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Anaerobic wastewater treatment is, in many cases, a justified alternative to typical activated sludge processes, from a technological, economic, and ecological point of view. The optimisation of fermentation reactors is primarily concerned with increasing the biodegradation of organic compounds and biogas production, as well as improving efficiency in the removal of nitrogen and phosphorus compounds. The aim of the research was to determine the impact of using low-cost recycled filling on the efficiency of treating real confectionery wastewater in a vertical anaerobic labyrinth flow bioreactor. The experiments focused on selecting the organic loading rate that would allow for the effective biodegradation and removal of pollutants, as well as the efficient production of biomethane. It was found that the tested reactor can operate efficiently at a maximum organic loading rate (OLR) of 7.0–8.0 g of chemical oxygen demand (COD)/L·d. In this OLR range, high efficiency was guaranteed for both wastewater treatment and biogas production. However, increasing the OLR value to 8.0 g COD/L·d had a significant negative effect on the methane (CH4) content in the biogas. The most efficient variants achieved a biodegradation efficiency of around 90% of the organic compounds, a CH4 content of over 70% in the biogas, and a biogas yield of over 400 L/kg of COD removed. A significant influence of the applied OLR on the ratio of free organic acids (FOS) to total alkaline capacity (TAC) and pH was observed, as well as a strong correlation of these indicators with the specific biogas yield and CH4 content. The application of a solution based on the use of a hybrid system of anaerobic granulated sludge and an anaerobic filter resulted in an efficient treatment process and an almost complete elimination of suspensions from the wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The characteristics of excess aerobic granular sludge, related to its structure and chemical composition, limit the efficiency of anaerobic digestion. For this reason, pre-treatment methods and compositions with other organic substrates are used. In earlier work, no attempt was made to intensify the methane fermentation of the excess aerobic granular sludge by adding fatty waste materials. The aim of the research was to determine the effects of co-digestion of pre-hydrodynamically cavitated aerobic granular sludge with waste fats on the efficiency of methane fermentation under mesophilic and thermophilic conditions. The addition of waste fats improved the C/N ratio and increased its value to 19. Under mesophilic conditions, the highest effects were observed when the proportion of volatile solids from waste fats was 25%. The amount of biogas produced increased by 17.85% and CH4 by 19.85% compared to the control. The greatest effects were observed in thermophilic anaerobic digestion at 55 °C, where a 15% waste fat content in volatile solids was ensured. This resulted in the production of 1278.2 ± 40.2 mL/gVS biogas and 889.4 ± 29.7 mL/gVS CH4. The CH4 content of the biogas was 69.6 ± 1.3%. The increase in biogas and CH4 yield compared to pure aerobic granular sludge anaerobic digestion was 34.4% and 40.1%, respectively. An increase in the proportion of waste fats in the substrate had no significant effect on the efficiency of methane fermentation. Strong positive correlations (R2 > 0.9) were observed between biogas and CH4 production and the C/N ratio and VS concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most common technology for the recovery of energy and valuable materials from sewage sludge is anaerobic digestion (AD). Ensuring thermophilic conditions during AD has been proven to cause process intensification and an improvement in its final outcomes. Nonetheless, the search is underway for other methods to bolster the effectiveness of the AD of aerobic granular sludge (AGS), which is characterized by a compact and complex structure. A prospective AGS pre-treatment technology entails the use of solidified carbon dioxide (SCO2). The present study focused on an evaluation of the AGS pre-treatment with SCO2 on the thermophilic AD technological effects. It evaluated the effect of the SCO2 pre-treatment method on changes in the concentrations of organic and biogenic compounds in the dissolved phase and the yield and kinetics of biogas and methane production in periodical reactors, as well as enabled the development of an empirical organizational model of biogas production. SCO2 introduced to AGS caused an increase in the content of