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Modern Developments in Anaerobic Digestion Process: Resource Recovery and Energy Production

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A special issue of Fermentation (ISSN 2311-5637). This special issue belongs to the section "Industrial Fermentation".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (10 September 2024) | Viewed by 14837

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Dr. Muhammad Usman

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Guest Editor

School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada
Interests: thermochemical treatments (hydrothermal liquefaction, pyrolysis, advanced wet oxidation and steam explosion) of biomass/biowaste; biological treatment of wastewater; biogas production; synthesis of carbon rich materials (hydrochar, biochar), organic and inorganic pollutant degradation, adsorption, DIET and microbial study
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Dr. Muhammad Arslan

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Guest Editor

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1H9, Canada
Interests: water management; water treatment technologies; sustainable water use; pollution reduction; wetland restoration; plant-bacteria interplay; microbial ecology
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Anaerobic digestion is an attractive and economical process for waste management and energy recovery. The performance of anaerobic digestion process is attributed to the hydrolysis rate of organics, microbial and metabolic activity. Nevertheless, the presence of several toxic pollutants and ammonia, along with the accumulation of volatile fatty acids, leads to the instability of the anaerobic digestion process. Thus, it is necessary that the anaerobic digestion process is improved for maximum resource recovery and energy. For this purpose, several chemical, biological, and physical approaches have been applied, but each technique has its own merits and demerits. For instance, the two-phase anaerobic digestion process demonstrates better performance in terms of stability and efficiency, along with high methane production. However, the two-phase anaerobic digestion process is extremely energy-intensive and costly. Therefore, it is timely to investigate how the anaerobic digestion process can be enhanced to contribute towards the circular economy and eco-friendly perspectives.

This Special Issue aims to attract both research and review articles on new approaches, recent developments, and the associated challenges related to the enhancement of the anaerobic digestion process. Pre-submission inquiries may be submitted to one of the editors for questions related to the relevance of the topic.

Dr. Muhammad Usman
Dr. Muhammad Arslan
Guest Editors

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Keywords

biogas
bioreactors
pretreatments
microbial ecology
hydrolysis
direct interspecies electrons transformation
conductive materials
biomass/biowaste
volatile fatty acid
municipal biosolids & wastewater treatment
organics & inorganics pollutants
resource recovery
integrated process
life cycle assessment (LCA)

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 3267 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Particle Size Effect on Anaerobic Digestion of Fruit and Vegetable Waste

by José Vian, Alejandra Velasco-Pérez, Rocío Solar-González, Tania García-Herrera, Hector Puebla and Guadalupe Vivar-Vera

Fermentation 2024, 10(9), 485; https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation10090485 - 18 Sep 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1138

Abstract

During the anaerobic digestion (AD) of fruit and vegetable waste (FVW), excessive particle size reduction can lead to the overproduction and inhibition of methanogenic microorganisms. This paper presents an in-depth analysis through experimental assays, modeling, and response surface analysis of the effect of particle size on methane production. A simple model was proposed considering the inhibition of the growth of methanogenic microorganisms and surface-based hydrolysis kinetics. The model parameters were estimated using experimental data from batch systems fed with FVW of varying particle sizes (ranging from 1.8 to 1000 μm). Response surface methodology establishes a statistical model for estimating methane production based on particle size and concentration. Numerical and statistical analyses were conducted using Matlab R2024a and Minitab 24 software. A model with an R² of 0.89 was obtained, which determined an optimal concentration of 8.2

k g \cdot m^{- 3}

and a particle size of 742.3

μ m

, yielding a methane production of 303.3

m^{3} \cdot k g^{- 1} V S

, similar to the experimentally obtained range of 300.95 to 316.7

m^{3} \cdot k g^{- 1} V S

. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Modern Developments in Anaerobic Digestion Process: Resource Recovery and Energy Production)

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12 pages, 847 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Hard Reality of Biogas Production through the Anaerobic Digestion of Algae Grown in Dairy Farm Effluents

by Marianne Hull-Cantillo, Mark Lay, Graeme Glasgow and Peter Kovalsky

Fermentation 2024, 10(3), 137; https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation10030137 - 29 Feb 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1825

