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Bio-Waste to Energy and Added Value Products – Challenges and Opportunities

A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "A4: Bio-Energy".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (28 August 2024) | Viewed by 30514

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Marcin Dębowski

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Environmental Engineering, Uniwersytet Warminsko-Mazurski w Olsztynie, 10-720 Olsztyn, WM, Poland
Interests: algae cultivation technologies; algae acquisition from natural water; algae biomass separation and dewatering; algae to biofuels; algae to valuable products; methane fermentation; biohydrogen; biodiesel; wastewater treatment; sludge management
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Marcin Zieliński

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Geoengineering, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-720 Olsztyn, Poland
Interests: wastewater treatment; biogas production; environmental engineering; biomass power generation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Joanna Kazimierowicz

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Water Supply and Sewage Systems, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Environmental Sciences, Bialystok University of Technology, 15-351 Bialystok, Poland
Interests: anaerobic digestion; methane fermentation; biogas; methane; sewage sludge; food waste products; wastewater treatment; microwave radiation; ultrasound; solidified carbon dioxide; microalgae
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The requirements of an appropriate and sustainable bio-waste management are becoming a global challenge and a priority for the international community. Although the waste management sector is advanced, innovative, efficient and economically viable technologies are needed. It is an important task for administrators and operators of bio-waste systems and a challenge for research centres around the world. The priority is to save energy and care for the natural environment. The solutions sought should be in line with the assumptions of the broadly understood bioeconomy, sustainable development, circular economy, material and energy recycling, and support renewable energy technologies and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to the atmosphere. An important research area is therefore the optimization and intensification of bio-waste management methods, taking into account the possibility of a comprehensive use for energy, fertilization, animal feed and many other purposes.

This Special Issue aims to present and disseminate the latest achievements related to theoretical assumptions, results of scientific and implementation research, design, modelling and optimization of technological systems, as well as control and monitoring of solutions related to sustainable bio-waste management. We also invite you to publish review papers summarizing the achievements to date in this research field and indicate the strengths and weaknesses of the available technologies. The critical analysis of this will allow us to indicate directions for further development.

Prof. Dr. Marcin Dębowski
Prof. Dr. Marcin Zieliński
Dr. Joanna Kazimierowicz
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • bio-waste characteristics and properties
  • bio-waste management from the municipal, agriculture and food industry sector
  • fermentative methane and hydrogen production form bio-waste
  • biodiesel and bioethanol production
  • thermal transformation (gasification, pyrolysis, combustion, plasma technologies)
  • bio-waste based multi-product biorefinery technologies
  • energy and material recycling form bio-waste
  • bio-waste recovery
  • circular economy in the bio-waste sector
  • bio-waste in fertilization and the animal feed sector
  • high-added value products form bio-waste
  • modelling and optimization in bio-waste processing
  • life cycle costing (LCC) and life cycle assessment (LCA) in bio-waste management.

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (15 papers)

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20 pages, 4894 KiB  
Article
Optimization and Modification of Bacterial Cellulose Membrane from Coconut Juice Residues and Its Application in Carbon Dioxide Removal for Biogas Separation
by Wipawee Dechapanya, Kamontip Wongsuwan, Jonathon Huw Lewis and Attaso Khamwichit
Energies 2024, 17(18), 4750; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17184750 - 23 Sep 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1328
Abstract
Driven by environmental and economic considerations, this study explores the viability of utilizing coconut juice residues (CJRs), a byproduct from coconut milk production, as a carbon source for bacterial cellulose (BC) synthesis in the form of a versatile bio-membrane. This work investigates the [...] Read more.