COD, N-NH4+, and P-PO43− in the AGS dissolved phase at SCO2/AGS volumetric ratios ranging from 0 to 0.3. A further increase in the SCO2 dose did not cause any statistically significant differences in this respect. The highest biogas and methane yields were obtained at SCO2/AGS of 0.3 and reached 482 ± 21 cm3/gVS and 337 ± 14 cm3/gVS, respectively. The higher SCO2 doses used led to a significant decrease in the pH value of the AGS, which, in turn, contributed to a decreasing CH4 concentration in the biogas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been proven that the biocenosis of microalgae and bacteria improves the chemical properties of biomass for its use in anaerobic digestion. However, this anaerobic digestion can be limited by the strong, compact, and complex structure of granulated biomass. Therefore, there is a need to search for an effective method for microalgal–bacterial granular sludge pretreatment, which has not been undertaken in previous scientific works. In this study, ultrasonic pretreatment was used to determine the effects of sonication on anaerobic digestion efficiency. Anaerobic digestion was performed in batch respirometric reactors. It was found that the ultrasonic pretreatment enhanced the biomass solubility; thus, the organic matter concentration increased more than six times compared to the variant without pretreatment. The study showed a positive effect of sonication on the kinetics of the anaerobic process and methane production. The highest methane yield was found in the variants in which the ultrasonication lasted from 150 s to 200 s, and this yield was from 534 ± 16 mL CH4/g VS to 561 ± 17 mL CH4/g VS. The data analysis confirmed strong correlations between the pretreatment time, the amount of biogas and methane production, and the gross energy gain. The highest net energy output and net energy gain were obtained for 150 s of sonication, and, respectively, were 4.21 ± 0.17 Wh/g VS and 1.19 ± 0.18 Wh/g VS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the identified obstacles to the development of biogas plants is the limited sources of organic substrates. Hydrophytes varying in morphology, chemical composition, and origin proved to be viable alternatives. This study's aim was to determine the feasibility of deploying biomass from the cleansing of water reservoirs for anaerobic digestion. A mass and energy balance was estimated for Warmia–Mazury Province (Poland), the so-called Thousand Lake District. The effectiveness of anaerobic digestion was determined in anaerobic batch respirometric reactors. The biomass of hydrophytes harvested from this area approximated 38,070 Mg FM/year. The biogas yield from emergent plants approximated 350 m3/MgVS, and the average CH4 content of biogas reached 55%, whereas the respective values obtained from submerged biomass reached 270 m3/MgVS and 58% CH4. The total CH4 volume achievable from the facility fed with waste biomass of this type allows producing ca. 1,654,560 m3CH4/year, which enables reaching 866 kW theoretical thermal power and 636 kWe net electrical power with the facility. The contribution of biomass from mowing in this energy effect was about 84%, whereas that of the submerged vegetation obtained by hacking the bottom was 16%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Though deemed a prospective method, the bioconversion of organic waste to biohydrogen via dark fermentation (DF) has multiple drawbacks and limitations. Technological difficulties of hydrogen fermentation may, in part, be eliminated by making DF a viable method for biohythane production. Aerobic granular sludge (AGS) is a little-known organic waste spurring a growing interest in the municipal sector; its characteristics indicate the feasibility of its use as a substrate for biohydrogen production. The major goal of the present study was to determine the effect of AGS pretreatment with solidified carbon dioxide (SCO2) on the yield of H2 (biohythane) production during anaerobic digestion (AD). It was found that an increasing dose of SCO2 caused an increase in concentrations of COD, N-NH4+, and P-PO43− in the supernatant at the SCO2/AGS volume ratios from 0 to 0.3. The AGS pretreatment at SCO2/AGS ratios within the range of 0.1–0.3 was shown to enable the production of biogas with over 8% H2 (biohythane) content. The highest yield of biohythane production, reaching 481 ± 23 cm3/gVS, was obtained at the SCO2/AGS ratio of 0.3. This variant produced 79.0 ± 6% CH4 and 8.9 ± 2% H2. The higher SCO2 doses applied caused a significant decrease in the pH value of AGS, modifying the anaerobic bacterial community to the extent that diminished anaerobic digestion performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies on harnessing solidified carbon dioxide (SCO2) for municipal sewage sludge (MSS) pre-treatment have been conducted exclusively in batch reactors. This makes it difficult to accurately assess how long-term SCO2 treatment affects anaerobic digestion (AD) conditions and performance. