Anaerobic Batch Tests Research Articles

Multicriteria Decision Model and Thermal Pretreatment of Hotel Food Waste for Robust Output to Biogas: Case Study from City of Jaipur, India.

The anaerobic batch test (45 days at 37°C) was performed to describe the effect of thermal pretreatment at moderate temperatures (60, 80, and 100°C) over durations of 10 and 20 minutes on the enhancement of biogas production using hotel food waste from city of Jaipur, India. The results showed that the total cumulative biogas production with thermal pretreatment (100°C, 10 minutes) was 41% higher than the control. Also, this alternative gets first rank using multicriteria decision making model, VIKOR. This outcome was obtained due to the enhancement of degradation of organic compounds such as protein and volatile solids that occurred in the linear trend. Modified Gompertz and Logistic models were used to study the effect of different pretreatment parameters on lag time and biogas yield. Scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were also employed to investigate the effect of thermal pretreatment on the physiochemical properties of food waste.

Anaerobic-Aerobic Combined System for the Biological Treatment of Azo Dye Solution using Residual Yeast.

This study aimed to investigate the treatment efficiency of a synthetic dye solution in an anaerobic-aerobic combined reactor system, using pretreated residual yeast as a nutrient source and redox mediator. The applicability of the residual yeast as a nutrient source was firstly evaluated in anaerobic batch tests. Subsequently, two continuous bench-scale treatment settings were studied: (1) an Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB) reactor followed by an activated sludge system and, (2) a UASB reactor followed by a shallow polishing pond. The two system configurations were fed with a synthetic azo dye solution of Yellow Gold Remazol (50 mg/L) and pretreated residual yeast (350 mg/L). According to the results, the UASB/shallow polishing pond-combined reactor attained the best values of chemical oxygen demand (COD) (85%) and dye removal (23%).

Increasing the tolerance to polyphenols of the anaerobic digestion of olive wastewater through microbial adaptation

The valorisation of olive oil mill wastewater (OMW) through anaerobic digestion requires identifying the concentration of polyphenols (PP) that causes failure of the process of digestion. In addition, the advantages of the possible microbial adaptation, in terms of increased methane production, to significant concentrations of PP as well as the kinetics of OMW anaerobic degradation requires evaluation. To fill these knowledge gaps, anaerobic digestion batch tests were carried out on three blends of OMW and inoculum (digestate from a biogas plant fed with agro-wastes) at a PP concentration of 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 g l−1 in mesophilic conditions. Total inhibition of anaerobic digestion was found at a PP concentration of 2.0 g l−1 (non-adapted inoculum group). A positive effect of the adaptation to the substrate was, instead, observed for the blends with adapted inoculum at a PP concentration of 1.0 and 2.0 g l−1. Methane yields increased by 70% (PP = 1.0 g l−1) and 300% (2.0 g l−1) in the group with adapted inoculum compared to the group with non-adapted inoculum. The results suggest that OMW should not be subject to anaerobic digestion at high PP concentrations (i.e. higher than about 1 g l−1) due to the microbial inhibition detected. Moreover, given the benefits of the adaptation of the microbial population that was more evident at the highest PP concentration tested, it is advisable to allow the progressive adaptation of the digestion to OMW feeding. Thanks to the increased methane yield, because of the improved microbial tolerance to inhibiting compounds, the anaerobic digestion of OMW could be a viable and environmentally sound solution for the treatment of agro-industrial wastewater.

The effect of bacterial and archaeal populations on anaerobic process fed with mozzarella cheese whey and buttermilk

Dairy wastes can be conveniently processed and valorized in a biorefinery value chain since they are abundant, zero-cost and all year round available. For a comprehensive knowledge of the microbial species involved in producing biofuels and valuable intermediates from dairy wastes, the changes in bacterial and archaeal population were evaluated when H2, CH4 and chemical intermediates were produced. Batch anaerobic tests were conducted with a mixture of mozzarella cheese whey and buttermilk as organic substrate, inoculated with 1% and 3% w/v industrial animal manure pellets. The archaeal methanogens concentration increased in the test inoculated at 3% (w/v) when H2 and CH4 production occurred, being 1 log higher than that achieved in the test inoculated at 1% (w/v). Many archaeal species, mostly involved in the production of CH4, were identified by sequencing denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) bands. Methanoculleus, Methanocorpusculum and Methanobrevibacter genera were dominant archaea involved in the anaerobic process for bioenergy production from mozzarella cheese whey and buttermilk mixture.