Driven by environmental and economic considerations, this study explores the viability of utilizing coconut juice residues (CJRs), a byproduct from coconut milk production, as a carbon source for bacterial cellulose (BC) synthesis in the form of a versatile bio-membrane. This work investigates the use of optimization modeling as a tool to find the optimal conditions for BC cultivation in consideration of waste minimization and resource sustainability. Optimization efforts focused on three parameters, including pH (4–6), cultivation temperature (20–30 °C), and time (6–10 days) using Design Expert (DE) V.13. The maximum yield of 9.31% (g/g) was achieved when the cultivation took place at the optimal conditions (pH 6, 30 °C, and 8 days). This approach aligns with circular economy principles, contributing to sustainable resource management and environmental impact reduction. The experimental and predicted optimal conditions from DE V.13 were in good agreement, validating the study’s outcomes. The predictive model gave the correlations of the optimal conditions in response to the highest yield and maximum eco-efficiency. The use of prediction modeling resulted in a useful tool for forecasting and obtaining guidelines that can assist other researchers in calculating optimal conditions for a desired yield. Acetylation of the BC resulted in cellulose acetate (CA) membranes. The CA membrane exhibited the potential to separate CO2 from a CH4/CO2 mixed gas with a CO2 selectivity of 1.315 in a membrane separation. The promising gas separation results could be further explored to be utilized in biogas purification applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bio-Waste to Energy and Added Value Products – Challenges and Opportunities)
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16 pages, 5306 KiB  
Article
Investigation of Sewage Sludge–Derived Biochar for Enhanced Pollutant Adsorption: Effect of Particle Size and Alkali Treatment
by Andy Kofi Agoe, Stavros G. Poulopoulos, Yerbol Sarbassov and Dhawal Shah
Energies 2024, 17(18), 4554; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17184554 - 11 Sep 2024
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1474
Abstract
Sewage sludge (SS) holds promise for environmental, agricultural, and energy applications. However, its direct use is limited due to contaminant concerns. Pyrolysis can turn SS into beneficial products like bio-oil and biochar. This study explores biochar production from SS pyrolysis and its potential [...] Read more.
Sewage sludge (SS) holds promise for environmental, agricultural, and energy applications. However, its direct use is limited due to contaminant concerns. Pyrolysis can turn SS into beneficial products like bio-oil and biochar. This study explores biochar production from SS pyrolysis and its potential for pollutant adsorption. The effects of pyrolysis temperature (500, 650, 850 °C) and SS particle size (800–1000 µm, 400–800 µm, 100–400 µm, ≤100 µm) on biochar yield and adsorption capacity for methylene blue and mercury were investigated. Regardless of particle size and temperature, SS-derived biochar exhibited second-order adsorption kinetics. Biochar with a particle size of 100–400 µm displayed the highest potential for methylene blue adsorption. Subsequent alkali treatment (biochar:NaOH = 3:4) of these particles significantly increased specific surface area from 27.5 m2/g to 144.27 m2/g and further enhanced adsorption capacities for both methylene blue (from 9 mg/g to 35 mg/g) and mercury (from 17 mg/g to 36 mg/g). These findings suggest that SS-derived biochar, particularly the 100–400 µm fraction with alkali treatment, presents a promising cost-effective adsorbent for water treatment, aligning with circular economy principles. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bio-Waste to Energy and Added Value Products – Challenges and Opportunities)
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15 pages, 3724 KiB  
Article
Bibliometric Analysis of Renewable Natural Gas (Biomethane) and Overview of Application in Brazil
by Mônica Valéria dos Santos Machado, Ivonete Ávila and João Andrade de Carvalho, Jr.
Energies 2024, 17(12), 2920; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17122920 - 14 Jun 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1349
Abstract
In view of the increasing demand for clean energy and the growing awareness of environmental sustainability, a bibliometric study examines the various facets of renewable natural gas (biomethane). Sustainable fuels are gaining importance as an alternative to fossil fuels because they are renewable [...] Read more.
