Abstract
The production of biogas from anaerobic digestion (AD) of residual agro-food biomasses represents an opportunity for alternative production of energy from renewable sources, according to the European Union legislation on renewable energy. This review provides an overview of the various aspects involved in this process with a focus on the best process conditions to be used for AD-based biogas production from residual agro-food biomasses. After a schematic description of the AD phases, the biogas plants with advanced technologies were described, pointing out the strengths and the weaknesses of the different digester technologies and indicating the main parameters and operating conditions to be monitored. Subsequently, a brief analysis of the factors affecting methane yield from manure AD was conducted and the AD of fruit and vegetables waste was examined. Particular attention was given to studies on co-digestion and pre-treatments as strategies to improve biogas yield. Finally, the selection of specific microorganisms and the genetic manipulation of anaerobic bacteria to speed up the AD process was illustrated. The open challenges concern the achievement of the highest renewable energy yields reusing agro-food waste with the lowest environmental impact and an increment of competitiveness of the agricultural sector in the perspective of a circular economy.
Highlights
According to the European Union (EU) Renewable Energy Directive [1], the production of energy from renewable sources is becoming an urgent target to reduce the impact of greenhouse gases (GHG), mainly derived from fossil fuel combustion [2]
The production of biogas from residual agro-food biomasses obtained through anaerobic digestion (AD) represents a promising tool for alternative production of energy from renewable sources
Manure AD may provide a supplementary source of income for farmers as renewable energy is produced and the residual digestate has high fertilizing properties
Summary
According to the European Union (EU) Renewable Energy Directive [1], the production of energy from renewable sources is becoming an urgent target to reduce the impact of greenhouse gases (GHG), mainly derived from fossil fuel combustion [2]. This directive by establishing an overall policy for the production and promotion of energy from renewable sources in EU, requires the EU to fulfil at least 20% of its total energy needs with renewables by 2020, to be achieved through the attainment of individual national targets. Among non-conventional energy resources (e.g., solar, wind, hydro-wave, geothermal and biomass) offering interesting opportunities as they are unlimited and cheap [3], biomass-produced biogas is able to provide high quantity of energy with significant Greenhouse gases (GHG) savings, Appl. 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 aconvdehresaotlpidrobdiuomctiaosns [a7n].dTbhieogEaUs suussetdaininablialritgyechrietaetriaanhdavpeobweeernpelxatnentsd(eadbotoveco2v0erMsoWlidfubeiol mcaapsascaitnyd) bwiiotghaas ruesdeudctinionlaringeGhHeGat eamndisspioownsefrrpomlanbtiso(mabaossv-eba2s0eMd eWlecftureiclictyapaancdityh)eawt ipthroadruecdtiuocntitoonainlevGeHl aGt elemasists8i0o%nsafnrodm85b%iolmowasesr-bthaasendfoeslesciltrfiuceitlys baynd20h2e1aat npdro2d0u2c6t,iroensptoecatilveevleyl. at least 80% and 85% lower than Tfohsissilrefuveielswbfyoc2u02se1saonnd t2h0e26p,rroedsupcetcitoinveolyf.biogas obtained through AD from residual agro-food biomTahssisesr,eavnieawlyzfoincgustehseosntrethnegtphrsodanudctiwoneaokfnbeisosgeassoof bthtaeindeifdfetrhernotutgyhpeAsDoffrsoumbsrterasitdesuaalnadgorof -pfolaondt bteicohmnaoslsoegsi,eas,naaslywzienllgatshtehsetrmenogstthpsroamndiswinegatkonoelsssteosiomf pthroevdeifAfeDreenftfitcyipenescyo,fwsuitbhstthraeteasimantdo oidfepnltainfyt ttehcehbneosltopgireosc,eassswcoenlldaistitohnesm. ost promising tools to improve AD efficiency, with the aim to identify the best process conditions
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