Rumen bacteria at work: bioaugmentation strategies to enhance biogas production from cow manure.

To investigate the effects of different bioaugmentation strategies for enhancing the biogas production from cow manure and evaluate microbial community patterns. Co-inoculation with cow rumen fluid and cow rumen-derived enriched microbial consortia was evaluated in anaerobic batch tests at 36°C and 41°C. Singular addition of both rumen fluid and enriched bioaugmentation culture had a promising enhancement on methane yields; however, the highest methane yield (311mlCH4 per gram VS at 41°C) was achieved when the anaerobic seed sludge was co-inoculated together with rumen fluid and enriched bioaugmentation culture. Bacterial community profiles were investigated by Ion PGM Platform, and specific lignocellulolytic bacteria dynamics in batch tests were assessed by qPCR. The temperature had minor effects on the abundance of bacterial community; in which Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes were the most abundant phyla in all digesters. Furthermore, Rikenellaceae, Clostridiaceae, Porphyromonadaceae, Bacteroidaceae and Ruminococcaceae played a crucial role during the anaerobic degradation of cow manure. There was an important impact of Firmicutes flavefaciens and Ruminococcus albus at 41°C, which in turn positively affected the methane production. The degree of enhancement in biogas production can be upgraded by the co-inoculation of rumen-derived bioaugmentation culture with anaerobic seed sludge with high methanogenic activity. A close look at the biotic interactions and their associations with abiotic factors might be valuable for evaluating rumen-related bioaugmentation applications.

Effect of Graphene Oxide on the Characteristics and Mechanisms of Phosphorus Removal in Aerobic Granular Sludge: Case Report

Effects of graphene oxide (GO) on phosphorus removal characteristics and mechanisms of aerobic granular sludge (AGS) were investigated in controlled batch tests. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) image results showed that the surface of AGS appeared wrinkled with coccus and bacillus brevis being wizened and the fungal mycelium being cut into pieces in AGS with 0.06 g/L GO. The anaerobic and aerobic batch tests suggested that the net phosphorus uptake of AGS was 2.60 mg/L for AGS with GO, compared with the value (4.38 mg/L) without GO, and the maximum release and uptake phosphorus rates also remarkably decreased. Intracellular and extracellular phosphorus contents were reduced to 64.67 and 19.74% of that without GO, indicating the nanoparticle might have great effects on extracellular phosphorus. The standards, measurements, and testing (SMT) analysis suggested that the inorganic phosphorus (IP) and organic phosphorus (OP) content decreased compared with the values without GO. The summation of phosphorus fraction associated with Ca (Ca-P) and the phosphorus fraction associated with Al, Fe, and Mn (Fe/Al-P) were 82.09% (without GO) and 94.27% (with GO), suggesting the presence of GO resulted in the decrease of content and species of IP. The extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) were reduced from 173.68 mg/g MLVSS to 137.55 mg/g MLVSS when AGS contacted with GO. The results of this assay had uncovered that 0.06 g/L GO could inhibit the bioactivity of phosphorus-accumulating organisms (PAOs), which resulted in the decrease of Ca-P, Fe/Al-P, and OP. EPS played an essential role on the phosphorus removal and granular stability. The decrease of EPS, which was produced by microorganisms, was contributed to decrease of extracellular phosphorus. This study provided an extensive insight into the influence of GO on phosphorus removal mechanism by AGS.

Anaerobic co-digestion of sludge and microalgae grown in municipal wastewater - a feasibility study.