In view of the increasing demand for clean energy and the growing awareness of environmental sustainability, a bibliometric study examines the various facets of renewable natural gas (biomethane). Sustainable fuels are gaining importance as an alternative to fossil fuels because they are renewable and can reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, an overview of the use of biomethane was compiled for Brazil. The country was chosen because it is the authors’ home country. These emerging energy sources have the potential to play a critical role in the transition to a cleaner, more sustainable and cost-effective energy landscape, thereby reducing environmental impact and strengthening the resilience of our energy future. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bio-Waste to Energy and Added Value Products – Challenges and Opportunities)
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13 pages, 1198 KiB  
Article
Production of Coconut Oil Bioturbosine without Water by Using Ultrasound as a Source of Energy and Ion Exchange for Its Purification
by Jorge Eduardo Esquerre Verastegui, Andres López López, Roberto Adrián González Domínguez, Marco Antonio Zamora Antuñano, Carlos Vidal Dávila Ignacio and Raúl García García
Energies 2024, 17(3), 614; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17030614 - 26 Jan 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1603
Abstract
Jet fuel production is a key element in the aviation industry’s strategy to reduce operating costs and environmental impacts. Alternatives are required, and bioturbosine obtained from biomass can replace significant amounts of jet fuel. In this investigation, the properties of the production of [...] Read more.
Jet fuel production is a key element in the aviation industry’s strategy to reduce operating costs and environmental impacts. Alternatives are required, and bioturbosine obtained from biomass can replace significant amounts of jet fuel. In this investigation, the properties of the production of bioturbosine from coconut oil and mixtures of B5, B10, B20, B1OO, bottom, and jet fuel were measured according to the ASTM standards. A transesterification reaction between coconut oil and methanol was carried out using ultrasound, resulting in 99.93% conversion of triglycerides into bioturbosine at room temperature for 10 min, with a 6:1 molar ratio of methanol and oil. The catalyst concentration was 1.0 g/100 g of oil, and purification was carried out without water using an ion-exchange resin to remove impurities. The results obtained for density and viscosity were within the regulations. The temperature of the clogging point for a cold filter in the mixtures was up to −30 °C. The average caloric values of mixtures B5, B10, and B20 were 45,042, 44,546, and 43,611 MJ/Kg, respectively. In a copper corrosion test, the result for all samples was class 1A. It is expected that the results of this research may influence the use of bioturbosine in the aviation industry. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bio-Waste to Energy and Added Value Products – Challenges and Opportunities)
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13 pages, 3918 KiB  
Article
Off-Gassing and Oxygen Depletion in Headspaces of Solid Biofuels Produced from Forest Residue Biomass
by Kazimierz Warmiński, Klaudia Anna Jankowska, Agnieszka Bęś and Mariusz Jerzy Stolarski
Energies 2024, 17(1), 216; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17010216 - 30 Dec 2023
Viewed by 1228
Abstract
As living standards improve worldwide, the demand for energy increases. However, climate changes and decreasing fossil fuel deposits have increased interest in renewable energy sources, including pellets produced from forest residues. This study aimed to compare changes in concentration of gases (CO, CO [...] Read more.
As living standards improve worldwide, the demand for energy increases. However, climate changes and decreasing fossil fuel deposits have increased interest in renewable energy sources, including pellets produced from forest residues. This study aimed to compare changes in concentration of gases (CO, CO2, O2, volatile organic compounds—VOCs) in enclosed headspaces above pellets produced from deciduous (oak OA, birch BI) and coniferous (pine PI, spruce SP) dendromass and selected types of commercial pellets during their storage. The experiment measured the concentration of gas released from the pellets in storage daily for 14 days. The highest mean CO concentration was found for PI pellets (1194 ppm), and the lowest was for OA (63.3 ppm). Likewise, the highest CO2 concentration was noted for PI pellets (4650 ppm), and the lowest was for BI (1279 ppm). The largest VOC amount was released in the headspace above PI (88.8 ppm), and the smallest was above BI (4.6 ppm). The oxygen concentration was the lowest as measured for PI (minimum 16.1% v/v) and for SP (19.3% v/v). The threshold limit value (8 h) for CO was exceeded for all the pellets under analysis and, in the case of CO2, only for PI after day 10 of incubation. The study findings are extremely important from a scientific (but mainly from a practical) perspective because of the safety of storing and transporting wood pellets. The knowledge of autooxidation processes in those biofuels can help organize their logistics and storage and result in proper warehouse ventilation and monitoring of noxious gases. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bio-Waste to Energy and Added Value Products – Challenges and Opportunities)
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20 pages, 4546 KiB  
Article
Changes in Commercial Dendromass Properties Depending on Type and Acquisition Time
by Mariusz Jerzy Stolarski, Michał Krzyżaniak, Ewelina Olba-Zięty and Jakub Stolarski
Energies 2023, 16(24), 7973; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16247973 - 8 Dec 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1020
Abstract
Forest dendromass is still the major raw material in the production of solid biofuels, which are still the most important feedstock in the structure of primary energy production from renewable energy sources. Because of the high species and type diversity of production residues [...] Read more.