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of long-term MSS pre-treatment with SCO2 on AD conditions, anaerobic bacterial community, and biogas composition and yields. The presented experiments are the first studies on the effect of pre-treatment with SCO2 on the efficiency of AD of MSS in continuous reactors. So far, the impact of the organic load rate (OLR) on the efficiency of MSS methane fermentation has not been assessed, which is also a novelty of the conducted research. The AD process was conducted in continuous-stirred, continuous-flow anaerobic with an active volume of 20 dm3. The digestion process was run at 38 ± 1 °C. The experiment was divided into two stages. Raw (non-pretreated) MSS was used in stage 1, whereas the MSS used in stage 2 was pre-treated with SCO2. The SCO2/MSS ratio was 1:3. Each stage was sub-divided into four variants, with different levels of the OLR ranging from 2.0 to 5.0 gCOD/dm3·day. Pre-treatment with SCO2 was found to improve AD performance at an OLR of 3.0–4.0 gVS/dm3·day. The 3.0 gVS/dm3·day variant offered the best biogas production performance—both daily (29 ± 1.3 dm3/day) and per VS added (0.49 ± 0.02 dm3/gVS)—as well as the highest CH4 content in the biogas (70.1 ± 1.0%). In this variant, the highest energy output effect of 187.07 ± 1.5 Wh/day was obtained. The SCO2 pre-treatment was not found to change the pH, FOS/TAC, or the anaerobic bacterial community composition. Instead, these variables were mainly affected by the OLR. Our study shows that MSS pre-treatment with SCO2 at a SCO2/MSS ratio of 0.3 (by volume) significantly improves AD performance in terms of methane production and feedstock mineralization. The pre-treatment was found to have no negative effect on the long-term continuous operation of the reactor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regulations in force urge for thermal pre-treatment of post-slaughter waste prior to its anaerobic digestion. Increased interest in biomethane as a fuel in gas networks or vehicles of road transport forces the need to look for heating methods that are alternative to heat recovery from cogeneration. The goal of this study was to determine the synergistic effect of simultaneous ultrasound heating and disintegration on the technological efficiency and energetic balance of the anaerobic digestion of high-load slaughter poultry wastewater. The highest efficiency of anaerobic digestion was obtained for the ultrasound thermal pre-treatment (60 min, 90 °C, OLR = 2.0 gCOD/dm3). In this experimental variant, the biogas production rate reached 9.0 ± 0.2 cm3/gCOD·h, biogas yield was 492 ± 10 cm3/gCOD, and the biogas produced contained 69.8 ± 1.4% CH4. Given the incurred energy outputs, the highest net energetic efficiencies, i.e., 5.92 ± 0.43 Wh and 5.80 ± 0.42 Wh, were obtained in the variants with the conventional thermal pre-treatment (60 min, 70 °C, OLR = 6.0 gCOD/dm3) and ultrasound thermal pre-treatment (60 min, 70 °C, OLR = 6.0 gCOD/dm3), respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anaerobic wastewater treatment is still a dynamically developing technology ensuring the effective degradation of organic compounds and biogas production. As evidenced in the large scale-up, this technological solution surpasses aerobic methods in many aspects. Its advantages stem from the feasibility of operation at a high organic load rate, the smaller production of difficult-to-manage sewage sludge, the smaller space and cubature required, and the high-methane biogas ultimately produced. The exploitation of anaerobic reactors is in line with the assumption of a circular economy, material recycling by reduced CO2 emissions and energy consumption, and the production of renewable energy. Despite their unquestionable advantages, there is still a need to seek novel approaches and improve the currently exploited installations. The key avenues of research entail improvements in the stability of bioreactor operations and the enhancement of bioreactor adaptability to changing and unfavorable process parameters. The versatility of such systems would also be greatly improved by increasing nitrogen and phosphorus removal rates. Attempts have been made to