In this study a natural mix of microalgae grown in wastewater of municipal character was co-digested with sewage sludge in mesophilic conditions, in both batch and semi-continuous modes. The semi-continuous experiment was divided into two periods with OLR1 (organic loading rate) of 2.4 kg volatile solids (VS) m-3 d-1 and HRT1 (hydraulic retention time) of 15 days, and OLR2 of 3.5 kg VS m-3 d-1 and HRT2 of 10 days, respectively. Results showed stable conditions during both periods. The methane yield was reduced when adding microalgae (from 200 ± 25 NmL CH4 g VSin-1, to 168 ± 22 NmL CH4 g VSin-1) but VS reduction was also decreased by 51%. This low digestibility was confirmed in the anaerobic batch test. However, adding microalgae improved the dewaterability of the digested sludge. The high heavy metals content in the microalgae resulted in a high heavy metals content in the digestate, making it more difficult to reuse the digestate as fertilizer on arable land. The heavy metals are thought to originate from the flue gas used as a CO2 source during the microalgae cultivation. Therefore the implementation of CO2 mitigation via algal cultivation requires careful consideration regarding the source of the CO2-rich gas.

Releasing characteristics and fate of heavy metals from phytoremediation crop residues during anaerobic digestion

In this study, lab-scale batch tests were conducted to investigate releasing characteristics of heavy metals according to degradation of heavy metal containing biomass. The fate of heavy metals after released from biomass was also determined through adsorption tests and Visual MINTEQ simulation. According to the anaerobic batch test results as well as volatile solids and carbon balance analyses, maximum of 60% by wt. of biomass was degraded. During the anaerobic biodegradation, among Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn, only Cu and Zn were observed in soluble form (approximately 40% by wt. of input mass). The discrepancy between degradation ratio of biomass and ratio of released heavy metals mass from biomass was observed. It seems that this discordance was caused by the fate (i.e., precipitated with sulfur/hydroxide or adsorbed onto sorbents) of each heavy metal types in solution after being released from biomass. Thus, releasing characteristics and fate of heavy metal should be considered carefully to predict stability of anaerobic digestion process for heavy metal-containing biomass.

Overall effect of carbon production and nutrient release in sludge holding tank on mainstream biological nutrient removal efficiency

ABSTRACTThe potential of hydrolysis/fermentation of activated sludge in sludge holding tank (SHT) to produce additional carbon for the biological nutrient removal (BNR) process was investigated. The study was conducted in anaerobic batch tests using the BNR sludge (from a full-scale Westside process) and the mixture of BNR sludge with conventional non-BNR activated sludge (to have higher biodegradable particulate chemical oxygen demand (bpCOD) in sludge). The BioWin 4.1 was used to simulate the anaerobic batch test of the BNR sludge. Also, the overall effect of FCOD production and nutrient release on BNR efficiency of the Westside process was estimated. The experimental results showed that the phosphorous uptake of sludge increased during hydrolysis/ fermentation condition up to the point when poly-P was completely utilized; afterwards, it decreased significantly. The BioWin simulation could not predict the loss of aerobic phosphorous uptake after poly-P was depleted. The results showed that in the case of activated sludge with relatively higher bpCOD (originating from plants with short sludge retention time or without primary sedimentation), beneficial effect of SHT on BNR performance is feasible. In order to increase the potential of SHT to enhance BNR efficiency, a relatively low retention time and high sludge load is recommended.

Efficacy of methanogenic biomass acclimation in mesophilic anaerobic digestion of ultrasound pretreated sludge

ABSTRACTMethanogenic biomass plays a key role with regard to methane production during anaerobic bioconversion of organic substrates. In this study, the effect of two different acclimated inocula on digestion performances was investigated by means of anaerobic batch tests on untreated and sonicated waste-activated sludge. Organics solubilization and removal kinetics, the abundance and physiological conditions of archaeal cells on ultimate methane yield were evaluated. The simultaneous presence of Methanosarcina and Methanosaeta in the archaeal biomass, the higher initial archaeal cells relative abundance and their occurrence in the aggregated forms were the main factors positively affecting the conversion into methane. The presence of the acclimated inoculum at the start-up influenced positively the methane improvement due to sonication, and the methane-specific production increased from 0.335 ± 0.03 to 0.420 ± 0.05 Nm3/kg VSfed. Moreover, the better physiological state of methanogens permitted to appreciate the effect of hydrolysis improvement by ultrasound pretreatment.