Forest dendromass is still the major raw material in the production of solid biofuels, which are still the most important feedstock in the structure of primary energy production from renewable energy sources. Because of the high species and type diversity of production residues generated at wood processing sites, as well as at logging sites, the quality of commercial solid biomass produced there has to be evaluated. The aim of this study was to assess the thermophysical characteristics and the elemental composition of ten types of commercial solid biofuels (pinewood sawdust; energy chips I, II, and III; veneer sheets; shavings; birch bark; pine bark; pulp chips; and veneer chips), depending on their acquisition time (August, October, December, February, April, and June). Pulp chips had the significantly lowest moisture content (mean 26.92%), ash content (mean 0.39% DM—dry matter), nitrogen (N) content (mean 0.11% DM), and sulfur (S) content (mean 0.011% DM) and the highest carbon (C) content (mean 56.09% DM), hydrogen (H) content (6.40% DM), and lower heating value (LHV) (mean 13.61 GJ Mg−1). The three types of energy chips (I, II, and III) had good energy parameters, especially regarding their satisfactory LHV and ash, S, and N content. On the other hand, pine and birch bark had the worst ash, S, and N contents, although they had beneficial higher heating values (HHVs) and C contents. Solid biofuels acquired in summer (June) had the lowest levels of moisture and ash and the highest LHV. The highest moisture content and the lowest LHV were found in winter (December). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bio-Waste to Energy and Added Value Products – Challenges and Opportunities)
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20 pages, 2215 KiB  
Article
Analysis of Feasibility of Producing and Using Biogas in Large Cities, Based on the Example of Krakow and Its Surrounding Municipalities
by Marta Szyba and Jerzy Mikulik
Energies 2023, 16(22), 7588; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16227588 - 15 Nov 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1504
Abstract
In Poland, mixed municipal waste, municipal sewage and agricultural waste are used to produce biogas. Biodegradable green waste and kitchen waste generated in households are not used for this purpose. In the cogeneration process, the produced biogas is burned in a gas generator, [...] Read more.
In Poland, mixed municipal waste, municipal sewage and agricultural waste are used to produce biogas. Biodegradable green waste and kitchen waste generated in households are not used for this purpose. In the cogeneration process, the produced biogas is burned in a gas generator, resulting in electricity and heat. Electricity is sold in its entirety to the energy operator, but there are no heat consumers. The solution may be the construction of municipal biogas plants in urban areas, using kitchen and green biowaste from households located in cities and surrounding municipalities. Thanks to this location, the surplus heat can be used by the local district heating network to heat the buildings in the city. The aim of the article is to assess the possibilities of producing biogas and energy from municipal bio-waste generated in households in Krakow and surrounding communes. To achieve the goal, a simulation was carried out for a biogas plant with a capacity of 1 MW. Two types of substrates were used as inputs, i.e., biowaste from households and green biowaste. The data for analysis came from the Marshal’s Office of the Małopolskie Voivodeship, to which municipalities submit reports on the amount of municipal waste collected, and the Central Statistical Office, which has data on municipal waste collected in municipalities in Poland. The collected data were used to conduct five simulations. The most advantageous method is to produce biogas from kitchen waste and silage from green waste mixed in the appropriate C:N ratio. Assuming the optimal proportions of mixed substrates, a 1 MW biogas plant can produce 4.1 million m3 of biogas, from which electricity can be produced for 2.5 thousand houses and heat for 1.1 thousand houses. The article ends with conclusions and recommendations on how to collect biodegradable municipal waste, which should be treated as a valuable source of energy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bio-Waste to Energy and Added Value Products – Challenges and Opportunities)
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21 pages, 3500 KiB  
Article
Can Xylose Be Fermented to Biofuel Butanol in Continuous Long-Term Reactors: If Not, What Options Are There?