Abstract

Much emphasis has been given to algal biomass growth in dairy farm wastewater. Most of the systems examined require productive land to be converted and/or freshwater use to dilute high concentrations of nutrients found in dairy effluent. A rotating algal biofilm (RABR) provides the capacity to grow algae without sacrificing productive land or freshwater. In theory, this system would overcome some of the economic and environmental challenges that other systems have. A combination of theoretical information, nutrient uptake formulas, and economic formulas were used to calculate the potential of biogas production from algae grown in an RABR with dairy effluents. The average nutrient uptake was 0.8 mgN/m² per day and 0.1 mgP/m² per day. The maximum methane production from the anaerobic digestion of algae was 112 m³/RABR·year. The minimum and maximum economic scenarios resulted in gross profits of NZD −2101 and −1922. After evaluating this system for the first time in the New Zealand dairy farming context, it was found that biogas production from an RABR is not a feasible option for New Zealand dairy farmers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Modern Developments in Anaerobic Digestion Process: Resource Recovery and Energy Production)

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16 pages, 2425 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Hydrochar-Promoted Methane Production in Mesophilic and Thermophilic Anaerobic Digestion of Hydrothermal Pre-Treated Sludge

by Chaosen Jing, Chao Zhang, Xingzhang Luo and Zheng Zheng

Fermentation 2024, 10(1), 10; https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation10010010 - 21 Dec 2023

Viewed by 1531

Abstract

Hydrochar produced during the hydrothermal conversion of organic solid waste could enhance the anaerobic digestion (AD) efficiency of hydrothermal pre-treated sludge. However, there was still a lack of systematic research on the effect of hydrochar on improving the methane production and microbial communities of the AD of hydrothermal pre-treated sludge under different temperature conditions. This study explored the effect of hydrochar on methane production from the mesophilic and thermophilic AD of hydrothermal pre-treated sludge and the mechanism of microbial action based on metagenomics analysis. Hydrochar could improve the methane production efficiency of mesophilic and thermophilic AD at different initial concentrations of hydrothermal pre-treated sludge. However, the effect of hydrochar in promoting AD varied under different AD temperatures. Both temperature and hydrochar were crucial factors that could influence the microbial community. Moreover, hydrochar increased the relative abundance of archaea in the AD system, resulting in an increment of 4.99% to 15.30% compared to the control group. Mesophilic reactors exhibit greater microbial diversity. Hydrochar resulted in the significant enrichment of Synergistota in the thermophilic AD system and the enrichment of Firmicutes in the mesophilic AD system, thereby promoting the hydrolysis of proteins and polysaccharides during AD. This study has practical significance for the resource treatment of excess activated sludge. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Modern Developments in Anaerobic Digestion Process: Resource Recovery and Energy Production)

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14 pages, 2103 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Anaerobic Co-Digestion of Cattle Manure and Brewer’s Residual Yeast: Process Stability and Methane and Hydrogen Sulfide Production

by Luana Alves Akamine, Roberta Passini, João Antônio Silva Sousa, Aline Fernandes and Maria Joselma de Moraes

Fermentation 2023, 9(12), 993; https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation9120993 - 21 Nov 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2148

Abstract

Anaerobic co-digestion (AcoD) of animal waste and agro-industrial by-products has been widely studied and employed to increase biogas production potential and enhance process stability. This study evaluated the AcoD of cattle manure (CM) and brewer’s residual yeast (RY) in semi-continuous biodigesters, focusing on energy potential (biogas and methane yields) and process stability. Four treatments were assessed, each with different proportions (% of volatile solids) of CM and RY: 100:0, 88:12, 78:22, and 68:32. Trials were conducted in 30-L tubular reactors at room temperature with a hydraulic retention time of 30 days. The inclusion of RY led to a gradual rise in biogas and methane production, with more significant reductions in solid content than mono-digestion of CM. The addition of RY resulted in daily CH₄ production increases of 18.5, 32.3, and 51.9% for treatments with 12, 22, and 32% of RY, respectively, compared to the control treatment. Therefore, AcoD demonstrated a higher potential for energy recovery. However, RY introduced elevated H₂S levels in the biogas. Caution is advised when adding this co-substrate to AcoD due to potential process influence and biogas application restrictions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Modern Developments in Anaerobic Digestion Process: Resource Recovery and Energy Production)

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19 pages, 4000 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring Anaerobic Digestion from Mesophilic to Thermophilic Temperatures—Operational and Microbial Aspects

by Bettina Steiniger, Sebastian Hupfauf, Heribert Insam and Christian Schaum

Fermentation 2023, 9(9), 798; https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation9090798 - 29 Aug 2023