Anaerobic digestion of wastewater generated from the hydrothermal liquefaction of Spirulina: Toxicity assessment and minimization

Previous studies demonstrate anaerobic digestion of hydrothermal liquefaction wastewater (HTL-WW) is significant to the sustainability of algal biofuel development for nutrient reuse and residual energy recovery. HTL-WW contains substantial amounts of residual energy but is toxic to anaerobes. With 6% HTL-WW converted from cyanobacteria (e.g. Spirulina), anaerobes were 50% inhibited. In this study, zeolite, granular activated carbon (GAC), and polyurethane matrices (PM) were used during a two-round anaerobic batch test with HTL-WW, and in the presence of each material, the total methane yields were 136mL/g COD, 169mL/g COD, and 168mL/g COD, respectively, being 11%, 37% and 36% higher than the control. GAC was considered promising due to its highest methane yield of 124mL/g COD at the second feeding, indicating a good recovery of adsorption capacity. The observed low methane production rates indicated the necessity for anaerobic process optimization. The physicochemical analysis of the digestates demonstrated that most of the compounds identified in the HTL-WW were degraded.

Pretreatment of food waste with high voltage pulse discharge towards methane production enhancement

Anaerobic batch tests were performed to investigate the methane production enhancement and solid transformation rates from food waste (FW) by high voltage pulse discharge (HVPD) pretreatment. The total cumulative methane production with HVPD pretreatment was 134% higher than that of the control. The final volatile solids transformation rates of FW with and without HVPD pretreatment were 54.3% and 32.3%, respectively. Comparison study on HVPD pretreatment with acid, alkali and ultrasonic pretreatments showed that the methane production and COD removal rates of FW pretreated with HVPD were more than 100% higher than the control, but only about 50% higher can be obtained with other pretreatments. HVPD pretreatment could be a promising pretreatment method in the application of energy recovery from FW.

Modeling simultaneous carbon and nitrogen removal (SCNR) in anaerobic/anoxic reactor treating domestic wastewater

This paper presents a mathematical model based on the Anaerobic Digestion Model No. 1 (ADM1) to simulate the effects of nitrate concentration and hydraulic retention time (HRT) on the simultaneous carbon and nitrogen removal (SCNR) in anaerobic/anoxic reactor treating domestic wastewater. The model was calibrated using previously published experimental data obtained from anaerobic batch tests for different COD/NO3− ratios. Model simulations were performed to predict the SCNR in a completely mixed reactor (CSTR) operating under mesophilic conditions (35 °C). Six different scenarios were evaluated to investigate the performance of the SCNR based on typical influent characteristics of domestic wastewater. The variables analyzed were chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal, nitrate concentration, methane production, nitrogen gas, volatile fatty acids (VFA) concentration, pH and percentage of COD used by the denitrifying and methanogenic microorganisms. The HRT was decreased stepwise from 15 to 4 h. The results indicate that Scenario (S5) with a COD/NO3− ratio equal to 10 and an HRT equal to 15 h ensures the occurrence of the stable SCNR. Furthermore, the accumulation of denitrification intermediates and a significant reduction in the biogas production when the organic matter is limited was verified.

Anaerobic codigestion of cow slurry with grass silage: Effect of silage duration

The anaerobic codigestion of cow slurry with roadside grass was investigated in this study. Ensilage is known to enhance the anaerobic digestibility of grass, but the literature does not provide accurate information about the suitable silage duration needed to ensure effective codigestion. Grass was cut along roadsides and ensiled for different durations without additives. Anaerobic digestion batch tests were carried out by mixing cow slurry and grass silage. The following three silage durations were tested: 3, 8 and 36 weeks. Each mixture was tested twice and no additional inoculum was used. Compared with their respective controls (slurry only), methane yield (LCH4/kgVSadded) decreased by 14% and 5% for the 3 and 8 week silage tests, respectively, and increased by 15% for the 36 week grass silage test. The 8 week grass silage, which showed a slight decrease of 5% at the end, did not inhibit the process. Thus, we conclude that it is more appropriate to use a grass with a minimum silage duration of 8 weeks as a cosubstrate. © 2016 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 35: 1374–1380, 2016

Effect of VS organic loads and buckwheat husk on methane production by anaerobic co-digestion of primary sludge and wheat straw