by Nasib Qureshi, Xiaoqing Lin, Shunhui Tao, Siqing Liu, Haibo Huang and Nancy N. Nichols
Energies 2023, 16(13), 4945; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16134945 - 26 Jun 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2019
Abstract
This study applied concentrated xylose (60–250 g/L) medium to produce butanol (acetone butanol ethanol, or ABE). A control batch fermentation of 61 g/L initial glucose using Clostridium beijerinckii P260 resulted in a productivity and yield of 0.33 g/L·h and 0.43 g/g, respectively. Use [...] Read more.
This study applied concentrated xylose (60–250 g/L) medium to produce butanol (acetone butanol ethanol, or ABE). A control batch fermentation of 61 g/L initial glucose using Clostridium beijerinckii P260 resulted in a productivity and yield of 0.33 g/L·h and 0.43 g/g, respectively. Use of 60 g/L xylose in a batch system resulted in productivity and yield of 0.26 g/L·h, and 0.40 g/g, respectively. In these two experiments, the culture fermented 89.3% glucose and 83.6% of xylose, respectively. When ABE recovery was coupled with fermentation for continuous solvent removal, the culture fermented all the added xylose (60 g/L). This system resulted in a productivity and yield of 0.66 g/L·h and 0.44 g/g, respectively. When the sugar concentration was further increased above 100 g/L, only a small fraction of the sugar was fermented in batch cultures without product removal. However, with simultaneous product removal, all the xylose (150 g/L) was fermented provided the culture was fed with nutrients intermittently. In this system, 66.32 g/L ABE was produced from 150 g/L xylose with a productivity of 0.44 g/L·h and yield of 0.44 g/g. Using the integrated culture system allowed sugar consumption to be increased by 300% (150 g/L). The continuous system using xylose as a feed did not sustain and after 36 days (864 h) of fermentation, it produced only 2–3 g/L ABE. Rather, the culture became acidogenic and produced 4–5 g/L acids (acetic and butyric). This study suggested that xylose be fermented in batch reactors coupled with simultaneous product recovery rather than in continuous reactors. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bio-Waste to Energy and Added Value Products – Challenges and Opportunities)
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17 pages, 936 KiB  
Article
Stochastic Programming Model Integrating Pyrolysis Byproducts in the Design of Bioenergy Supply Chains
by Kolton Keith and Krystel K. Castillo-Villar
Energies 2023, 16(10), 4070; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16104070 - 13 May 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1407
Abstract
Biomass is an abundant resource for energy production and it has gained attention as a mainstream option to meet increasing energy demands. Pyrolysis has been one of the most prevalent thermochemical processes for biomass conversion. In the pyrolysis process, the biomass decomposes into [...] Read more.