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3073

Abstract

Digesters at water resource recovery facilities (WRRFs) operating at different temperatures within the mesophilic and thermophilic temperature range is a flexibilization concept to contribute to heat management. Four 25 L digesters were fed with sewage sludge from a municipal WRRF and were operated at 37, 43, 47 and 53 °C, respectively, to describe changes in the overall process performance and the microbiota. Specific methane yield and COD degradation rates were the highest at 47 °C, only being up to 7% higher compared with at 37 °C. The increase in pH and concentrations of NH₄-N and PO₄-P above 43 °C were statistically significant. The effect on the microbial community was strong, indicating both a constant specialization towards thermophilic organisms as well as a change from acetoclastic to hydrogenotrophic/methylotrophic methanogenesis. The influence of temperature on process-engineering and physicochemical aspects was rather small compared with the changes in the microbiota. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Modern Developments in Anaerobic Digestion Process: Resource Recovery and Energy Production)

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16 pages, 4019 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Role of Hydrochar in Promoting Methane Production from Anaerobic Digestion with Different Inocula

by Jieyi Sun, Shicheng Zhang and Gang Luo

Fermentation 2023, 9(5), 433; https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation9050433 - 29 Apr 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2215

Abstract

Carbon materials, including hydrochar, can promote methane production from anaerobic digestion, and many previous studies have investigated the mechanism by analyzing changes in the microbial community. Based on the fact that the major functional microorganisms have varied in different studies, in order to investigate the effect of inocula on the final microbial composition and to compare the promotion effects of hydrochar on different microorganisms, this study introduced inocula from three distinct sources to anaerobic sequential batch reactors and analyzed the microbial community using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Hydrochar showed significant promotion effects for all three of the inocula, by increasing microbial activity at high acid concentrations and/or by reducing butyrate accumulation. The dominant microorganisms in all reactors were Clostridium and Methanosarcina, and hydrochar increased the proportion of acetoclastic methanogens. The bacteria which were promoted by hydrochar (e.g., Aminicenantales, Anaerolineaceae and SBR1031 in anaerobic granular sludge and sludge digestate, as well as Lachnospiraceae in food waste digestate) only accounted for around 10%. The bacteria found to be involved in DIET in earlier studies were lacking in this study. It was speculated that hydrochar acted as an electron intermediate and supported microbial aggregation, while the possibility that hydrochar promoted DIET cannot be ruled out. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Modern Developments in Anaerobic Digestion Process: Resource Recovery and Energy Production)

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14 pages, 1060 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Metagenomic Binning Revealed Microbial Shifts in Anaerobic Degradation of Phenol with Hydrochar and Pyrochar

by Tao Luo, Jun He, Zhijian Shi, Yan Shi, Shicheng Zhang, Yan Liu and Gang Luo

Fermentation 2023, 9(4), 387; https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation9040387 - 17 Apr 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1921

Abstract

Phenolic compounds, which are difficultly degraded, are one of the main toxic threats faced in the anaerobic digestion (AD) process. It has previously been reported that hydrochar/pyrochar produced by the hydrothermal liquefaction/pyrolysis of biomass can enhance AD by promoting direct interspecific electron transfer (DIET). The present study investigated the effects of different hydrochars and pyrochars on the anaerobic degradation of phenol and provided deep insights into the related micro-organisms at the species level through genome-centric metagenomic analysis. Compared with the control experiment, the addition of hydrochar and pyrochar shortened the lag time. However, hydrochar created a large increase in the maximum methane production rate (R_m) (79.1%) compared to the control experiments, while the addition of pyrochar decreased R_m. Metagenomic analysis showed that the addition of carbon materials affected the relative abundance of genes in the phenol anaerobic degradation pathway, as well as the species and relative abundance of phenol degrading micro-organisms. The relative abundance of key genes for phenol degradation, such as bsdB, bamB, oah, etc., under the action of hydrochar was higher than those under the action of pyrochar. In addition, hydrochar-enriched phenol degradation-related bacteria (Syntrophus aciditrophicus, etc.) and methanogen (Methanothrix soehngenii, etc.). These micro-organisms might improve the phenol degradation efficiency by promoting DIET. Therefore, hydrochar had a more significant effect in promoting anaerobic degradation of phenol. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Modern Developments in Anaerobic Digestion Process: Resource Recovery and Energy Production)

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