An environmentally acceptable disposal of sewage sludge and agro-wastes presents an urgent problem facing many countries. Anaerobic digestion (AD) is a robust and suitable technique for producing renewable energy from wastes. This study aims to improve methane production from anaerobic co-digestion of primary sludge (PS) and wheat straw (WS) depending on their volatile solids (VS) organic load and by adding a proposed waste material of buckwheat husk (BH) based on their carbon to nitrogen (C/N) ratio. Mesophilic anaerobic batch tests were carried out in 500-mL digesters. Individual and six mixtures of PS and WS at different VS organic loads were anaerobically digested to optimize VS load for the greatest gas production. The highest cumulative methane yield (CMYs) occurred with combined substrates at a VS load of 7.50gVS/L. In general, the optimized organic loads that gave the highest cumulative biogas yield (CBYs) and CMYs were in the range of 6–8gVS/L. In addition, AD of individual substrates of PS, WS, and BH and of their mixture at different C/N ratios was investigated regarding to the methane yields. Multi-component substrates produced the greatest CMY at a C/N ratio of 10.07. The CMYs was increased by 39.26% when the proposed waste material of buckwheat husk (BH) was added to the different mixtures of PS and WS compared to the co-digestion of PS and WS. Experimental results were approved using statistical analysis by ANOVA test at P-value less than 0.05. Purification of methane and biodegradation of VS were evaluated. The results emphasized positive synergy of anaerobic co-digestion for improving CMY and best feedstock utilization.

Impact of milling, enzyme addition, and steam explosion on the solid waste biomethanation of an olive oil production plant.

Anaerobic digestion is a consolidated bioprocess which can be further enhanced by incorporating an upstream pretreatment unit. The olive oil production produces a large amount of solid waste which needs to be properly managed and disposed. Three different pretreatment techniques were evaluated in regard to their impact on the anaerobic biodegradability: manual milling of olive pomace (OP), enzyme maceration, direct enzyme addition, and thermal hydrolysis of two-phase olive mill waste. The Gompertz equation was used to obtain parameters for comparison purposes. A substrate/inoculum ratio 0.5 was found to be the best to be used in anaerobic batch test with olive pomace as substrate. Mechanical pretreatment of OP by milling increases the methane production rate while keeping the maximum methane yield. The enzymatic pretreatment showed different results depending on the chosen pretreatment strategies. After the enzymatic maceration pretreatment, a methane production of 274 ml CH4 g VS added (-1) was achieved, which represents an improvement of 32 and 71 % compared to the blank and control, respectively. The direct enzyme addition pretreatment showed no improvement in both the rate and the maximum methane production. Steam explosion showed no improvement on the anaerobic degradability of two-phase olive mill waste; however, thermal hydrolysis with no rapid depressurization enhanced notoriously both the maximum rate (50 %) and methane yield (70 %).

유기성 폐자원의 최종생분해도 및 다중 분해속도 평가

Anaerobic mesophilic batch test of several organic wastes were carried out by a graphical statistic analysis (GSA) to evaluate their ultimate biodegradability and two distinctive decay rates (k1 and k2) with their corresponding degradable substrate fractions (S1 and S2). Each 3 L batch reactor was operated for more than 100 days at the substrate to inoculum ratio (S/I) of 0.5 as an initial total volatile solids (TVS) mass basis. Their Ultimate biodegradabilities were obtained respectively as follow; 69% swine waste, 45% dairy cow manure, 66% slaughterhouse waste, 79% food waste, 87% food waste leachate, 68% primary sludge and 39% waste activated sludge. The readily biodegradable fraction of 89% (S1) of Swine Waste BVS (So) degraded with in the initial 31 days with k1 of 0.116 day, where as the rest 11% slowly biodegradable fraction (S2) of BVS degraded for more than 100 days with the long term batch reaction rates (k2) of 0.004 day. For the Food Waste and Waste Activated Sludge, their readily biodegradable portions (S1) appeared 89% and 80%, which degrades with k1 of 0.195 day and 0.054 day for an initial 15 days and 28 days, respectively. Their corresponding long term batch reaction rates (k2) were 0.003 day and 0.002 day. Results from other organic wastes are addressed in this paper. The theoretical hydraulic retention times (HRTs) of anaerobic digesters treating organic wastes are easily determined by the analysis of multiple decay rate coefficients (k1 and k2) and their corresponding biodegradable substrate fractions (S1 and S2).