Biomass is an abundant resource for energy production and it has gained attention as a mainstream option to meet increasing energy demands. Pyrolysis has been one of the most prevalent thermochemical processes for biomass conversion. In the pyrolysis process, the biomass decomposes into three byproducts: bio-oil (60–75%), biochar (15–25%), and syngas (10–20%), depending on the feedstock and its composition. The energy required to convert the biomass varies depending on the levels of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. This work proposes a novel two-stage stochastic model that designs an efficient biomass supply chain mindful of the trade-offs between pyrolysis byproducts (bioethanol and biochar). Remarkably, the model integrates biomass quality-related costs associated with moisture and ash content such as the energy consumption of preprocessing equipment and boiler maintenance due to excess ash. Biomass quality directly affects the production yield as well as the total cost of production and distribution. The results from our case study indicate a shortage of biomass from the suppliers to fulfill the demand for biochar from the power plants and bioethanol from the cities. Furthermore, the bioethanol price has the most impact on the total supply chain according to our sensitivity analysis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bio-Waste to Energy and Added Value Products – Challenges and Opportunities)
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15 pages, 2350 KiB  
Article
Characteristics of Sludge from the Treatment of Soilless Plant Cultivation Wastewater in a Rotating Electrobiological Disc Contactor (REBDC)
by Joanna Rodziewicz, Artur Mielcarek, Wojciech Janczukowicz, Jorge Manuel Rodrigues Tavares and Krzysztof Jóźwiakowski
Energies 2023, 16(3), 1022; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16031022 - 17 Jan 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1882
Abstract
Due to the high nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations in wastewater from soilless cultivation of tomatoes, the sludge formed during wastewater treatment can be used as a source of nutrients in agriculture. The effect of electrical direct current (DC) density (J) and hydraulic retention [...] Read more.
Due to the high nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations in wastewater from soilless cultivation of tomatoes, the sludge formed during wastewater treatment can be used as a source of nutrients in agriculture. The effect of electrical direct current (DC) density (J) and hydraulic retention time (HRT) in a rotating electrobiological contactor (REBDC) on the quantity and quality of sludge generated in the process of tomato soilless cultivation wastewater treatment was determined. The cathode consisted of discs immobilized with biomass, while the anode was an aluminum electrode. HRTs of 4 h, 8 h, 12 h, 24 h and (J) of 0.63, 1.25, 2.50, 5.00, and 10.00 A/m2 were applied. The study showed that the increase in (J) caused an increase in the amount of sludge generated. The increase of (J) contributed to increased concentrations of biogenes in the sludge, whereas extension of HRT at a given current density contributed to increased concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus (up to 6.2% and 0.8% respectively) and to the reduced content of organic matter (up to 23.04%). The examined sludge was stabilized, sanitary, and safe, and may be an alternative to mineral fertilizers. This study showed that larger sludge amounts are produced in a DC mode aerobic REBDC than in an alternating current anaerobic one. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bio-Waste to Energy and Added Value Products – Challenges and Opportunities)
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14 pages, 3186 KiB  
Article
Biodegradation Kinetics of Organic Matter in Water from Sludge Dewatering after Autothermal Thermophilic Aerobic Digestion
by Paweł Biedka
Energies 2023, 16(1), 203; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16010203 - 25 Dec 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2060
Abstract
The study presents the research results on the rejected water generated in dewatering sludge stabilised in Autothermal Thermophilic Aerobic Digestion (ATAD) technology. The research was carried out in three municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), with a capacity of 1500 to 3260 m3 [...] Read more.
The study presents the research results on the rejected water generated in dewatering sludge stabilised in Autothermal Thermophilic Aerobic Digestion (ATAD) technology. The research was carried out in three municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), with a capacity of 1500 to 3260 m3 d−1 and a sludge node capacity of 835 to 2000 kg DM d−1. The mean content of Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN) in the rejected water samples taken from each object ranged from 485 to 1573 mg N L−1, ammonium nitrogen 318 to 736 mg N L−1, and the average concentration of total phosphorus ranged from 96 to 281 mg P L−1. The average content of organic matter expressed as five-day biological oxygen demand (BOD5) ranged from 205 to 730 mg O2 L−1, while chemical oxygen demand (COD) ranged from 767 to 4884 mg O2 L−1. The study determined the kinetics of the biochemical decomposition of organic matter, assuming that it follows the first-order equation. The average reaction rate constant k in subsequent treatment plants was estimated at 0.424, 0.513 and 0.782 d−1. The R2 coefficient determining the model’s adjustment to empirical values was not lower than 0.952. The organic matter biodegradability index average values ranged from 0.17 to 0.26. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bio-Waste to Energy and Added Value Products – Challenges and Opportunities)
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15 pages, 1432 KiB  
Article
Valorization of Dairy By-Products: Efficiency of Energy Production from Biogas Obtained in Anaerobic Digestion of Ultrafiltration Permeates
by Justyna Tarapata, Marcin Zieliński and Justyna Zulewska
Energies 2022, 15(18), 6829; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15186829 - 18 Sep 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2900
Abstract
This study aimed at evaluating the methane potential of two ultrafiltration (UFP) and two diafiltration (DFP) permeates generated during milk protein concentration. The permeates were characterized by a different chemical oxygen demand (COD) ranging from 7610 mg O2/L to 57,020 mg [...] Read more.
