed reactor and also produced O₂. With this bioreactor system, it was possible to efficiently remove volatile organic compounds (VOC) from the waste gases. Depending on the type of waste water investigated, elimination rates of 41% to 93% of BTEX (benzene, ethylbenzene, toluene, xylene) and 29% to 53% of VCH (volatile chlorinated hydrocarbons) were obtained. Due to the photosynthesis of the algae in the system's photoreactor, oxygen concentrations between 12% and 18% [v/v], equivalent to about 57% to 83% DOT, were obtained. This concentration permitted the aerobic degradation to be carried out without having to add fresh air. The trickle-bed reactor and the photoreactor worked continuously, whereas the waste water in the stirred bioreactor was replaced in different batches. The accumulation of toxic compounds in the nutrient solutions of the trickle-bed (EC-50 > 30 g/l) and of the photoreactor (EC-50 > 35 g/l) was low. Carbon dioxide concentrations in the gas flow were higher than in fresh air (1% to 3% [vol/vol]), but no long-term accumulation of CO₂ occurred. This means that the algae in the photoreactor were active enough to assimilate the CO₂ which had been produced. They were also able to produce sufficient oxygen for aerobic hydrocarbon degradation. The system described is a first step towards treating waste gases which results from the bioremediation of hydrocarbon-contaminated media in a closed gas circuit without any emission (e.g. VOC, CO₂, germs).     

Application of polyethylene glycol immobilized Clostridium sp. LS2 for continuous hydrogen production from palm oil mill effluent in upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor

A novel polyethylene glycol (PEG) gel was fabricated and used as a carrier to immobilize Clostridium sp. LS2 for continuous hydrogen production in an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor. Palm oil mill effluent (POME) was used as the substrate carbon source. The optimal amount of PEG-immobilized cells for anaerobic hydrogen production was 12% (w/v) in the UASB reactor. The UASB reactor containing immobilized cells was operated at varying hydraulic retention times (HRT) that ranged from 24 to 6 h at 3.3 g chemical oxygen demand (COD)/L/h organic loading rate (OLR), or at OLRs that ranged from 1.6 to 6.6 at 12 h HRT. The best volumetric hydrogen production rate of 336 mL H₂/L/h (or 15.0 mmol/L/h) with a hydrogen yield of 0.35 L H₂/g COD_removed was obtained at a HRT of 12 h and an OLR of 5.0 g COD/L/h. The average hydrogen content of biogas and COD reduction were 52% and 62%, respectively. The major soluble metabolites during hydrogen fermentation were butyric acid followed by acetic acid. It is concluded that the PEG-immobilized cell system developed in this work has great potential for continuous hydrogen production from real wastewater (POME) using the UASB reactor.     

Polyhydroxyalkanoate production using waste vegetable oil and filtered digestate liquor of chicken manure

Abstract

The production of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) using digestate of chicken manure combined with waste sunflower oil as no-cost feedstocks in a multi-stage process was investigated. Using Cupriavidus necator H16 in combined culture media, a maximum PHA accumulation of 4.6?±?0.2?g/L at 75.1?±?1.4% of cell dry matter and a residual cell matter yield of 1.5?±?0.1?g/L were obtained after 96?hr of cultivation (30?°C, 160?rpm, pH 7.0) in flask-based experiments. Manure was acidogenically fermented in a continuous stirring tank reactor in fed-batch mode. The bioreactor was operated at varying organic loading rates (OLR) and hydraulic retention times (HRT) ranging from 1–4?g volatile solids (VS)/L/d and 4–8?days, respectively. Optimal operation was observed at an OLR of 4?g VS/L/d and an HRT of 4?days. Analysis showed the presence of significant amounts of ammonia, potassium, magnesium, calcium, and trace elements, i.e. Fe, Cu, Ni, Mn, Co, Zn, Cr in the digestate. The micro-filtered digestate was utilized as a complex culture media base while waste oil served as an additional carbon source and supplemented for effective PHA production. The total volatile fatty acid content of digestate greatly affected the growth performance of the PHA-producing microorganism Cupriavidus necator H16.