Characterization of products from hydrothermal carbonization of orange pomace including anaerobic digestibility of process liquor

In this study, the effect of the temperature and reaction time on hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) of orange pomace was investigated. In addition, a set of anaerobic batch tests were performed to determine the resulting biogas and methane potential of the spent liquor. Hydrochar yields followed a decreasing trend with the increasing temperature, whereas reaction time had no considerably effect on the yield. The evolution of the H/C and O/C atomic ratios from the raw material to the hydrochars suggested that dehydration reactions prevail during HTC. The hydrochars tended to become enriched in Ca, Mg and P minerals by increasing HTC temperature. The heavy metal contents in hydrochars were found below limits and no PAH compound was detected. Anaerobic digestion tests showed that the aqueous phase from HTC can be used as feedstocks for biogas production.

수거 형태에 따른 음식물류 폐기물의 혐기성 분해 특성

본 연구는 회분식 실험을 통해 수거 형태에 따른 음식물류 폐기물의 혐기성 분해 특성을 평가하였다. 일반 종량제 봉투 내 음식물류 폐기물 (sample A)의 경우 최종 메탄 수율은 <TEX>$285.6mL\;CH_4/g$</TEX> volatile solids (VS)로 가장 낮게 나타났으며 반응 속도는 <TEX>$0.215d^{-1}$</TEX>로 가장 높게 나타났다. RFID 기반의 폐기물 용기 내 음식물류 폐기물 (sample C)의 최종 메탄 수율 <TEX>$493.4mL\;CH_4/g$</TEX> VS로 가장 높게 나타났으며 반응 속도는 <TEX>$0.162d^{-1}$</TEX>로 가장 낮게 나타났다. 모든 시료의 율속 단계 결정 계수는 양수로 나타나 메탄 생성 단계가 율속 단계인 것으로 나타났다. This study was conducted to evaluate the biodegradation characteristics of food waste on various collection systems using anaerobic batch test. The ultimate methane production from food waste in standard plastic garbage bags (sample A) was <TEX>$285.6mL\;CH_4/g$</TEX> volatile solids (VS) which is the lowest, and reaction constant was <TEX>$0.215d^{-1}$</TEX>. The ultimate methane production from food waste in waste vessel based on RFID (sample D) was <TEX>$493.4mL\;CH_4/g$</TEX> VS which is the highest, and reaction constant was <TEX>$0.162d^{-1}$</TEX>. The determinants of rate limiting step on all samples showed positive numbers, and the methane production step was found a rate limiting step.

Thermal pretreatment of olive mill wastewater for efficient methane production: control of aromatic substances degradation by monitoring cyclohexane carboxylic acid

Anaerobic digestion is investigated as a sustainable depurative strategy of olive oil mill wastewater (OOMW). The effect of thermal pretreatment on the anaerobic biodegradation of aromatic compounds present in (OMWW) was investigated. The anaerobic degradation of phenolic compounds, well known to be the main concern related to this kind of effluents, was monitored in batch anaerobic tests at a laboratory scale on samples pretreated at mild (80 ± 1 °C), intermediate (90 ± 1 °C) and high temperature (120 ± 1 °C). The obtained results showed an increase of 34% in specific methane production (SMP) for OMWW treated at the lowest temperature and a decrease of 18% for treatment at the highest temperature. These results were related to the different decomposition pathways of the lignocellulosic compounds obtained in the tested conditions. The decomposition pathway was determined by measuring the concentrations of volatile organic acids, phenols, and chemical oxygen demand (COD) versus time. Cyclohexane carboxylic acid (CHCA) production was identified in all the tests with a maximum concentration of around 200 µmol L−1 in accordance with the phenols degradation, suggesting that anaerobic digestion of aromatic compounds follows the benzoyl-CoA pathway. Accurate monitoring of this compound was proposed as the key element to control the process evolution. The total phenols (TP) and total COD removals were, with SMP, the highest (TP 62.7% – COD 63.2%) at 80 °C and lowest (TP 44.9% - COD 32.2%) at 120 °C. In all cases, thermal pretreatment was able to enhance the TP removal ability (up to 42% increase).