This study aimed at evaluating the methane potential of two ultrafiltration (UFP) and two diafiltration (DFP) permeates generated during milk protein concentration. The permeates were characterized by a different chemical oxygen demand (COD) ranging from 7610 mg O2/L to 57,020 mg O2/L. The CH4 production efficiency was recorded for 20 days and ranged from 149 to 181 NL/kg CODadded. Moreover, the possibilities of the use of UFP/DFP to produce electricity and heat with a combined heat and power (CHP) unit was analyzed to underline the impact of the implementation of anaerobic digestion on the electric and thermal energy requirements of a dairy plant. It was concluded that the application of anaerobic digestion to UFP and DFP treatments generates the energy required to cover all the large-scale dairy plant energy demands and produce extra income. The amount of permeates generated annually in the analyzed dairy plant will enable the production of approx. 22,699 MWh of electricity and 85,516 GJ of heat. This would require a biogas plant with a 3 MW yield. Additionally, the lactose production from UFP/DFP was considered as an alternative or parallel solution for its management. The study confirmed that the biogas and lactose production from UFP/DFP enables plant owners to adjust a plant’s management towards one of these two solutions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bio-Waste to Energy and Added Value Products – Challenges and Opportunities)
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14 pages, 1581 KiB  
Article
Possibilities of Biogas Upgrading on a Bio-Waste Sorbent Derived from Anaerobic Sewage Sludge
by Marcin Zieliński, Aleksandra Karczmarczyk, Marta Kisielewska and Marcin Dębowski
Energies 2022, 15(17), 6461; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15176461 - 4 Sep 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2123
Abstract
The development of biogas upgrading technologies is now an essential issue in recovering fuel-grade methane. Nowadays, trends in biogas upgrading include investigations of low-cost and renewable materials as sorbents for biogas enrichment to produce biomethane. Therefore, in this work, wastewater anaerobic sludge stabilized [...] Read more.
The development of biogas upgrading technologies is now an essential issue in recovering fuel-grade methane. Nowadays, trends in biogas upgrading include investigations of low-cost and renewable materials as sorbents for biogas enrichment to produce biomethane. Therefore, in this work, wastewater anaerobic sludge stabilized with calcium oxide was used as the bio-waste sorbent to capture carbon dioxide from biogas, employing a fixed bed column. The biogas flow rate was the parameter considered for examining the breakthrough responses. It was observed that breakthrough time decreases with increasing biogas inflow rate from 570 ± 10 min at 5 mL/min to 120 ± 12 min at 35 mL/min. The maximum sorption capacity of 127.22 ± 1.5 mg CO2/g TS of sorbent was estimated at 15 mL/min. Biomethane concentration in biogas increased from 56.5 ± 1.7 v% in the raw biogas to 98.9 ± 0.2 v% with simultaneous low carbon dioxide content of 0.44 ± 0.2 v%. A strong positive correlation (R2 = 0.9919) between the sorption capacity and the biogas flow rate was found in the range of biogas inflow rates between 5 mL/min and 15 mL/min. Moreover, the correlation analysis showed a strong negative relationship (R2 = 0.9868) between breakthrough time and the mass of carbon dioxide removal, and the biogas flow rates ranged from 10 mL/min to 20 mL/min. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bio-Waste to Energy and Added Value Products – Challenges and Opportunities)
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19 pages, 1931 KiB  
Article
The Use of Aminated Wheat Straw for Reactive Black 5 Dye Removal from Aqueous Solutions as a Potential Method of Biomass Valorization
by Tomasz Jóźwiak, Urszula Filipkowska and Paulina Walczak
Energies 2022, 15(17), 6257; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15176257 - 27 Aug 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1966
Abstract
Straw is a by-product from cereal cultivation. Using straw surplus as a biofuel is a popular means of its management. However, before being used for fuel purposes, straw can be successfully used as a sorbent. The present study investigated the sorption properties of [...] Read more.