achieve these goals by setting up separate zones within bioreactors for the individual steps of methane fermentation, incorporating active fillings to promote nutrient removal, and introducing chemical and physical treatments. An interesting solution is also the use of microwave radiation to stimulate temperature conditions and induce non-thermal phenomena, such as enhancing the enzymatic activity of methanogenic microflora. Another prospective approach is to integrate digesters into microalgal biomass production systems. The aim of this review paper is to present the thus-far technological knowledge about anaerobic wastewater treatment, including standard solutions and innovative ones, the effectiveness of which has been corroborated in pilot-scale installations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Production and consumption of confectionery products have increased worldwide, thus, effective management of wastewater produced is now an important issue. The confectionery high-load sewage was explored for biogas production in an innovative-design anaerobic reactor with labyrinth flow. The experimental studies were focused on determining the best technological parameters of anaerobic digestion for the effective removal of pollutants and obtaining high CH4 production efficiency. It was found that organic loading rate (OLR) of 5.0–6.0 g COD/L·d contributed to the highest CH4 generation of 94.7 ± 6.1 to 97.1 ± 5.1 L CH4/d, which corresponded to a high COD removal of 75.4 ± 1.5 to 75.0 ± 0.6%. Under such conditions the FOS/TAC ratio was below 0.4, indicating reactor stability, and pH was on the level of 7.15 ± 0.04 at OLR 5.0 g COD/L·d and 7.04 ± 0.07 at OLR 6.0 g COD/L·d. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid growth in dairy production leads to increasing outputs of high-load effluent, necessitating new methods of treating such waste. Anaerobic processes have been increasingly popular but are hamstrung by limited nutrient removal efficiency. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether low-cost recycled filling (LCRF) improves the anaerobic treatment of dairy effluent. The addition of LCRF was found to increase both COD removal (86.1 ± 2.6%–92.8 ± 1.6%) and Ptot. removal (22.1 ± 3.5% to 36.9 ± 4.6%) from the wastewater. The LCRF ensured near-neutral pH and stabilized the structure of the anaerobic microbe community (including Archaea) across all pollutant loads tested. This translated to efficient biogas production and high methane content in the LCRF reactors, peaking at 0.35 ± 0.01 m3/kg CODremoved and 68.2 ± 0.6% (respectively) in the best-performing variant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of a sustainable bioenergy market is currently largely fueled by energy crops, whose ever-increasing production competes with the global food and feed supply. Consequently, non-food crops need to be considered as alternatives for energy biomass production. Such alternatives include microalgal biomass, as well as energy crops grown on non-agricultural land. The aim of the present study was to evaluate how co-digestion of microalgal biomass with giant miscanthus silage affects feedstock properties, the biogas production process, biogas yields, methane fractions and the digestate profile. Combining giant miscanthus silage with microbial biomass was found to produce better C/N ratios than using either substrate alone. The highest biogas and methane production rates—628.00 ± 20.05 cm3/gVS and 3045.56 ± 274.06 cm3 CH4/d—were obtained with 40% microalgae in the feedstock. In all variants, the bulk of the microbial community consisted of bacteria (EUB338) and archaea (ARC915). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to determine how thermal stimulation via electromagnetic microwave radiation impacts the yields of biogas and methane produced by methane fermentation of five selected energy crop species in anaerobic reactors. The resultant performance was compared with that of reactors with conventional temperature control. The highest biogas production capacity was achieved for maize silage and Virginia mallow silage (i.e., 680 ± 28 dm3N/kgVS and 506 ± 16 dm3N/kgVS, respectively). Microwave radiation as a method of heating anaerobic reactors provided a statistically-significantly boost in methane production from maize silage (18% increase). Biomethane production from maize silage rose from 361 ± 12 dm3N/kgVS to 426 ± 14 dm3N/kgVS. In the other experimental variants, the differences between methane concentrations in the biogas were non-significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]