Straw is a by-product from cereal cultivation. Using straw surplus as a biofuel is a popular means of its management. However, before being used for fuel purposes, straw can be successfully used as a sorbent. The present study investigated the sorption properties of wheat straw (Triticum aestivum L.) modified with ammonia water and epichlorohydrin against the reactive dye Reactive Black 5 (RB5). The tested sorbents were characterized based on FTIR, elemental analysis (C/N content), and pHPZC. The scope of the research included, among others, research on the effect of pH (pH 2–11) on the RB5 sorption efficiency, research on sorption kinetics, and determination of the maximum sorption capacity of the tested sorbents. The sorption efficiency of RB5 on the tested sorbents was the highest at pH 2–3. The experimental data from the research on the sorption kinetics of RB5 were best described by a pseudo-second-order model. The introduction of primary amine groups to the structure of sorbents significantly increased their sorption capacity towards RB5. The obtained sorption capacity of the aminated straw and the aminated straw pre-activated with epichlorohydrin was 24.12 mg RB5/g and 91.04 mg RB5/g, respectively, and it was higher by 44.3% and 444.5% compared to the unmodified straw. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bio-Waste to Energy and Added Value Products – Challenges and Opportunities)
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25 pages, 2718 KiB  
Review
Municipal Sewage Sludge as a Resource in the Circular Economy
by Mariusz Z. Gusiatin, Dorota Kulikowska and Katarzyna Bernat
Energies 2024, 17(11), 2474; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17112474 - 22 May 2024
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1775
Abstract
Municipal sewage sludge (MSS) is an inevitable byproduct of wastewater treatment, with increasing amounts year by year worldwide. The development of environmentally and economically acceptable methods for the sustainable management of MSS is a major environmental challenge. Nowadays, sludge management practices, besides the [...] Read more.
Municipal sewage sludge (MSS) is an inevitable byproduct of wastewater treatment, with increasing amounts year by year worldwide. The development of environmentally and economically acceptable methods for the sustainable management of MSS is a major environmental challenge. Nowadays, sludge management practices, besides the commonly used stabilization methods, focus attention on alternative sludge-disposal pathways, which encompass enhanced energy and valuable-resource recovery. This review presents the recent advances in the recovery of selected value-added products from sludge. Because of the high nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations, waste MSS can be a nutrient source (e.g., struvite). This paper discusses the conditions of and advances in the technology of struvite recovery. As in the extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs) of biological sludge, alginate-like exopolymers (ALEs) are present in MSS systems that treat municipal wastewater. The yields, dynamics in content, and characterization of ALEs and their possible applications were analyzed. MSS is an important source of humic substances. Their occurrence, characterization, and yields in various types of MSS (e.g., untreated, composted, and digested sludge) and main methods of application are presented. The important aspects and trends of MSS pyrolysis, including the thermochemical conversion to biochar, are discussed in this review. The characterization of biochar derived from MSS and the assessment of the environmental risks are also covered. This paper explores the potential use of biochar derived from MSS in various applications, including soil amendment, carbon sequestration, and environmental remediation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bio-Waste to Energy and Added Value Products – Challenges and Opportunities)
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